Chicago, Illinois: $5 million class-action settlement for vehicles seized w/o due process

Committee OKs $5 million to settle class-action lawsuit by motorists denied due process after vehicles seized in drug cases

Chicago taxpayers will spend nearly $5 million to compensate motorists denied due process after their vehicles were seized in connection with suspected drug-related offenses. The City Council’s Finance Committee signed off on the $4.95 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed in March 2015. Plaintiffs Brandon Fuller and Savannah Washington filed the lawsuit because their vehicle had been seized for potential forfeiture after a passenger in the car was arrested for marijuana possession. One month later, a judge found there was no probable cause for the search. The drug case was dismissed. But it still was too late for ...

Continue reading...

https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-h...s-due-process-chicago-city-council-settlement