"We cannot create the perception that if you're rich or famous or both that you get one set of justice, and for everybody else it's something much harsher," she said.<doc-sep>Actor Jussie Smollett is the biggest laughing stock in the country. He’s a punch line and rightfully so. The “Empire” actor, reportedly unhappy with his salary arrangement, staged a fake crime in the blistery Chicago conditions in the early morning hours of January 29, 2019. Here’s how the story goes. Two white men wearing red caps threw bleach on Smollett, put a rope around his neck, and hurled racist and homophobic insults at the actor; Smollett is gay. Of course, everyone jumped on the bandwagon—and yes, Donald Trump was blamed. Yet, there were some who thought this story was just too good to be true, though they added that the Trump era made it seem believable, or something. Smollett’s story just didn’t make sense and after hours of resources invested in this case, Smollett was formally charged with filing a false police report, along with 16 other federal charges brought against him by a grand jury. The second wave of controversy began when all charges against Smollett were dropped. Chicago prosecutor Kim Foxx is facing intense scrutiny over this move. The Chicago Police are furious, especially after it was revealed that Foxx never really recused herself. Either way, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was as outraged as law enforcement and said that Smollett might be billed for the hours investigating his fake hate crime, which was actually perpetrated by two Nigerian brothers who knew Smollett. The city has formally filed a lawsuit against Smollett to pay his fake hate crime tab (via Fox News): The city of Chicago sued actor Jussie Smollett on Thursday for the cost of investigating his controversial case, as promised, one week after the "Empire" actor refused to reimburse the city. In a statement obtained by Fox News, the city's law department said on Thursday that it filed a civil complaint against Smollett, 36, in the Circuit Court of Cook County "that pursues the full measure of damages allowed under the false statements ordinance." "This follows his refusal to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on January 29, 2019," the statement added. The lawsuit doesn't include a specific monetary figure, but suggests the amount the city will seek from Smollett will be higher than the $130,000 sought earlier. […] The civil complaint filed on Thursday outlined what city attorneys said Smollett did. The suit claimed that Smollett — who allegedly became friends with Abel Osundairo in 2017, per the docs — texted Abel in late January: "Might need your help on the low. You around to meet up and talk face to face?” […] According to the complaint, after Smollett met with Abel's brother, Ola, Smollett allegedly "directed the Osundairo Brothers to stage the fake attack on the evening of January 28, 2019, near his apartment building in Streeterville." Per the suit, the three men then allegedly "coordinated the details of the fake attack" including on agreeing "that Abel would attack [Smollett], but would not hurt him too badly and would give [Smollett] a chance to appear to fight back." In the meantime, enjoy Charles Barkley and Chris Rock torching the actor over this fiasco. What the hell were you thinking, kid! ?<doc-sep>(Reuters) - The city of Chicago filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Jussie Smollett seeking three times the damages it said it incurred in the investigation of a hate crime that authorities allege the “Empire” actor staged. FILE PHOTO: Actor Jussie Smollett leaves court after charges against him were dropped by state prosecutors in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. March 26, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski The lawsuit, which did not specify the amount of damages, was filed in Cook County Circuit Court over two weeks after prosecutors dismissed the criminal charges against Smollett alleging he fabricated the Jan. 29 attack. Chicago officials previously said they would sue Smollett after he refused a demand by the city for $130,000 to cover police overtime costs to investigate the actor’s claims. The lawsuit said Chicago would seek “three times the amount of the damages the city sustained.” The actor’s criminal defense attorney, Mark Geragos, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Geragos, who in the past has represented celebrities such as Michael Jackson, previously said Smollett “will not be intimidated into paying the demanded sum.” Smollett, 36, who is black and gay, ignited a firestorm on social media by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs on a Chicago street. WEEKS OF INVESTIGATION After weeks of investigation, Chicago police determined that Smollett cooked up the scheme — in which they allege he hired two brothers to pose as his attackers — because he was dissatisfied with his salary on “Empire.” Smollett, best known for his role on the Twentieth Century Fox Television hip-hop drama, has said he has always been truthful about the incident. He was charged in February with staging the incident and filing a false police report, but Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutors dropped all charges against him in March. Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel described the decision as “a whitewash of justice.” Smollett admitted no wrongdoing, but agreed to do community service and give up $10,000 in bond money. It remains to be seen whether Chicago’s mayor-elect, Lori Lightfoot, will pursue the legal case when she takes office on May 20. She said the State’s Attorney’s Office had to better explain why it dropped charges and there should not be the perception there was one set of justice for the “rich or famous” and another for everyone else.<doc-sep>Chicago filed a lawsuit against Jussie Smollett on Thursday in a bid recoup the costs of investigating a racist, anti-gay attack that authorities say was orchestrated by the actor as a publicity stunt. The civil lawsuit, filed in Cook County court, is the latest volley in a legal battle that shows no signs of abating since Smollett, who plays a gay R&B singer on the Fox TV series Empire, reported that masked men beat him up on Jan. 29 in Chicago, shouting slurs and wrapping a rope around his neck. The city's resolve to take Smollett to civil court follows a surprising decision by prosecutors in March to drop all criminal charges accusing him of staging the attack, saying they believed they could prove the charges but that it wasn't worth the time and expense. Mayor Rahm Emanuel denounced the decision as "a whitewash of justice," and others criticized the Cook County state's attorney's office for not requiring an apology and an admission of guilt from Smollett as a condition for tossing the case. The suit comes after Smollett refused a demand that he send the city $130,106 US to reimburse Chicago for overtime as police sought to verify Smollett's account, included that his attackers yelled slogans supportive of U.S. President Donald Trump. The lawsuit doesn't include a specific monetary figure but suggests the amount the city will seek from Smollett will be higher than the $130,000. Watch: Chicago mayor slams dropped charges as 'whitewash of justice': Mayor, police lash out over decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett The National 1:52 In yet another surprising twist to a surprising news story, all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett have been dropped. Prosecutors haven't explained why, and haven't said if they still maintain Smollett orchestrated the incident where he claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in Chicago. 1:52 Smollett, who is black and gay, is known for his role as a gay R&B singer on the Fox TV series Empire. The producers of the show removed the actor from the last two episodes of this season in the wake of the controversy over the alleged attack. The actor maintains he has told the truth from the beginning. A message left for a spokesperson for Smollett's legal team wasn't immediately returned Thursday evening. Smollett lawyer Mark Geragos said in a letter to the city last week that claims Smollett made the entire thing up were "defamatory," accusing Chicago of trying to "harass" Smollett and pointing to the dismissal of charges as proof he is innocent. Unless the case is settled beforehand, the lawsuit would eventually go before a jury, which would have to decide if the city or Smollett is right. Evidence could be unsealed Under the city code, Chicago could triple the amount the city originally demanded that Smollett pay to more than $390,000 US. If Smollett refuses to pay after a verdict in the city's favour, his bank accounts could be frozen. Smollett admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to do some community service before charges were dropped. The actor also agreed to forfeit $10,000 US in bond money, which the city could use against him in the civil case as an implied admission of guilt. Evidence sealed in the criminal case could be unsealed in the civil case and be presented at trial. Smollett could also be required to sit for depositions, forcing him for the first time to explain evidence that the city says shows he was lying. To the city's advantage, the threshold for proof will be lower than in criminal court. The city won't have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Smollett staged the attack in civil court, only that it's more likely true than not true that he did. Among the risks for the city is that the civil litigation could end up costing far more in legal bills than it could ever hope to get from Smollett. It's also unclear if mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is on board with the Emanuel administration's determination to keep legal pressure on Smollett. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor who will be Chicago's first black female mayor when she's sworn in on May 20, has indicated only that the public deserves a better explanation for why the criminal charges against Smollett were dropped.<doc-sep>
Chicago filed a lawsuit against Jussie Smollett on Thursday in an effort to recoup the costs of investigating a racist, anti-gay attack that authorities say was orchestrated by the Empire actor as a publicity stunt. The 12-page civil lawsuit, filed in Cook county court, is the latest volley in a legal battle that shows no signs of abating since Smollett reported that masked men beat him up on 29 January in Chicago, shouting slurs and wrapping a rope around his neck. The city’s resolve to take Smollett to civil court follows a surprising decision by prosecutors in March to drop all criminal charges accusing him of staging the incident, saying they believed they could prove the charges but that it wasn’t worth the time and expense. Mayor Rahm Emanuel denounced the decision as “a whitewash of justice”, and others criticized the Cook county state’s attorney’s office for not requiring an apology and an admission of guilt from Smollett as a condition for tossing the case. The suit comes after Smollett refused a demand that he send the city $130,106 to reimburse Chicago for overtime as police sought to verify Smollett’s account, included that his attackers yelled slogans supportive of Donald Trump. The lawsuit does not include a specific monetary figure, but suggests the amount the city will seek from Smollett will be higher than the $130,000. The complaint lacks the hard-hitting language in the city’s letter to Smollett’s lawyers earlier this month. Smollett, who is black and gay, maintains he has told the truth from the beginning. Reached by phone on Thursday evening, a spokeswoman for Smollett’s legal team said there was no immediate comment on the lawsuit. Smollett’s lawyer Mark Geragos said in a letter to the city last week that claims Smollett made the entire thing up were “defamatory”, accusing Chicago of trying to “harass” Smollett and pointing to the dismissal of charges as proof he is innocent. Unless the case is settled beforehand, the lawsuit would eventually go before a jury, which would have to decide if the city or Smollett is right. Under the city code, Chicago could triple the amount the city originally demanded that Smollett pay to more than $390,000. If Smollett refuses to pay after a verdict in the city’s favor, his bank accounts could be frozen. Smollett admitted no wrongdoing, but agreed to do some community service before charges were dropped. He also agreed to forfeit $10,000 in bond money, which the city could use against him in the civil case as an implied admission of guilt. Evidence sealed in the criminal case could be unsealed in the civil case and be presented at trial. Smollett could also be required to sit for depositions, forcing him for the first time to explain evidence that the city says shows he was lying. To the city’s advantage, the threshold for proof will be lower than in criminal court. The city will not have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Smollett staged the attack in civil court, only that itis more likely true than not true that he did.