Twenty-one-year-old Christina Eilman, a mentally ill California woman picked up by police at Midway Airport for "raving about the price of oil, exposing herself, making lewd comments and screaming at ticket agents, a baby and a blind man" (Tribune) was allegedly mishandled by officers.
Her parents are suing the City of Chicago, claiming a series of negligent acts that eventually left her severely brain damaged and with multiple broken bones. They're asking for a whopping $100 million in damages.
It all started when Eilman, who had been "hanging around" Midway for two days (no mention of why she was there), started making the above commotion and eventually was apprehended by Chicago police. After questioning, a police sergeant determined that she was not mentally ill and she was placed in a holding cell for more than 24 hours.
Another officer called Eilman's parents, who told police that she was "probably bipolar," but instead of taking her to a hospital (which is protocol) they took her to Wentworth District lockup. She continued to act erratically, but guards reportedly told her to "shut up" and called her derogatory names.
The next day Eilman allegedly was dropped off in a high-crime neighborhood, where she was cornered and sexually abused by a man in a public-housing apartment and then fell from the seventh floor of the building, sustaining serious injuries.
The parents blame the cops' negligence for the fall and hope their Illinois Injury Attorneys will be able to recover $100 million in damages on their behalf.
- Mentally ill or homeless: vulnerable to police abuse (Amnesty International, via NARPA)
- Mother Settles Suit Over Teen's In-Custody Stun Gun Death (FindLaw)
- Resolution Before Trial: Settlement (FindLaw)
- Chicago Injury Attorneys (FindLaw)
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