Burge case costing city millions - (Chicago torture case)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-burge28.html

The public price to defend former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge and those under him against police torture allegations is quickly approaching $4 million, city officials told the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday.

To date, the city has paid more than $3.6 million to defend four federal lawsuits filed against Burge and others. That dollar figure, generated since two lawsuits were filed in 2003 and another two in 2004, doesn't include legal bills submitted that have not yet been paid, and will continue to climb until the cases go to trial or settlements are reached, Chicago Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said.

"I'm sure that it will hit $4 million," Hoyle said. "The cases aren't over yet."

Plaintiff attorneys lambasted the hefty bill, saying the money has gone toward continuing a cover-up they charge Burge and others started when they allegedly tortured suspects in the 1970s and 1980s. They say the city is helping in the cover-up by paying legal costs for more than 30 current and former police personnel -- about half of whom are defendants -- who refused to answer questions about torture allegations.

[xray s]

1. And Daley has the nerve to criticize Durbin about his torture remarks?

I guess torture is no big deal to Ritchie.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Ritchie was the States Attorney who was prosecuting these cases at the time

He should go down with the rest of them. He knew what was going on.

Don

[Judi Lynn]

2. News of this situation has surely been buried outside Chicago, it seems.

Thanks for posting this link. At some point, national coverage SHOULD have kicked in here.