Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD

12/13/2022

Is Lack Of Intent A Defense?

Drug possession with the intent to distribute is a very serious crime in Illinois. But what if there was no "intent"?

Defense options are available in drug cases.

11/21/2022

Do Prisoners Get Proper Medical Care?

Does the law protect a person’s right to adequate medical care while in police custody?

How about preexisting or chronic conditions?

10/17/2022

Are Prisoners' Medical Needs Ignored?

The Constitution requires that law enforcement officials provide prisoners and others in police custody with adequate medical care.

Illness, injury and even death can occur.

09/26/2022

What Constitutes Excessive Force?

The Chicago Police Department has a policy against excessive use of force. But do officers follow that policy?

Are minority groups at greater risk?

08/17/2022

Experienced Wrongful Conviction Lawyers

Wrongful convictions may be more common than you think. Chicago judges recently vacated over 30 murder convictions tied to one bad cop.

Fighting for clients' civil rights since 2004.

08/04/2022

3 Rules To Reduce Friction At A Traffic Stop

Drivers need to know how to stay safer.

Advancing civil rights for decades.

06/17/2022

Is There A Policing Problem In Chicago?

Do cops in Chicago treat all people equally, or do they single out certain groups?

Here's what the numbers have to say.

05/25/2022

Esteemed Chicago Civil Rights Attorneys

Too often, people's civil rights are violated instead of protected. We fight to right this injustice.

Decades of trial experience and success.

04/13/2022

Are Sentencing Laws Discriminatory?

Sentencing disparities over crack co***ne have been widely decried as racist. A recent case may shed additional light on the issue.

Low-level offenders have been exempt from reductions.

03/18/2022

Are Police Lineups Prejudicial?

A lineup is a technique that police use to obtain identification of an alleged perpetrator by a crime victim or other witness.

Suspects have a constitution right to an attorney.

01/26/2022

Teen Attacked In Classroom By Security Guard

The family of a local student who was brutally assaulted and choked by a school security officer has filed a federal lawsuit.

The family is represented by Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd.

01/18/2022

Premier Federal Criminal Defense Firm

Federal criminal charges involving financial and white collar crimes in Chicago are as complex as they are serious.

Our goal is to get a not-guilty verdict for every client.

12/20/2021

Turn To Us When It Matters Most

We are a nationally recognized criminal defense and civil rights law firm that provides the best possible legal representation available.

Decades of experience representing clients in Chicago.

11/10/2021

We Are Vigorous Defenders Of Justice

Attorney Michael Oppenheimer is representing the family of Michael Craig, a custodian who was tragically shot and killed by Chicago police.

Leaders in Chicago civil rights and criminal defense.

09/28/2021

Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD updated their information in their About section.

Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD updated their information in their About section.

09/28/2021

Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD updated their address.

Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD updated their address.

09/23/2021

We Take On Tough Criminal Cases — And Win

The odds are stacked against a person charged with a serious criminal offense in Chicago. Talented lawyers can help even the odds.

Nationally recognized criminal defense lawyers.

08/04/2021

When Guards Go Bad

The murder of a prison inmate by three Illinois corrections officers highlights the unexpected safety concerns faced by incarcerated people.

It's not just the other inmates.

07/29/2021

A Driving Force In Chicago Civil Rights Cases

We are a premier criminal defense law firm that combines aggressive trial advocacy with decades of experience.

Fighting to end misconduct and injustice.

06/29/2021

A Fight For Accountability

Did a school's inaction in the face of bullying contribute to one family's tragic loss?

Breaking destructive patterns.

06/23/2021

Fighting for accountability after the death of a Chicago child | Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd.

Fighting for accountability after the death of a Chicago child https://bit.ly/3xMA9Qw

Relentless bullying and the Chicago Public Schools system's failure to do anything about it has led to the death of a Chicago child, a lawsuit alleges. In February 2019, Jamari Dent, then age 11,

06/10/2021

Was I Wrongfully Arrested?

A police officer’s claim to probable cause or reasonable suspicion can be challenged in court.

We are dedicated protectors of personal rights.

06/10/2021

Cops need reasonable suspicion or probable cause | Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd.

Cops need reasonable suspicion or probable cause https://bit.ly/3vdCIJA

It seems that not a day goes by without law enforcement forcibly arresting someone during a "routine" traffic stop. These stops are more frequently escalating into armed confrontations that

07/23/2020

Aggressive Advocates For Justice

With more than 45 years of courtroom experience, our attorneys strongly protect Chicago residents from police misconduct.

We have secured tens of millions of dollars for clients.

07/23/2020

www.ericksonandoppenheimer.com

Nathaniel Onsrud, an innocent man, released from prison 13 years after wrongful conviction for murder of his infant son with the help of his attorneys and the Illinois Innocence Project

To learn more click the link below

https://www.ericksonandoppenheimer.com/Innocent-man-released-from-prison-13-years-after-wrongful-conviction-for-murder-of-his-infant-son.pdf

07/09/2020

Eric Lurry | Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. | Chicago, IL

Murder Cover-up - read full Press Release here

Murder Cover up In an astounding piece of public relations spin, Joliet Police Chief Roechner last night made yet another attempt to whitewash the brutal death of Eric Lurry at the hands of two of his officers. Chief Roechner can twist it any way he wants, but in the end, this was a cover-up, pure a...

07/09/2020

More Video Connected To Eric Lurry's Death May Not Have Been Released

Joliet Police Chief Must Step Down Immediately.

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) — The only video the public has seen surrounding the death of Eric Lurry has a timestamp of 4 p.m. on Jan. 28.

07/07/2020

Wife of man who died in Joliet police custody says dashcam video shows officers contributed to his death

Prominent Civil Rights attorney, Michael Oppenheimer of Erickson & Oppenheimer, is proud to represent Eric Lurry's family. In the first step of obtaining justice for his death, Erickson & Oppenheimer have hired nationally renowned pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, who testified for the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial. MeekMill

The wife of a man who died in Joliet police custody is heartbroken and demanding answers after watching dashcam video of his treatment while in custody.

06/24/2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 23, 2020

Innocent man released from prison 13 years after
wrongful conviction for murder of his infant son

SPRINGFIELD – A Rock Island County man’s 2008 murder conviction was vacated and he walked free from Menard Correctional Center today due to the efforts of the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) at the University of Illinois Springfield and attorneys of Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. (EO) in Chicago. Newly discovered evidence proves that Nathaniel Onsrud was not responsible for the death of his infant son.
Onsrud’s conviction was vacated after it was discovered that exculpatory documents were not disclosed to defense counsel that provided additional evidence that Onsrud is innocent. The Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office supported the request of IIP and EO to vacate Onsrud’s conviction and release him immediately.
“Our client, Nathaniel Onsrud, maintained from day one he had nothing to do with the tragic death of his infant son,” said IIP Chicago Legal Director Lauren Kaeseberg. “For the past 13 years, Nathaniel has fought to clear his name and has been through the unimaginable ordeal of losing his baby and then being wrongfully convicted of murdering him. We are so thankful that the State’s Attorney of Rock Island County has acted in the interests of justice and that we can bring Nathaniel home today.”
In May 2007, Onsrud’s four-month-old son, Dax, who had been born 10 weeks premature and had significant medical complications, became unresponsive while in Nathaniel’s care. After emergency medical treatment at home, Dax was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Initial medical examinations did not reveal foul play and the forensic pathologist brought in to consult on the case was reluctant to determine the death was a homicide. After investigators focused on Onsrud, they had multiple meetings with the pathologist to devise a new (yet erroneous) theory – that he had caused Dax’s death. Onsrud was subjected to two interviews and finally, after continual questioning, made some ambiguous statements that the investigators determined was a “confession.” Ultimately, based in large part on this “confession,” Onsrud’s defense attorney at the time encouraged him to plead guilty.
False confessions played a role in the wrongful conviction of 96 individuals in Illinois – nearly 30 percent of Illinois’ 331 exonerations since 1989, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
“To call this an injustice is a colossal understatement,” said Michael Oppenheimer of Erickson & Oppenheimer. “This was a grotesque, coordinated effort by corrupt cops, an unscrupulous and malicious prosecutor and a dishonorable medical examiner. They worked together, for the sake of their own careers – far outside all bounds of the law – to destroy an innocent man and his family forever.”
“However, I would like to commend the current Rock Island State’s Attorney, Dora Villarreal, for her dedicated leadership role in working to right this horrible wrong,” Oppenheimer added.
Nathaniel Onsrud is one of approximately 100 innocent Illinoisans whose cases have been reversed after they pled guilty, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.
“Our criminal justice system is fundamentally broken and we see that in large part in guilty pleas, where a vast number of people, once they are trapped in the system, take pleas to avoid hefty sentences threatened by the State,” said Kaeseberg.
In addition, Onsrud’s case is the latest example of the reversal of cases nationwide in which faulty science was used to convict innocent people where no crime had actually occurred.
Onsrud is the 15th client of the Illinois Innocence Project to be released or exonerated.

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The Illinois Innocence Project, founded in 2001 at the University of Illinois Springfield, provides pro bono legal advocacy and guidance to those who have been wrongfully convicted in Illinois but have credible claims of actual innocence; educates students and the public about criminal justice system failures that lead to wrongful convictions; and works with policymakers and law enforcement to change rules, laws and practices to minimize wrongful convictions.

Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. is a nationally recognized civil rights firm with over 45 years of courtroom experience, including significant wins in high-profile civil rights and criminal defense cases. Since its founding in 2004, Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. has been dedicated to fighting for justice and compensation for those that have been wrongly convicted, maliciously prosecuted and the victims of police shootings and excessive force.

06/11/2020

When Must Police Recite A List Of Rights?

People in police custody must be made aware of this.

Do they kick in before or after arrest?

04/17/2020

BREAKING NEWS!!! Our client Carl Reed, who served 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, has been granted a compassionate release and had his sentence commuted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

Carl had extensive pre-existing health conditions that put him at high risk of serious illness or death if he contracted COVID-19 in prison and a physician reviewed Carl’s medical records and recommended his immediate release. IIP represents Carl along with pro bono attorneys at Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD and Exoneration Project.

He is seen in this picture with Illinois Innocence Project Legal Assistant Karen Meidel moments after his release. We commend Governor Pritzker and his staff for their painstaking review of requests for Carl and others like him who deserve a second chance at life, not a potential death sentence COVID-19 could be in prison.

03/20/2020

3 Steps To Take After A Drug Arrest

Looking at the evidence again can provide clues to a strong defense.

Challenging evidence is critical.

03/12/2020

Former Teacher Says CPS Knew Of Ex-Dean's History Of Violence Before He Was Accused Of Choking Special Needs Student Until He Passed Out

Chicago-- CPS Warned of Violent, Abusive Teacher and Did Nothing to Stop It Resulting in Strangulation of 9 Year-Old Special Needs Student. https://cbsloc.al/39QlB6M

A former coworker is speaking out only to CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey, saying he reported Christopher Thomas’ violent behavior to the Chicago Public Schools years ago, but nothing was done.

03/12/2020

Federal Jury finds Chicago Police Sergeant unjustified in shooting fleeing suspect and awards the family $1 million. For more information, click here: https://bit.ly/3cVK7p9

03/12/2020

Citing Abuse, Chicago Attorney Calls for Federal Investigation of CPS

Chicago Attorney, Jon Erickson, Calls for Federal Investigation of CPS.

In a series of lawsuits, Attorney Jon Erickson said teachers have abused special needs students, and one even attempted to kill himself. For more information, click here: https://bit.ly/3cQJwot

A Chicago attorney is asking the United States Department of Justice to launch a formal investigation into the treatment of special needs children in Chicago Public Schools. In a letter written Tuesday to Attorney General William Barr, attorney Jon Erickson alleges that CPS has a “widespread polic...

03/09/2020

What Counts As Misconduct?

3 types of conduct that people have protection against.

Even the authorities are bound by rules.

03/06/2020

Many Factors Can Lead To Misconduct

What might cause authorities to break the rules?

Victims of misconduct have options.

03/06/2020

Do Authorities Treat People Differently?

Statistics may show the truth about disparities.

Every person has certain protections.

03/04/2020

Federal Juries Penalize Chicago in Lawsuits Against Police

Chicago Police Misconduct Costs Taxpayers Millions, Jury's Find.

Separate federal juries on Tuesday found that Chicago police officers wrongly indulged in conduct that resulted in the fatal shooting of a suspect and the false confession and imprisonment of an alleged r**e suspect.

03/04/2020

Jury finds Chicago police sergeant was unjustified in shooting fleeing suspect in 2016, awards family $1 million

Jury finds Chicago Police Sergeant John Poulos Unjustified in Fatal Shooting of 19-year-old KaJan Raye. Ruling raises serious questions about legitimacy of Civilian Office of Police Accountability's (COPA) investigation and findings. "COPA must now reopen their sham investigation and stop working for the FOP," said family attorney Michael Oppenheimer.

A federal jury on Tuesday found that a Chicago police sergeant was unjustified in fatally shooting a 19-year-old man during a South Side foot chase in 2016, awarding the man’s family more than $1 million in damages.