Attorney Melvin Brooks's Legal Cases

Civil rights

Natasha Williams as special admin. of the Estate of Corey A. Harris Jr., v. City of Chicago, et.al.,

Aug 29, 2014

OUTCOME: Settlement for $1.2 million. Approximately $750,000.00 of the settlement was used to fund an annuity which will pay the sole heir (minor) in excess of $3.2 million during her lifetime.

Harris Jr., a 17 y/o was shot and killed by an off duty Chicago police officer as he was pursued from the scene of a shooting incident. Harris was not the involved shooter. However, the officer whil ... e driving his personal vehicle, heard a gunshot and observed a group of teenagers running from the scene of the shooting. Harris was among the group of teens and was seen running with a gun in his possession. The officer chased after Harris in his SUV and fired shots on two separate instances during the chase but failed to strike Harris. As the chase continued, Harris threw the gun away which the officer became aware of prior to firing the fatal shot which occurred during a third instance in which the officer fired shots at Harris. At that time, Harris stood unarmed in a fenced enclosed yard.

Wrongful death

H. Ray (estate of Dashand Ray v. E2, Epitome, etal

Aug 15, 2014

OUTCOME: Settlment of $1.8 million with Clear Channel Broadcasting paying $1.7 million and the E2 owners paying $100,000 as part of a global settlement of $2.5 million which was allocated among the 21 victims and all injury claimants

Case was brought on behalf of the family of a 24-year old man who was one of 21 people trampled to death in a stampede at the E2, a popular Chicago night club. The DJ for the Sunday night, entertainme ... nt event, who plaintiff’s assert was an agent of Clear Channel/WGCI, directed security to use pepper spray to stop a disturbance on the dance floor between two women at approximately 2:25 AM on February 17, 2003. The DJ further incited the crowd when he yelled over the PA system that it was a terrorist attack. With more than 1,000 persons in attendance, the terrified group then rushed down a single narrow staircase leading from the club. Many of the patrons were trapped and wedged together in the staircase, including Dashand Ray. All of the victims died from compressional asphyxia.

Wrongful death

Boyd v. City of Chicago, et al.,

Mar 27, 2013

OUTCOME: $4.5 million settlement

Civil action brought on behalf of the family of a 22 year old woman who was shot and killed by an off-duty Chicago police officer. The officer contended that he was confronted by a young man who was p ... art of the group that Ms. Boyd was gathered with, and that he fired his weapon in defense of his life after the young man pointed a gun at him. The officer was subsequently indicted after the civil case was resolved.

Wrongful death

Salters v. City of Chicago, et. al.,

Apr 08, 2009

OUTCOME: Settlement of $3.5

Action brought on behalf of the family of a 57 year old woman who was killed when her vehicle was struck by a police car responding to an emergency call. Plaintiff faced the liability challenge of hav ... ing to establish that the actions of the office in operating the police car amounted to willful and wanton misconduct.

Medical malpractice

Marshall v. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital

Nov 20, 2006

OUTCOME: $7.5 million verdict

Marshall v. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, a 77 year old woman who had diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, a past heart attack and a ... past stroke. She broke her femur and was admitted to the Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital for recovery. Shortly before discharge from Schwab, a nurse placed her on a shower chair to bathe her and because the chair seat was not properly secured, the woman was impaled with the steel tubing of the chair requiring surgery. She developed sepsis and died 7 months later.

Trucking accident

V. Smith v. Transit Authority, et al.,

May 22, 2006

OUTCOME: settlement of $4.0 million

Lawsuit brought on behalf of the adult heirs of female who was struck by a large, municipal motor vehicle making a right turn through an intersection. Two witnesses who were interviewed by the police a ... nd news media indicated that the decedent was running in and across the street and through traffic when the accident occurred.

Melvin Brooks's Legal Cases (6)

Natasha Williams as special admin. of the Estate of Corey A. Harris Jr., v. City of Chicago, et.al.,

H. Ray (estate of Dashand Ray v. E2, Epitome, etal

Boyd v. City of Chicago, et al.,

Salters v. City of Chicago, et. al.,

Marshall v. Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital

V. Smith v. Transit Authority, et al.,