Federal Jury Rejects Claim of Excessive Force

Tom Weiler and Theresa Bresnahan-Coleman successfully defended three River Forest Police officers against claims of use of excessive force made by a woman following her arrest. The case was tried before Judge Leinenweber in federal court in Chicago. The woman claimed that the officers beat her and stomped her after she was handcuffed. The jury rejected those claims. Neighbors who saw the woman being taken into custody contradicted the woman’s testimony and that of her son. The officers had to use a “spit hood” on the plaintiff during transport to prevent her from spitting on them.