Chicago Spends Millions Fighting Wrongful Conviction Lawsuits

City's legal strategy often leads to higher settlement costs, not savings

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:05pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a set of handcuffs against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the legal system and the high cost of wrongful convictions in Chicago.The high cost of wrongful convictions in Chicago is reflected in the legal fees paid to private lawyers to fight lawsuits, rather than quickly settling cases.Chicago Today

The City of Chicago has spent almost $160 million paying private lawyers to fight wrongful conviction lawsuits since 2016, but there is 'little evidence that the strategy has paid off financially.' The city usually ends up settling the lawsuits, giving taxpayers little reason to spend exorbitant amounts on legal fees fighting the suits.

Why it matters

Chicago and Cook County are national outliers for wrongful convictions, with 488 exonerations since 1989. The city's legal strategy of dragging out cases often leads to higher settlement costs and allows lawyers to bill more hours, costing taxpayers millions.

The details

The Tribune highlighted numerous examples of Chicago dragging its feet during legal negotiations, which typically drives up settlement costs and allows lawyers to bill more hours. In one case, Thomas Sierra would have settled for $7.5 million in 2018, but the city stretched out the legal proceedings and settled last year for $14.7 million, also paying its lawyers $3 million. In another case, the city hired 40 private lawyers to defend its interests, earning $5.7 million before the $7.5 million settlement.

  • Since 2016, the City of Chicago has spent almost $160 million on private lawyers to fight wrongful conviction lawsuits.
  • In 2018, Thomas Sierra would have settled his case for $7.5 million, but the city delayed and settled in 2019 for $14.7 million, plus $3 million in legal fees.
  • In a 2016 lawsuit, the city hired 40 private lawyers who earned $5.7 million before the $7.5 million settlement.

The players

Thomas Sierra

Sued the city after spending 22 years in jail for murder before his conviction was overturned.

Ben Baker and Clarissa Glenn

Couple who filed a 2016 lawsuit against the city, which hired 40 private lawyers to defend its interests.

Reynaldo Guevara

Former detective who allegedly beat suspects to obtain confessions, costing the city $140 million to settle 14 related cases, plus an additional $47 million in legal fees.

Ronald Watts

Former sergeant who allegedly framed innocent people who refused to pay bribes, named in 180 lawsuits that the city settled for $90 million last year.

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The takeaway

Chicago's legal strategy of fighting wrongful conviction lawsuits, rather than settling them quickly, has cost taxpayers millions in excessive legal fees and higher settlement payouts. The city should focus on compensating victims fairly and efficiently, rather than dragging out cases to rack up billable hours for private lawyers.