Civil Rights Litigation (Constitutional Claims)

Jury Awards Man and Woman $4.9 Million in Equal Protection and Due Process Case

Delores I. Wills v. County of Peoria, et al., Federal District Court No. 87-2328. Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in case involving discharge of employee for cooperating with law enforcement officials and engaging in other First Amendment protected activities. Case settled favorably to plaintiff. Settlement confidential at request of defendants.

Woman Retaliated Against for Testimony and Cooperating with Law Enforcement Obtained Settlement

Ryan v. DCFS. et al., Federal District Court No. 92-3079, Gillespie v. DCFS. et al., Federal District Court No. 92-3082, Patricia Benassi was plaintiffs' counsel in constitutional Equal Protection and Due Process case.  Jury awarded $4,900,000 to plaintiff.  Case settled in 2004.  Amount confidential at employers request.

Employee Gets Job Back and State Pays Over $500,000 for Retaliating because of Court Testimony

Wright v. DCFS, et al., 40 F.3d 1492 (7th Cir. 1994) Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in a First Amendment and retaliation claim by DCFS case worker who was terminated for testifying in state court. Employee was reinstated and Defendants paid over $500,000.00. (1997)

School Principal's First Amendment Retaliation Case Settled Favorably

Davidson v. Peoria School District 150. et al., Federal District Court No. 92-1374. Patricia Benassi was plaintiffs' counsel for school district principal in a First Amendment retaliation case. Case settled favorably for Plaintiff. Results confidential (1994).

Employee Fired for Political Activities Reinstated and Settles Retaliation Case

Zorzi v. Putnam County, et al.,30 F.3d 885 (7th Cir. 1994) Patricia Benassi was plaintiffs' counsel for county employee terminated in retaliation for political activities and other conduct protected by First Amendment. Employee reinstated. Case settled favorably for Plaintiff. Results confidential. (1994)

Woman Receives Favorable Ruling from Appellate Court

Vivian Volk v. Gregory Coler. et al., 845 F.2d 1422 (7th Cir. 1988). Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in jury trial involving issues of sex discrimination and retaliation due to First Amendment protected activities. Case won before jury. Partial appeal to the Seventh Circuit on issues lost in the district court. District court decisions were reversed, and the case was won in the Seventh Circuit. (See companion case below for results.)

Man's Record Cleared, Gets Old Job Back, and Receives $350,000

Terry C. Knapp v. Whitaker, et al. 757 F.2d. 827 (7th Cir. 1985). Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in a First Amendment jury trial in which issues involved retaliation for protected free speech. Case won before a jury with a verdict of $517,000. Case was appealed by the school district. Won case in the Seventh Circuit, although verdict was reduced. Second trial seeking equitable relief in the form of transfer to original job and expungement of records was won in its entirety. Plaintiff received damages of approximately $350,000. Defendant paid in excess of $875,000 in combined damages and attorney's fees.

Woman is compensated After Being Fired for Protected Activities

Johnnie Loretta Hall v. Village of Creve Coeur, et al., Federal District Court No. 87-2052. Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in First Amendment litigation involving discharge for protected activities. Case settled favorably to plaintiff after seven days of trial and at the conclusion of plaintiff's case. Settlement figure confidential at request of defendants.

Hurt Because She Helped, Woman Shares in $525,000

Mary Wegrzyn v. Dept. of Children & Family Services, et al., Federal District Court No. 85-1216. Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in sex discrimination and First Amendment case. This was a companion case to the Volk v. Coler case in that Wegrzyn was a co-worker of Volk who assisted Volk in the prosecution of her claims and who was retaliated against because of that assistance. Total amount collected from the state of Illinois in connection with these two cases was over $525,000.

Superintendent Asserts Constitutional Rights and Receives $250,000

John Hlavach v. Board of Education of Bartonville Public School District 66, et al., Federal District Court No. 86-1254. Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in case involving termination of school superintendent for First Amendment activities, violation of due process and other constitutional rights. Case settled favorably to plaintiff for $250,000.

Police Officer Settles for $185,000 After Being Retaliated Against

Luke Crowley v. City of Henry, et al., Federal District Court No. 84-1314. Patricia Benassi was plaintiff's counsel in case involving termination of police officer in retaliation for First Amendment political activities. Case settled for $185,000.