Joliet Taxpayers On Hook For Over $2 Million In Eric Lurry Lawsuit Settlement
Joliet taxpayers face a $2.15 million settlement cost to resolve Nicole Lurry's 2020 federal lawsuit over the death of her husband Eric Lurry in police custody.
Joliet Residents Face $2.15 Million Cost For Federal Lawsuit Settlement Over Eric Lurry Death
The city of Joliet has reached a taxpayer-funded settlement with Nicole Lurry to resolve a five-year federal lawsuit over the death of her husband Eric Lurry in police custody.
The settlement amount totals $2,150,000 according to documents obtained by Joliet Patch.
Nicole Lurry filed the August 2020 federal lawsuit against the city of Joliet and four police officials who were involved in the events leading up to Eric Lurry's death in the backseat of a Joliet police car.
The four defendant Joliet police officers in the Lurry lawsuit are now-retired Lt. Jeremy Harrison, now-retired Sgt. Doug May, Officer Jose Tellez and now-former Officer Andrew McCue.
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the terms and conditions of the settlement memorialized in this General Release and Settlement of All Claims, including but not limited to the settlement amount, are confidential.
The settlement documents state that the parties agree to keep the terms confidential except as expressly permitted in the agreement.
Last September, Joliet Patch reported that then-Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and several Joliet City Council members signed a letter asking Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate the Joliet Police Department.
The AG's Office agreed to investigate after Eric Lurry's death prompted the letter from city officials.
The September 2024 158-page Attorney General's report found the Joliet Police Department had a pattern of using excessive force against the community.
The report also found that Joliet police discriminate against Black people and perhaps Latino citizens based on five- and seven-year data reviews of Joliet police arrests, traffic stops, vehicle searches and use of force incidents.
Joliet taxpayers will bear the cost of this settlement that resolves the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Nicole Lurry.
The case has been under federal court review since Nicole Lurry filed it in August 2020.