Suing the City of Chicago for alleged police misconduct has become a significant financial burden, with payouts exceeding $1.1 billion since 2008. In 2024 alone, more than $140 million was spent on settlements and verdicts related to police actions, far surpassing the city’s budgeted amount for such expenses. This shortfall led officials to borrow an additional $283.3 million to keep up with ongoing litigation costs.

The increase in lawsuits and exonerations has created what some describe as a lucrative industry for trial lawyers, activists, and others whose income is tied to these cases. Law firms often collect large contingency fees from civil suits stemming from exonerations, many of which involve individuals previously convicted of serious crimes.

During Kim Foxx’s tenure as Cook Cou

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