Illinois Jury Awards $79.8M for Child’s Death in Police Pursuit

In a tragic incident in 2020, 10-year-old Da’Karia Spicer was fatally injured in a car crash during an unauthorized police pursuit in Chicago’s South Side. Da’Karia was traveling with her father, Kevin Spicer, and her younger brother, Dhaamir, when a suspect fleeing police at 90 miles per hour in a black Mercedes collided with their vehicle. The high-speed pursuit violated established protocols and ended in a devastating crash in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

Following the collision, officers turned off their lights, parked at a distance, and reported the event as an "accident" without acknowledging the chase or their involvement, according to the family’s claims.

The Trial

The City of Chicago admitted liability prior to the trial, a move that streamlined the legal focus to assessing damages. The family’s legal team, led by Patrick Salvi II of Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC, presented evidence to demonstrate the profound trauma and loss suffered by the Spicer family. The trial commenced on December 5, 2024, and concluded with a jury verdict on December 11.

The damages were significant:

• $67.4 million awarded to Da’Karia’s estate.
• $11.2 million for her brother, including an $8 million award for disfigurement due to a facial scar.
• $1.25 million for their father’s pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Salvi underscored the verdict’s alignment with the gravity of the trauma, stating, "This verdict is proportionate to the harms caused and reflects the extraordinary ordeal this family endured."

The Allegations Against the Police

The Spicer family accused two Chicago officers of flouting multiple departmental policies:

• They initiated the pursuit without notifying the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
• The officers did not use their lights and sirens throughout the chase, which involved only a traffic offense—a scenario where pursuits are typically prohibited under departmental rules.

These procedural breaches, the family argued, directly contributed to the fatal collision. Following the crash, the officers’ handling of the aftermath, including their alleged attempts to distance themselves from the pursuit, compounded the tragedy.

Potential for Additional Litigation

Despite the city’s acknowledgment of liability, the family rejected a late settlement offer during jury deliberations. Salvi explained that accepting the offer could have subjected the family to a second trial if the settlement was later rejected by the city council.

Moreover, the failure of the city’s insurers to settle the case earlier may lead to further legal proceedings. Salvi noted that the insurers’ reluctance to resolve the matter raises questions about their adherence to their duty to settle in good faith.

The Law Firms Involved

The Spicer family was represented by Salvi Schostok & Pritchard PC, including Patrick Salvi II, Lance Northcutt, Aaron Boeder, and Eirene Salvi. Representation for the city was not immediately available.

What’s Next?

The verdict sends a powerful message about accountability in police pursuits and the legal consequences of procedural violations. The Spicer family’s legal battle may continue, with the potential for litigation against the city’s insurers, further highlighting the importance of ethical conduct and timely resolution in such cases.

This landmark case underscores the critical need for law enforcement to adhere to established policies to prevent future tragedies and protect public safety.