Attorney Gregory W. O'Reilly's Legal Cases

Car accident

People v. N.B.

May 20, 2016

OUTCOME: Not Guilty

Failure to yield, turning left: N.B. charged with causing a multi-car crash by failing to yield to oncoming traffic as he was driving a car south. He allegedly turned left in front of oncoming nort ... hbound traffic, and failed to yield to the oncoming traffic, thereby causing a multi-car accident. On cross examination, a prosecution witness admitted that he driving southbound in the darkness, was focused on his driving, and was surprised to see lights from a car heading north cross the median. He admitted he could not testify if that car or the accused’s car first turned and moved across the mid-line, and caused the accident.

Criminal defense

People v J

Dec 16, 2011

OUTCOME: Reversed on appeal after trial court finding of guilty; decision vacated upon client's death

Homicide trial; first trial challenge in Illinois to scientific foundation for firearms evidence. Extensive pre-trial motion work and cross examination of firearm examiner's identification of bullet as ... having been fired from a particular weapon - cited in First district Appellate Court opinion reversing conviction.

Criminal defense

People v. LB

Jun 28, 2008

OUTCOME: Guilty

Jury finding of guilty in homicide. Cross-examined crime scene expert, forensic biologist, DNA analyst, and firearms examiner.

Criminal defense

People v. JB

Oct 11, 2007

OUTCOME: Jury rejects government theory client shooter in homicide; finding of guilty on accountability count

Client charged with shooting the victim. Judge Cannon. Tried as a double jury. Co-counsel Crystal Marchiagiani and Jean Herigodt; co-defendant’s counsel Pat Tuite and Ron Menacker. Prosecution theor ... y and argument was that accused shot victim with a handgun. While jury returned a guilty verdict on homicide, it rejected counts regarding firing the weapon. Defense aim with forensic evidence to attack contention that gun shot residue allegedly found on the accused’s clothing proved he shot the victim. Cross-examined crime scene expert, cell phone call analysis witness, two gun shot residue experts, and firearms examiner.

Criminal defense

People v. H

May 25, 2007

OUTCOME: Dismissed after hung jury

Triple reckless homicide. Three sailors killed in high-speed SUV rollover. Charges dismissed after jury hung 11-1 for not guilty verdict. Co-counsel James Mullinex and Julie Koehler. Moved to inspe ... ct black box in SUV and arranged to have it inspected for data by manufacturer. Retained consulting expert on vehicle engineering, crash dynamics, and decoding meaning of black box data. Successfully moved to close I94 at 6 AM and have microscopic analysis done on barrier at crash site to assist in crash reconstruction. Cross-examined State’s accident reconstruction expert and, with demonstrative evidence, showed the evidence he relied upon equally supported defense theory. Also cross-examined treating trauma nurse and radiologist, to show other suspect’s injuries more consistent with being the driver. Worked with US Navy to have alternate suspect flown in from Carrier in Persian Gulf to have avulsion wounds photographed to show consistent with his being the driver. In defense case conducted direct examination of forensic biologist and DNA expert to show other suspect’s DNA was on airbag, and conducted direct examination of defense accident reconstruction expert to rebut State’s expert and show crash dynamics consistent with defense theory.

Criminal defense

People v. L

Apr 10, 2007

OUTCOME: Not guilty

Jury Acquittal of man charged with homicide. Co-counsel, Jean Herigodt. Prepared and won motion to inspect, photograph and create scale diagram of victim’s home. Victim shot in his kitchen. Defenda ... nt linked to crime by DNA on beer bottles left at the scene. Cross-examination of crime scene examiner, gun shot residue expert (attacking methods used, and raising possibility that, although no GSR found on hands of victim, that did not prove he had not fired a firearm), medical examiner, forensic biologist, and DNA analyst. Defense theories: State had not proved that if it was murder, accused was the accused was present when victim shot, or excluded the possibility of suicide. I used scale diagram with bullet trajectory used in closing to illustrate this point.

Criminal defense

People v. G

Jun 22, 2006

OUTCOME: Not guilty

Homicide and sexual assault. Judge Suria. Bench trial, motion for directed finding of not guilty granted. Co-counsel, Jean Herigodt. Defendant allegedly linked to crime by purported match of his DN ... A under victim’s fingernails. Cross examination of forensic biologist and DNA analyst. Prepared defense expert in anticipation of testimony rebutting State’s expert, before defense motion granted.

Criminal defense

People v. JG

Sep 16, 2005

OUTCOME: Capital case; jury verdict of No Death Penalty

Capital trial. Co-counsel Bernard Sarley and James Mullinix. Jury finding of guilty, capital homicide; but jury returns verdict of no death penalty. Judge Scotillo. Prepared motion requesting Frye he ... aring challenging statistical methods used in mitochondrial DNA cases. Motion for hearing granted. At hearing, cross-examined State’s mitochondrial DNA expert and conducted direct examination of defense expert, a geneticist-statistician. Motion to exclude denied. Retained consultants to review hair and fiber evidence. At trial cross-examined two hair and fiber analysts, and mitochondrial DNA analyst.

Criminal defense

People v. D

Aug 02, 2005

OUTCOME: Not guilty

Jury acquittal of police officer charged with official misconduct in alleged sexual assault. Judge Egan. Co-counsel Dave Dunne. Defendant was the focus of a Channel 5 (NBC) “Investigative Report” s ... eries alleging DNA proved police officer sexually assaulted a public housing tenant. Issues included motion to view out-takes of television interviews. Opposed by counsel for NBC. Motion granted for in camera viewing by judge. No relevant statements identified. Experts cross-examined included crime scene examiner, forensic biologist, two forensic DNA analysts (case-in chief and rebuttal). Direct examination of defense DNA expert, officer’s partner, accused police officer, and treating medical physician, to demonstrate alleged victim had taken heroin at time of alleged attack. Delivered opening statement and closing argument. Client restored to the force.

Criminal defense

People v. G

Jan 01, 2005

OUTCOME: Capial case; result: no death penalty imposed

Capital case. Homicide and sexual assault. Judge Suria. Bench trial, finding of guilty. Co-counsel, Jean Herigodt. Prepared first motion in Illinois requesting hearing on defense request to search ... DNA database for alternate suspect leads. Motions filed in opposition by Cook County State’s Attorney and Illinois Attorney General. Motion for hearing granted. Cross-examined Illinois State Police DNA Technical Director. Motion granted. Present at laboratory when search conducted. Leads to alternate suspects acquired. Investigation and defense DNA testing also produced lead to alternate suspect who was acquainted with the victim. At trial conducted cross-examination of forensic biologist and DNA analyst.

Gregory W. O'Reilly's Legal Cases (15)

People v. N.B.

People v J

People v. LB

People v. JB

People v. H

People v. L

People v. G

People v. JG

People v. D

People v. G