On Wednesday, a significant verdict was reached as a Cook County jury decided to award close to $80 million to a South Shore family, whose young daughter was tragically killed in a collision stemming from a Chicago police pursuit. The crash, which occurred back on September 2, 2020, claimed the life of 10-year-old Da'Karia Spicer and left her father and brother injured. This outcome comes after a five-day trial that aimed to determine the damages owed by the city to the bereaved family, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The city of Chicago had previously admitted to being responsible for the fatal wreck in Auburn Gresham, but the actual amount of damages had been heavily contested. The Spicer family's legal team initially sought more than $140 million while the city's legal counsel recommended a sum between $12 million and $15 million. After deliberating since early afternoon, the jury decided to award the family $79.89 million. "This case speaks to the extreme dangers that are police pursuits," one of the attorneys representing the family, Patrick Salvi, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Arguments throughout the trial presented a stark picture of the emotional and physical toll on the family since the crash. According to evidence shared in court, Da'Karia was excited to begin fifth grade and had been headed to pick up a laptop for remote learning when the devastating incident occurred. On the stand, Da'Karia's father, Kevin Spicer, expressed the irreplaceable loss of his daughter, saying, "There is nothing you can do to replace that." NBC Chicago also noted the case's focus on the immeasurable impact of Da'Karia's death on her family members' mental health and well-being.
Despite the large sum awarded, the family's attorneys pointed out that this verdict is also about seeking a change in how police chases are conducted to bring offenders to justice safely. They are hoping that such a high-profile case can serve to prevent future tragedies like this one. Indeed, "Because then their daughter has not died in vain," stated Salvi, aiming to also highlight the need for law enforcement policy improvement. Attorneys for the city declined to comment on the jury’s verdict when approached by news outlets, including the Chicago Sun-Times.
