Cook
County jurors awarded $1 million Tuesday to a man who they agreed was wrongly
held in jail for more than a year.
John
Collins, now 42, was arrested in 2006 and spent 385 days in the Cook County
Jail before he was acquitted of aggravated battery to a police officer, his
lawyers said. Collins, a barber, was behind bars for the birth of his first
child, according to his attorneys.
In
Tuesday's civil case, jurors found against the city and Chicago police Officer
Michael Garza on a count of malicious prosecution. The city prevailed on a
separate count alleging battery by Garza and his partner. Collins was awarded
$100,000 for emotional distress and $900,000 for loss of a normal life.
In a
statement on the judgment, Roderick Drew, a spokesman for the city's Law
Department, broached the possibility of an appeal.
"We
are disappointed with the verdict in this case," the statement read.
"We will be exploring all available options, including an appeal."