Posted on 03/24/2015 6:12:37 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Authorities have reached a $20 million settlement with a man who spent two decades in prison before he was cleared by DNA of the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Waukegan, ending a controversial chapter for Lake County's troubled justice system.
Lawyers for Juan Rivera said the agreement with the city of Waukegan and other governmental bodies marks the largest settlement for a wrongfully convicted person in Illinois.
"No amount of money could ever sum up to 20 years in prison," Rivera, who hopes to go to college to study business management, said Friday at the offices of the Loevy & Loevy law firm.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
20 years in the joint and he was found innocent? A 20 year nightmare. Hard to imagine going through that.
"... none of the defendants admitted wrongdoing. The law enforcement officers sued in the case are being dismissed as defendants and won't have to pay damages..."
I’m glad he got $20 Million, even though he would have preferred never being there in the first place.
He’ll receive his check for $20,000 from his lawyers.
The true irony is that if he had been given sentanced to the death penalty he would have been found innocent 19 years ago. (and Still 24 years before he would have ever been executed)
And there is the problem. Corrupt cops, protect no doubt by SEIU, can operate with no punishment for their crimes. These corrupt cops cost towns and taxpayers millions.
Taxpayers will pay for their crimes and their fat pensions. Disgusting.
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