CHICAGO, IL – This morning attorneys from Disparti Law Group filed a civil rights lawsuit in the Northern District of the US District Court against the Village of Flossmoor and the Village Manager, Bridget Wachtel. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of racially discriminatory behaviors against Police Chief Jerel Jones.
“This kind of discrimination and racism is not welcome in Flossmoor, in our communities and especially in our government,” exclaimed Attorney Bob Fioretti, part of the legal team representing Chief Jones.
The 117-point federal lawsuit articulates, in detail, several instances of race-based micromanagement and hypercriticism that would have made it impossible for any person to succeed in the role of Police Chief. “It is clear that there were two sets of performance stands – one for white and other for black department heads,” noted attorney Cass Casper, another member of the Disparti legal team that is representing the chief.
In addition to Chief Jones and his attorneys, a representative from NOBLE, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, was present. Mitchell R. Davis, III, the Police Chief of neighboring Hazel Crest and a member of the Chicago Chapter of NOBLE, read a statement from their National President.
“In reviewing the totality of the publicly available information, it is very alarming that in a matter of months the administration determined that Chief Jones made ‘serious lapses in performance’ that rose to the level of severing his relationship with the community. It appears to us that members of the Flossmoor community share these same concerns. NOBLE stands in support of Chief Jerel Jones to ensure that his character and professional integrity are not the casualty of allegations and decisions made by Flossmoor’s administration.”
The case has been filed in federal court and is awaiting assignment of a judge and first court date.
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About Disparti Law Group
The Disparti Law Group is one of the most successful law firms serving the greater Chicagoland area. As the leader in Injury, Disability, Workers’ Comp, and Employment Law, with more than $1 billion in recoveries, the Disparti Law Group has been named One of the Most Influential Law Firms in America by Trial Lawyer Magazine. More information is available at: www.dispartilaw.com
