When We Fight, We Fight To Win

Chicago Civil Rights Lawyers

Fighting For Transparency, Accountability And Justice For Clients Across The United States

The U.S. Constitution and state law provide protections that limit the government’s ability to infringe upon our civil rights (such as the right to free speech, religion, or due process), and protect against discrimination, harassment, and other forms of misconduct.

Unfortunately, the government and its agents do not always act within the laws by which they are bound. If law enforcement, government representatives, or a company violate your rights, you may have grounds to seek justice and compensation for the damages you suffered.

At Power Rogers, LLP, we focus exclusively on fighting for clients who have been injured or wronged – including victims of civil rights violations committed by the government or employers. If you or a loved one have a potential civil rights case, our attorneys are here to help.

Why Choose Power Rogers?

  • Over $5 billion in compensation recovered for clients; $900 million more than our closest competitor since 2000.
  • Chicago Lawyer’s “No. 1 Plaintiffs’ Law Firm” in most dollars earned for ten consecutive years.
  • Ranked among the Tier 1 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Award-winning trial lawyers with record-setting verdicts and settlements.
  • Contingency fees – no up-front fees to hiring our firm, and no fee unless we win.

Call 312-500-1792 or contact us online to discuss your civil rights case.

Civil Rights Cases We Handle

Civil rights lawsuits are highly complex cases, and they’re often aggressively contested by powerful entities. At Power Rogers, LLP, we leverage our experience, resources, and reputation to help clients level the playing field with defendants who too often overpower those who step forward.

Our firm handles a range of civil rights cases, including:

  1. Police Misconduct
  2. Police Brutality / Police Shootings
  3. Wrongful Death by Police or Law Enforcement
  4. Prosecutorial Abuse / Malicious Prosecution
  5. False Arrest & Wrongful Conviction / Incarceration
  6. Discrimination & Harassment

A Proven Record Taking On The Government

Power Rogers has cultivated a reputation as one of the region’s most successful civil trial law firms. Over our years in practice, we’ve amassed a proven record in complex cases involving civil rights abuses, police brutality, and government misconduct.

A few of the notable cases handled by our firm include:

  • Licenses for bribes: Joseph Power Jr. and Larry Rogers Jr., members of the invite-only Inner Circle of Advocates, secured a $100 million truck accident recovery in a case that exposed Illinois’ “licenses for bribes” scandal and resulted in 76 criminal convictions – including the conviction of former Illinois Governor George Ryan.
  • Bettie Jones police brutality: In 2018, partner Larry Rogers Jr. and Johnathan M. Thomas secured a $16 million settlement with the City of Chicago over the wrongful death of Bettie Jones, who was shot and killed by Chicago police in 2015.
  • Tarance Etheridge police shooting: Partners Larry Rogers Jr. and Jonathan M. Thomas secured a $10 million settlement from the City of Chicago for Tarance Etheredge, a black man who was shot in the back by Chicago Police and paralyzed from the waist down in 2012.
  • Police misconduct and officer shootings: Partner Larry Rogers Jr. has secured millions in police misconduct and police shooting cases, and has handled high-profile cases involving Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, and other victims wrongfully killed or injured by law enforcement.

Civil Rights Claims: Common Questions

What Are Civil Rights Violations?

Civil rights violations can encompass a range of actions that violate the legal protections which afford citizens the right to be treated fairly under the law. Civil rights protections come largely from the U.S. Constitution and laws that include:

  • The Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment, which provide protections against illegal searches and seizures and police brutality, and entitle citizens to due process of law
  • The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, religion, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the government
  • The Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits state and federal governments and employers from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or nationality
  • The Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in employment, finances, public housing, and real estate on the basis of federally protected classes (i.e., race, color, religion, sex, and nation of origin), and age, sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, military status, disability, pregnancy, and marital status. It also prohibits sexual harassment in education, discrimination based on arrest records or citizenship status in employment, and discrimination based on familial status in real estate.

What Are Civil Rights Lawsuits?

Civil rights lawsuits are claims brought in civil court by individuals who allege the government, a public agency, or some other entity (such as an employer) violated their civil rights.

Many civil rights cases concern claims that the government failed to act within its bounds, resulting in damages to victims and their loved ones for which they should bear financial responsibility. These claims may stem from the misconduct of police or prosecutors responsible for unlawful profiling or discrimination, unreasonable search and seizure, due process violations, brutality, and other misconduct.

Civil rights lawsuits may also arise from discrimination and violations within federally funded programs, or the workplace. Examples include:

  • Harassment or discrimination in schools that receive public funding
  • Housing discrimination based on race or national origin
  • Workplace sexual harassment
  • Denials of notice or the opportunity to be heard before property is taken away

Do I Have A Civil Rights Case?

As with many legal matters, it depends. Civil rights actions are highly fact-specific, which is why we encourage people with potential claims to seek a free and confidential case evaluation from our firm.

At Power Rogers, LLP, our attorneys are readily available to review the circumstances surrounding your case, discuss your rights, and explain whether you may have grounds to pursue legal action. We offer FREE and confidential consultations to clients throughout Chicago, the state of Illinois, and beyond.

If you or someone you love have suffered harm and losses due to civil rights violations, Power Rogers, LLP is here to help. Call or contact us online to request a free consultation.