Aldermen: End Burge saga
TORTURE LAWSUITS | 6 urge Daley to finally settle cases
Last fall, the city reached a tentative $14.8 million settlement with Leroy Orange, Stanley Howard and Madison Hobley. All three men were allegedly coerced into murder confessions by Burge and his cohorts, only to be pardoned and released from Death Row by now-convicted Gov. George Ryan.
For reasons that have never been adequately explained, the settlement was never forwarded to the City Council for approval. Mayor Daley has denied there ever was a deal, telling reporters, "You have to get an agreement with me."
On Tuesday, Aldermen Bob Fioretti (2nd), Pat Dowell (3rd), Toni Preckwinkle (4th), Howard Brookins (21st), Ed Smith (28th) and Joe Moore (49th) again demanded that the Burge cases be settled.
They were armed with a study, disclosed Sunday by the Chicago Sun-Times, that shows taxpayers could be on the hook for up to $195 million if the city insists on defending Burge in civil suits filed by Orange, Howard, Hobley and two others alleging torture -- Aaron Patterson and Darrell Cannon.
To the aldermen, it's not simply a matter of saving money when Chicago is struggling to close a $217 million budget gap. It's about justice and healing for African Americans.
"I think about this as a moral obligation. ... This is one of the most disgraceful episodes in Chicago's history," Preckwinkle said.
Corporation Counsel Mara Georges could not be reached for comment.
Mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard urged reporters, "Stay tuned ... Mara will have something interesting to say" at today's Finance Committee meeting, where the settlement demand is expected to be discussed.