Trial Magazine

Donovan Turnage, 11, was a back seat passenger in an SUV driven by his father, who was taking Donovan and his older brother for Christmas haircuts in Chicago. As they entered an intersection on a green light, Rocky Douglas, who was being pursued by police in a stolen vehicle, broadsided the SUV. Donovan was ejected and suffered fatal injuries. He is survived by his parents and brother.

Douglas, who had a criminal record, fled the scene but was later apprehended in Wisconsin, where he was on probation for other crimes. His probation was revoked, and he is now serving time in prison in that state.

Donovan’s mother, on behalf of his estate, sued the city of Chicago, alleging that its officers were willful and wanton in failing to follow police pursuit policies and in instigating and continuing a ­high-speed pursuit through a residential area, given the likelihood of injury to innocent motorists and bystanders. The plaintiff alleged that the pursuit was too dangerous to continue, regardless of Douglas’s actions.

The plaintiff settled with the city for approximately $1.28 million.

Citation: Turnage v. City of Chicago, No. 2014-L-003353 (Ill. Cir. Ct. Cook Cnty. May 3, 2017).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Martin A. Dolan and Karen Munoz, both of Chicago.