Civil Rights Attorneys Antonio M. Romanucci and Andrew M. Stroth call out City of Chicago for delaying justice in tragic death of Verona Gunn

Attorneys Antonio M. Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC and Andrew M. Stroth of Action Injury Law Group, LLC held a press conference today in the Austin neighborhood to call out Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago Police leaders for failing to bring timely justice for the death of Verona Gunn.  Also present were her children, respected West Side Pastor Dwight Gunn, Derrick Gunn and Vicki Steverson.  Mrs. Gunn, a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and great-great-grandmother, was an innocent bystander killed on May 25, 2019 after a speeding police van ran a red light and collided with an unmarked police cruiser which sent both vehicles into a nearby blue Toyota, killing the 84-year-old. Both police cars failed to follow CPD protocol of proceeding through intersections or traffic signals only after determining it is reasonable and safe to proceed.

Attorneys say that, three years after the deadly crash, the city has not kept its promise to implement safe driving protocols or discipline the officer(s) involved.  A civil lawsuit has been filed and is progressing.

“The city, Mayor Lightfoot and Superintendent Brown have failed to deliver any measure of justice to the Gunn family. Verona Gunn was deeply loved and her tragic death was a direct result of the willful, wanton and reckless action of these officers not following safe driving policies and the general orders for police pursuits,” said Action Injury Law Group Managing Partner Andrew M. Stroth.

“There are several ways to achieve accountability in this case, and we call on city and police leaders to discipline and/or remove the officers involved in killing this innocent bystander, to reform their policies and practices related to vehicle pursuits to focus on community safety and preservation of life, and resolve this civil litigation to provide justice to the Gunn family,” said Romanucci & Blandin Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci.

“This past weekend marked the three-year anniversary of our mother’s tragic death, but the lack of accountability for her death has been equally tragic,” said Pastor Dwight Gunn, son of Verona Gunn and leader of Heritage International Christian Church in the Austin neighborhood. “It is unthinkable that the city can treat its citizens in such a way that they are responsible for the death of a former teacher and beloved member of the community and don’t take the proper steps to do the right thing by her grieving family.”

The Gunn family is represented by Action Injury Law Group’s Managing Partner Andrew M. Stroth, Romanucci & Blandin Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci, Partner Bhavani K. Raveendran and others.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death arising from police misconduct, corporate negligence, civil rights actions, medical malpractice, mass torts and class actions. Founded in 1998, the firm is widely recognized for representing plaintiffs in numerous practice areas including: workers’ compensation, pharmaceuticals, civil rights, police misconduct, excessive force, aviation, product liability and premises liability. For more information, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

About Action Injury Law Group, LLC

Action Injury Law Group is an innovative and results-driven national civil rights law firm that represents victims of unjustified police brutality throughout the United States of America. Action is dedicated to serving the Black and Brown communities and working to effectuate police reform across the country. For more information please visit www.actioninjurylawgroup.com or call (844) 878-4529.