MASS MURDER PAYS OFF

[HairOfTheDog]

This loser is James Degorski. He's $450,000 richer today.



He and his good buddy killed seven people back in 1993. They're both serving life sentences.

They shot and stabbed two restaurant owners and five workers at Brown's Chicken and Pasta during a botched robbery in Chicago. The bodies were found in a walk-in cooler and freezer.

It wasn't until 2002 that PD cracked the case; at which time Degorski, now 41, alleges that a Cook County Jail guard (Officer Wilson) punched him and broke his cheekbone and eye socket — just after Degorski's arrest in what had been one of the most notorious, unsolved murder cases in Illinois history.

"We were only allowed to say he (Degorski) was convicted of murder. ... It wasn't explained to them (the jury) how vicious this guy was," Winters (Officer Wilson's attorney) said.

That was relevant, he added, because his client did know during the 2002 incident about the chilling allegations against Degorski and believed he needed to be aggressive in subduing him.

"Officer Wilson knew who this guy was," Winters said. "So when he was attacked, he was going to respond in kind. We believe this was a case of self-defense."

The jury said Degorski should get $225,000 in compensatory damages, which is the amount Cook County must pay, attorneys said; $226,000 in punitive damages would have to be paid by Wilson.

Refs:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/26091...rders.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/10...32726.html

[HairOfTheDog]

Sometimes the inconsistencies in the US justice system depress me -- not always, but some days like today.

Michael Dunn can kill an unarmed kid in a car in Florida and make up any kind of self-defense story (unsupported by evidence and witnesses) he pleases based on his claimed "fearful mindset" -- and he hangs the jury.

BUT, Officer Wilson in Illinois gets sued by a violent mass-murdering piece of shit because he hit the murderer in the face during an alleged attack, and Wilson's prohibited by the court from testifying as to his state of mind at the time stemming from the murderer's history of violent attacks. And, now the officer is legally obligated to pay the murderer $260k out of his own pocket in punitive damages.

I don't think society should look the other way when cops and guards abuse prisoners and/or violate their civil rights for thrills or power trips or whatever. But, in this case, I think Officer Wilson had a right to present a robust self-defense case.

Anyway, it's unclear what's gonna happen to the money awarded to Degorski by the jury. I hope Wilson appeals, and I hope Degorski never sees a dime of his judgment.

If the state of Illinois files a claim, it's possible that they can take all but $15k of the judgment as the cost of incarcerating Degorski for life.

Alternatively, the families of his victims (who are understandably outraged) could possibly file wrongful death suits against Degorski and try to take whatever money he gets.

[Maggot]

I hate reading stuff like this.

[Duchess]

I hope he never sees one penny of that money!