Chicago, IL – A suburban Chicago man, wrongfully imprisoned for a decade, was granted a significant compensation of $50 million by a federal jury this Monday. Marcel Brown, 34, from Oak Park, won his case after a two-week trial that scrutinized the handling of his arrest and subsequent legal process regarding a 2008 murder case.
In 2008, at the age of 18, Brown was arrested and later convicted as an accomplice in the murder of 19-year-old Paris Jackson in Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood. Brown’s wrongful conviction led him to serve 10 years of a 35-year sentence before his release in July 2018. The collapse of his criminal case came after essential testimony from his mother and an attorney his mother had hired, who were both initially barred from contacting him during his arrest.
Further bolstering his freedom, Brown was awarded a certificate of innocence in 2019. His successful lawsuit named several parties responsible for his grievances, including the city of Chicago, a team of police officers, an assistant state’s attorney from Cook County, and Cook County itself.
The lawsuit accused these defendants of numerous legal violations, including malicious prosecution and inflicting emotional distress by forcing a confession from Brown after more than 24 hours of questioning—questioning that was later judged illegal. These accusations point to a deeply flawed justice system, which systematically neglected the constitutional rights meant to protect individuals like Brown.
The jury apportioned the damages with $10 million for Brown’s unlawful detention before trial and a further $40 million for the suffering endured during and after his wrongful conviction. Additionally, one detective involved in Brown’s case was singled out to pay $50,000 in punitive damages.
Emerging from the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Brown, accompanied by his lawyers and family, expressed his relief and gratitude. He highlighted the jury’s decision as a pivotal moment of justice for him and his loved ones, expressing overt gratitude towards the jurors for their determination.
Locke Bowman, an attorney from the Loevy & Loevy law firm representing Brown, stressed the broader implications of the verdict. He called it a critical wake-up call to city administrators regarding the operational protocols of the Chicago Police Department, particularly their interrogation practices which, in this case, contributed to a decade of wrongful imprisonment.
Reacting to the jury’s verdict, a spokesperson for Chicago’s Law Department indicated that the city was currently reviewing the jury’s decision and assessing its potential responses. This case sheds light on the enduring struggles within the justice system to safeguard the rights of individuals and ensures the accountability of those in positions of power.