Overlawyered: Chronicling The High Cost Of Our Legal System

Pizza Hut door-swing case, cont’d

The police officer sued in the now-celebrated Madison County, Ill. case (Mar. 13, May 21) submits affidavits in his defense, pointing up some interesting angles that didn’t emerge in earlier rounds of coverage: A Troy police officer who was ordered to pay Edwardsville attorney Amanda Verett $311,700 for a shoulder injury claims he never even […]

The police officer sued in the now-celebrated Madison County, Ill. case (Mar. 13, May 21) submits affidavits in his defense, pointing up some interesting angles that didn’t emerge in earlier rounds of coverage:

A Troy police officer who was ordered to pay Edwardsville attorney Amanda Verett $311,700 for a shoulder injury claims he never even came into physical contact with her during an incident Feb. 12 at the Troy Pizza Hut.

Sworn affidavits and other court documents filed by Troy officials this week, including the police chief and assistant city administrator, claim the reason officer Clarence Jackson was at the Pizza Hut in the first place was because Verett and her male law partner were causing a disturbance. Jackson was responding to a 911 call.

Verett, a family attorney in Edwardsville, filed suit against Pizza Hut and Jackson alleging she was injured when walking out the door of the restaurant while holding open the door to allow herself and Jackson to exit.

Last month a judge issued a default judgment against Jackson, who now argues his actions were on behalf of the city of Troy and should be shielded by sovereign immunity. (Steve Gonzalez, “Police officer claims he never came in contact with Verett”, Madison County Record, Jun. 21).

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2 Comments

  • Let me get this straight:
    Ms. Verett claims are that Officer Jackson injured her.

    He claims that he never came into physical contact with her (though according to the initial article he may have come into contact with the door.

    Additionally, Officer Jackson was responding to a 911 call because Ms. Verett and an associate of hers (why does it matter that he is a partner in her law firm? I’m more interested in the reports detailing the disturbance).

    Me thinks there be more to the story behind this case kiddos.

    • By Yoda

  • Police officer claims he never came in contact with Verett

    Um, so? When someone fires a gun at someone and injures or kills them, they don’t come into contact with the victim, either.

    I agree with Yoda that there’s more to this case than has been reported. There usually is.

    • By raj