Erickson & Oppenheimer, LTD

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

#EricLurry #SayHisName #BlackLivesMatter

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. #EricLurry #SayHisName #BlackLivesMatter 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

Illinois Innocence Project

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.

10/31/2019

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.

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.

06/21/2019

Chicago Mom Sues School After Son's Attempted Su***de

Michael D. Oppenheimer joins Teirra Black on HLN after chronic bullying by CPS teachers leads her 11-Year-Old special needs son to attempt su***de by hanging, suffers severe brain injury.

05/10/2019

Attorney general to prosecute Jedidiah Brown's misdemeanor case

Michael Oppenheimer and Jedidiah Brown at the Leighton Criminial Court House.

The Illinois attorney general's office will prosecute the misdemeanor battery case of an activist accused of scuffling with police during a protest.

05/10/2019

AG to prosecute activist Jedidiah Brown after cops allege ties to Kim Foxx

Erickson & Oppenheimer oppose further delays in Jedidiah Brown prosection: "Brown being used as pawn in FOP's attack on Kim Foxx."

Jedidiah Brown faces misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest and striking an officer during a 2018 demonstration in South Shore.

04/24/2019

Kim Foxx recuses herself from case involving Chicago activist

Kim Foxx recuses herself from case involving Chicago activist

Officers alleged in a court filing that Kim Foxx appeared with activist Jedidiah Brown at a recent rally in support of her and took a selfie with him.

04/22/2019

Jon F. Erickson has been on the winning side of some of Chicago's most challenging courtrooms for the past 22 years. He has appeared in over 107 federal civil rights cases in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and has won millions of dollars in damage awards for his civil rights clients. To learn more about some of Jon's cases, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2uqu65e

04/18/2019

After Son’s Su***de Attempt, Mom Sues CPS For Ignoring Chronic Bullying At Woodson Elementary; ‘I Asked For Help, And I Didn’t Get It, And I’m So Mad’

“These are children who have special needs. They are most at risk, and yet they’re put further in risk by those that we trust or should be able to trust to keep them safe, keep them happy and provide an environment conducive to learning,” Erickson said. “The Chicago Public Schools system has failed at that at a criminal level.”

Teirra Black says her son, Jamari, was constantly bullied at school. Others vouched for that. Now it's one claim of dozens in a federal lawsuit versus the Chicago Public Schools.

04/18/2019

You may not have known it but the Eighth Amendment requires prisoners, and others in police custody, to be provided with adequate medical care. Unfortunately, many prisoners' health issues are ignored. Learn more about your right to medical care in custody by visiting our website: https://bit.ly/2CwQ23p

04/18/2019

After Son’s Su***de Attempt, Mom Sues CPS For Ignoring Chronic Bullying At Woodson Elementary; ‘I Asked For Help, And I Didn’t Get It, And I’m So Mad’

CHICAGO-- Severe, Chronic Bullying by CPS Teachers Leads 11-Year-Old Special Needs Student to Attempt Su***de By Hanging, Suffers Severe Brain Injury. CPS Officials Ignored Year-long Problem Despites Pleas For Help By Victim's Mother.

Teirra Black says her son, Jamari, was constantly bullied at school. Others vouched for that. Now it's one claim of dozens in a federal lawsuit versus the Chicago Public Schools.

04/15/2019

The difference between winning and losing often boils down to one thing: your attorney. It's time to have two of the best in your corner. Erickson & Oppenheimer have been named to the National Trial Lawyers' list of the Top 100 litigators in the country. Get the help you need, give us a call at (312) 327-3370 for a free consultation.

12/18/2018

Too Many Oddities Made Case Stand Out

Chicago officers facing disciplinary action after attempted cover up.

More details on this case.

11/23/2018

Just How Much Force Is Too Much?

Controlling and de-escalating, or adding fuel to the fire?

Is police training adequate?

05/17/2018

May 16, 2018. Erickson & Oppenheimer win 1st Degree Murder Jury Trial. A Cook County Jury Returned a Verdict of Not Guilty after approximately 3 hours of deliberation.

04/18/2018

City Council approves $2.3M settlement to Jaquise Evans

Erickson & Oppenheimer, Ltd. gets justice for Jaquise Evans

A questionable police shooting made worse by the Law Department’s failure to produce evidence has created a $2.3 million bill for Chicago taxpayers.

01/20/2018

Federal judge blasts city lawyers for failing to turn over crucial evidence

New Corp Counsel Siskel Continues Pattern of Corruption in City of Chicago's Law Department as His Assistants Hide Evidence to Protect Abusive Cops.

A normally mild-mannered Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer shook with anger Friday as she excoriated lawyers for the city’s Law Department.

01/13/2018

2 cops recommended for firing in fatal shooting during stolen car chase in 2016

https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/2-chicago-cops-recommended-for-firing-in-paul-oneal-shooting/

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson "concurred with the findings" of investigators with the now-defunct Independent Police Review Authority.

01/05/2018

Phillipe, we wish we could be there! Your story touched our hearts, and we hope you were happy with our token to show that we care. Take care,

2018 GIVING: Philippe was one of our finalist for the car, but he didn’t win. But his story touched us all, he’s paralyzed living in a garage so it’s hard to make ends meet. I teamed up w/ Chevrolet of Homewood, & my friends at Erickson & Oppenheimer, to bless him with lots of $$$! We can’t take our lives for granted and we must give to those who are less fortunate than us.