Lawyers, police brutality, civil rights, attorneys
Mr. Horwitz has lead the country in litigating many high profile matters. The cases have not only provided substantial compensation for clients, but changed policy and corruption in municipalities.
Seipler v. Sheriff Nygrin, et al
Police officer terminated after complaining of racial profiling by fellow officers. Chicago Tribune, in a front page article, reports pattern of racial profiling. McHenry County shown to have violated the civil rights of hundres of Hispanics through data demonstrating racial profiling.
Regalado v. City of Chicago
$28,000,000.00 verdict on behalf of a quadriplegic injured by police officers. This record civil rights verdict is the highest reported verdict in the Midwest for a civil rights on behalf of an individual
Alexandar v. City of Chicago
Class action lawsuit filed on behalf of citizens who were beaten, prosecuted and pepper sprayed after celebrating the election of Barack Obama. This event demonstrated large scale police misconduct whereby African Americans were attacked while celebrating the election of the first African American President.
Medina v. City of Chicago
$1,800,000.00 settlement for causing death of a one-armed intoxicated man who was placed into a squadrol for transport.
Caithamer v. Village of Maywood
$750,000.00 for a man beaten in jail by an inmate.
Casares v. City of Chicago
Paralyzed man attacked by Chicago Police Officers (Print Media)
Hofstra v. Officer Rodriguez
Nurse arrested after not providing DUI test to arrestee upon officer’s request (Print Media).
Smith v. Nye County (Nevada)
$200,000.00 settlement for man tasered by Sheriff Deputies in Nye County, Nevada.
Brown v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (Nevada)
$100,000.00 settlement for family of man who committed suicide in jail.
Oviedo v. City of Joliet, et al
$100,000.00 jury verdict for Hispanic man who was falsely arrested and criminally prosecuted for felony and misdemeanor crimes .
Johnson v. Village of Willowbrook
Largest police misconduct verdict for pat-down (over the clothes) search in Illinois: $112,000.00 for African American woman who was searched by two Caucasian police officers because she had expired license plates (motion for remittitur was granted).
Lawsuits Caused Cessation of Police Misconduct in Blue Island – In review
The Blue Island Community was outraged by the rise in police misconduct being perpetuated upon its citizens. Members of the community retained Blake Horwitz to represent them in their lawsuits. Twelve lawsuits were filed in one day against the City of Blue Island and its Police Department. After this rapid action, the community now claims a profound reduction in police misconduct.
Burr Oak Cemetery – In Review
A class action lawsuit was filed on July 10, 2009 against the Burr Oak Cemetery. Cemetery employees removed deceased bodies from gravesites, damaging and destroying the remains.
Mr. Horwitz obtained injunctive relief on behalf of the families. Mr. Horwitz, through court action, caused the cemetery owners to be removed and another individual (called a receiver) to be appointed so that the cemetery could be put back together. The Cook County Sheriff has now investigated the cemetery for criminal activity and initiated prosecution against four individuals who committed the criminal conduct.
Burr Oak Cemetery is Chicago’s first African-American cemetery and the resting place of civil rights icon Emmit Till and jazz musician Dinah Washington. Many Chicago area families have laid their loved ones to rest here for generations.
Family members have descended upon the cemetery in hopes of finding their relatives’ grave sites undisturbed. The employees have been charged with a Class X felony of dismembering a human body; a charge that carries hefty prison sentences and monetary fines of up to $25,000
Anderson, et al. v. Village of Stone Park, et al., – In Review
Beginning in 2001, at least 900 men were falsely arrested and fined because of an illegal sting operation set up by the Stone Park Police Department. In Stone Park, a female undercover police officer approached men who were innocently washing their cars at a local car wash and solicited them. Although the men rejected the officers’ solicitation to engage in a sexual act, the innocent men were arrested, cars taken and heavily fined. This was a highly profitable sting operation for Stone Park, bringing large revenues into the Village for the fines paid by the wrongly-accused.
Blake Horwitz, became aware of the unlawful actions of the Village and Police Department, filed a lawsuit and notified the press. The public became aware, through the lawsuit and communication to several news organizations, of the misconduct. As a result, the seven-year lucrative operation ceased.
Sparks, et al. v. The City of Rolling Meadows – In Review A lawsuit filed by Blake Horwitz, forced the take down of barricades that were placed around a large community in Rolling Meadows. The community, a 34-acre property, was home to more than 2,000 residents. The City of Rolling Meadows police department arbitrarily determined that it needed to barricade the plaintiffs’ property, without providing the owner of the property or the residents an opportunity to object. Barricades were placed at twelve of the thirteen entrances and exits, and police monitored the only open entrance/exit.
The property owner, outraged by the violation of his constitutional rights, immediately retained Blake Horwitz to file a lawsuit on his behalf. Blake Horwitz immediately filed a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order. Hours before the hearing, the City buckled and removed the barricades.
The Blake Horwitz Law Firm
39 South LaSalle Street
Suite 1515
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Telephone: 312-676-2100
Facsimile: 312-445-8741
Contact Form »