Friday, February 27, 2009

Corp Counsel Wins One

And to win it, they had to spend money:
  • This week city attorneys defending a Chicago Police officer who was sued for the shooting death of a man used a new animation technique that came as close to CSI as it gets.

    A jury found in favor of the city and the officer Tuesday after a six-day trial.

    "The jury thinks we can do everything CSI does,'' city attorney Matt Hurd said. "When we can use this CSI stuff, it's something a jury can relate to.''

  • Law department officials said they are not aware of another case where the animation was used. It's costly -- $15,000 in this case. The animation will be considered for use on a case-by-case basis.
Corp Counsel has to present not only the best case possible, but they have to present the flashiest case with all the bells and whistles to overcome the inherent stupidity always present in juries, especially Cook County juries. This "CSI-effect" has been the subject of numerous studies where jurors just assume that everything they see on TV is true and complicated cases can be solved in 60 minutes, including the commercial breaks. If only that were true, the jails would be full to overflowing and personal injury attorneys would be selling pencils on street corners.

We heard that after this "CSI-type" presentation, the plaintiff's attorney actually stood and applauded before his colleagues were able to drag him back into his seat. We may have made that up just now.

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38 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

...”This "CSI-effect" has been the subject of numerous studies where jurors just assume that everything they see on TV is true and complicated cases can be solved in 60 minutes, including the commercial breaks.”...


And a Jury is comprised of 12 people that aren’t smart enough to get out of Jury Duty!

2/27/2009 12:08:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

good for them. i know the case they are talking about. it made alot of press and they really were throwing the officer to the wolves when it happened. glad to see corp counsel did a really good job on this case. i really think people should stop bashing them down there. they are really nice people and they are defending US. well done guys and it was a great win.

2/27/2009 12:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't remember who said it first, but it bears repeating:

"I do not want to be judged by 12 people that are too stupid to avoid jury duty"

2/27/2009 12:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's about time the city didn't just pay someone. Good news for both officers involved. They deserve it.

2/27/2009 01:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I got a court notification for 26th Street. I really don't feel like getting up that early to be there.

Would it be OK if I E-mailed a Powerpoint presentation for my testimony?

2/27/2009 01:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gee, just think, if Mel Blank were still alive they could add some cool audio as well : )

2/27/2009 02:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

baffle them with bullshit !

2/27/2009 03:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sometimes you have to spend some money to save some money.

I hope this is an indication of a change in philosophy of how this city deals with BULLSHIT LAWSUITS. It is surprising, to say the least, to see that the Corp Council fought one, especially after reading they were in settlement talks tossing around numbers like $2.5 million.

In my book, City Attorney Matt Hurd should be running for Mayor, or at least replace Mara Georges as the Chicago Corporation Council.
.

2/27/2009 06:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gee...1 out of a few thousand.

2/27/2009 07:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, but isn't it pathetic that when that office does what it's supposed to do, what they're paid to do, we're heaping praise on them?

2/27/2009 08:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also was on this case from the scene, deposition and then testifying. I would like to say I wouldn't have wanted to be in your pants (Po Nelson) even thou you did the right thing from following up on the robbery case to having that feeling someone is starting to take your gun away. I'm glad that the Lawyers that chase down these type's of cases take notice " and I use the word lawyer very loosely. " What can I say about the Three Corporation Counsel Lawyers ( Aces, Aces and Aces ) At work I give 110% on every job I do, but the three Aces gave 210% and would want them on my side anyday. I hope your bosses give a paid vacation ( on are dime ) to some where very warm to unwind. So to Ofr. Guy Nelson you are a Policeman.

2/27/2009 08:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now if they'd only locked up the lying dog for a False Official Statement. Then and only then will this sh@t stop!

2/27/2009 08:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OFF TOPIC, BUT...

"...under the bus"

It's time to put this phrase, or any derivation of it, out to pasture...please.

2/27/2009 10:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its about time the city spent some money defending the police rather then just setteling out of court. Sure it cost $15, 000, but how many millions can this save us in the long run? Remember, the money they just love to give out is from the middle class, highly overtaxed citzens of this city.

2/27/2009 11:03:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

question: whos the sgt in special employment cta who keeps bad mouthing the p.o. who handled the job on the bus in 18 anyone who does police work know he didnt do anything wrong. if u want to critique something sgt: whos the po in 10 that was grazed by a bullet in his finger or fell down and scraped it (no one really knows)was promoted to sgt and put in cta specialemployment(i dont know)you sir are an idiot and i find your racial jokes at role call offensive and stupid

2/27/2009 11:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good post, SCC. And it's nice to see the Corp. Counsel's office get a little credit on the site.

p.s. It was a federal jury.

2/27/2009 01:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cartoons, just plain oold cartoons.
And the public believes this crap?
No wonder this communist asshole was voted in as president.

2/27/2009 04:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

However, it's also better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. God protect us all.

2/27/2009 05:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

CITY OK'd TO SPEND $182 MILLION FOR O'HARE PROJECT
February 27, 2009 4:57 PM

Chicago has received the go-ahead to spend $182 million in airline passenger ticket taxes to fund design drawings for a possible future phase of expanding O'Hare International Airport, officials said today.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com
/2009/02/city-okd-to-spend-182-million-for-ohare-project.html
___________________________________



NICE ! $182 million for drawings of a POSSIBLE future phase. WTF ?

.

2/27/2009 06:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also was on this case from the scene, deposition and then testifying. I would like to say I wouldn't have wanted to be in your pants (Po Nelson) even thou you did the right thing from following up on the robbery case to having that feeling someone is starting to take your gun away. I'm glad that the Lawyers that chase down these type's of cases take notice " and I use the word lawyer very loosely. " What can I say about the Three Corporation Counsel Lawyers ( Aces, Aces and Aces ) At work I give 110% on every job I do, but the three Aces gave 210% and would want them on my side anyday. I hope your bosses give a paid vacation ( on are dime )

----------------

The main reason the city won was because you obviously didn't write any paper on that scene.

2/27/2009 07:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Looks like corp. counsel is starting to fight more and more of these cases instead of just settling. I heard another federal lawsuit against 2 cpd officers was recently won where the "plantiffs" were seeking 3.3 million. Jury found in favor of po's. Kudos to Corp. Counsel

2/27/2009 07:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
question: whos the sgt in special employment cta who keeps bad mouthing the p.o. who handled the job on the bus in 18 anyone who does police work know he didnt do anything wrong. if u want to critique something sgt: whos the po in 10 that was grazed by a bullet in his finger or fell down and scraped it (no one really knows)was promoted to sgt and put in cta specialemployment(i dont know)you sir are an idiot and i find your racial jokes at role call offensive and stupid

2/27/2009 11:36:00 AM

initials please?

2/27/2009 07:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

good job corp counsel. i think everyone on this site needs to stop giving them so much crap.. lets not forget.. thier job is to defend us.... i think they are the best allie what we have... so lets not knock them for settling cases or giving money away. every one down there i have liked and are good people. keep up the good work corp counsel and dont listen to the negative sh*t that some of these miserable guys say on here.

2/27/2009 07:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
"...whos the po in 10 that was grazed by a bullet in his finger or fell down and scraped it (no one really knows)..."
2/27/2009 11:36:00 AM
_____________________________________

I really know, pal. I'm the one who called in the 'shots fired' that night!

I was working Beat 1050 on the 3/W, when several shots went off nearby. I called for back-up, troops came in and more rounds went off.

The above PO and two beat cars were hit by sniper fire from an assault rifle.

I can't and won't vouch for his roll-calls or his comedy but DAMN YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO MINIMIZE GETTING SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY. He and a number of other Officers came close to paying the ultimate price that night.

Come talk to me when you've got your gunshot wound. Until then, you're a crybaby and he's the real police !

.

2/27/2009 10:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Cartoons, just plain oold cartoons.
And the public believes this crap?
No wonder this communist asshole was voted in as president.

2/27/2009 04:06:00 PM

HEY, ASSWIPE !

Learn to read. This post is about the police and Corp Council. The election is over. You're guy lost. Now grow up and get over it !!!

2/27/2009 10:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

his initials are B.M. so that gives him the right to badmouth all other police officers who are out there doin their job. if you think hes the real police thank god you"re retired.(you sir are an idiot)shouldnt you be enjoying your retirement instead of writing on this blog go fishin or something

2/27/2009 11:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

good job corp counsel. i think everyone on this site needs to stop giving them so much crap.. lets not forget.. thier job is to defend us.... i think they are the best allie what we have... so lets not knock them for settling cases or giving money away. every one down there i have liked and are good people. keep up the good work corp counsel and dont listen to the negative sh*t that some of these miserable guys say on here.

2/27/2009 07:59:00 PM

Sweet baby Jesus on a po-go stick, are you smoking dope or what? “…lets not forget.. thier job is to defend us.”… Defend US? They look out for the BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, Not us! I’m not going to cast dispersions upon THEIR (it’s called “Spell Check”; try it, it works!) character, and as far as lawyers go, they might just be nice, to a point. HOWEVER…They get paid from the City; they look out for the hand that feeds them. NOT YOUR ASS! When push comes to shove, I want you to tell us what the underside of that CTA bus looks like! I love your comment “so lets not knock them for settling cases or giving money away.”, That made me laugh! They cut checks and hand out money like it was an Olympic sport and they wanted the gold medal! Cut a check to a family that failed in the “raising a responsible human being” category when he decided to break into a home? FUCK THAT! How much of MY tax dollars went to the pieces of shit that disarmed the police in the car accident in 009? FUCK THAT AGAIN! I’m not even going to remark on all of the bullshit surrounding the screwdriver (No pun intended!) incident. Because, DNA –wise, it was probably closer to bullshit, because it for damn sure wasn’t the kids! You want your ally (again, it’s called “Spell Check”) to piss away your money, go right ahead, but me, and a lot of others in this uniform are sick of it!

I’m not detracting from the fact that Corporation Council won this one, and yes, good job Corp. Council! But I will point out to you that Corp Council will cut a shithead in the wrong a check faster than they will stick up for us. And that the City’s best interests is what they have in mind, if you happen to be standing in the right spot, well, O.K. for you. If not, well, maybe you can change the oil while you are under there!

Just think, the money you could have saved from these frivolous law suits could have went too Visine, to clear the smoke from your eyes, and up grade to a computer with “Spell Check”!

2/28/2009 01:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay, but isn't it pathetic that when that office does what it's supposed to do, what they're paid to do, we're heaping praise on them?

2/27/2009 08:22:00 AM

True but that is how you teach a baby to walk.

2/28/2009 07:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
his initials are B.M. so that gives him the right to badmouth all other police officers who are out there doin their job. if you think hes the real police thank god you"re retired.(you sir are an idiot)shouldnt you be enjoying your retirement instead of writing on this blog go fishin or something

2/27/2009 11:56:00 PM



Obviously, the only IDIOT here is you, because you appear to be ILLITERATE, (punctuation and grammar notwithstanding).

What I said was, and let me say it slow so you can try to understand, "I can't and won't vouch for his roll-calls or his comedy but DAMN YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO MINIMIZE GETTING SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY".

So what have we learned, here ?
Well, we learned that AT NO TIME DID I SAY: "so that gives him the right to badmouth all other police officers who are out there doin their job." I DID NOT SAY THAT. No, that was you. I never said it. I never implied it.

What I said was, "I CAN'T AND WON'T VOUCH FOR HIS ROLL-CALLS OR HIS COMEDY..."

I also said, "...Come talk to me when you've got your gunshot wound. Until then, you're a crybaby and he's the real police..." and I stand by it. You don't know what he did as a PO, so don't be so quick to disregard his service or his sacrifice. If you do that, you are no better than the person you are painting him to be... I'll refrain from questioning your worthiness for the same reason.

Oh, and thanks for your good wishes on my retirement ! I can't be thankful enough that I'm retired and not listening to the whining on a daily basis, (though I know from this blog there is much to whine about these days). I am enjoying retirement quite thoroughly from afar, but I do weigh in on the blog on occasion when I think I have a worthwhile contribution or maybe a chuckle to add to someones day.

For the record, I hope to God you never get that gunshot wound we talked about. No one deserves the pain or psychological trauma attached to such an incident.

Stay safe, all, Even you, Mr/Ms Anonymous said...

2/28/2009 10:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i worked umpteen years on the cpd now all i do is drink alcohol read and write comments on the blog. hey pal y dont u get a hobby,be a greeter at walmart,spend time with ur family,get a girlfriend,smoke a little weed,just relax enjoy ur retirement. u know who you are (you sir are an idiot)

2/28/2009 10:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope this is an indication of a change in philosophy of how this city deals with BULLSHIT LAWSUITS. It is surprising, to say the least, to see that the Corp Council fought one, especially after reading they were in settlement talks tossing around numbers like $2.5 million.
---------------

Just to be clear ... the plaintiffs made a demand of $2.5 mil right before trial. The City never offered a dime on this case.

2/28/2009 11:15:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you go to the Federal Illinois Northern District Court website, you will see that on average, 2 suits per week are filed against coppers and the city. You can read the complaints--it's mind- boggling. Mine is on there too. Haven't heard a word about it for close to a year. The three stooges could have filed it, based on how it reads........

2/28/2009 04:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
If you go to the Federal Illinois Northern District Court website, you will see that on average, 2 suits per week are filed against coppers and the city. You can read the complaints--it's mind- boggling. Mine is on there too. Haven't heard a word about it for close to a year. The three stooges could have filed it, based on how it reads........

2/28/2009 04:13:00 PM
--------
2??? Try 20. Some list the PO by name, some are against the City of Chicago, some are against the Chicago Police Department. Look carefully.

3/01/2009 12:48:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you know that ur on the blog daily not on OCCASSION (spelled with 2 ses)i beg to differ i know what kind of p.o. he was and what kind of sgt. he is (god help us)as i said before put down the beer get off the computer and enjoy your retirement posting on this blog doesnt make you the police anymore.being shot doesnt mean your still not an asshole remember that it only means you've been shot

3/01/2009 12:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have worked with him, and quite frankly, Sgt. B.M. from Mass Transit Special Employment is a moron.

3/01/2009 02:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Anonymous said...
If you go to the Federal Illinois Northern District Court website, you will see that on average, 2 suits per week are filed against coppers and the city. You can read the complaints--it's mind- boggling. Mine is on there too. Haven't heard a word about it for close to a year. The three stooges could have filed it, based on how it reads........

2/28/2009 04:13:00 PM
--------
2??? Try 20. Some list the PO by name, some are against the City of Chicago, some are against the Chicago Police Department. Look carefully.

3/01/2009 12:48:00 AM
------
That's only in Federal Court. More are filed in state court.

3/02/2009 01:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the CSI effect has not been the subject of ANY studies ...

How the hell do you 'study' an obscure concept?

this site is going nutso ...fast

3/02/2009 04:16:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the CSI effect has not been the subject of ANY studies ...

How the hell do you 'study' an obscure concept?

this site is going nutso ...fast


Did you even google "CSI Effect"? Check the wikipedia entry with numerous citation of past and current studies.

The only thing going nutso fast is your dumb ass.

3/02/2009 05:10:00 PM  

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