A dramatic legal battle unfolds as two residents of Yorkville, Illinois, claim they were wrongfully arrested and maliciously prosecuted following a night out at a local bar. On October 17, 2024, Casey Herlihy and Cory Gorges filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the United City of Yorkville and several individuals including police officers Jeffrey Johnson, Matthew Ketchmark, Luke Swanson, Daniel Jones, Rowdy’s bar, and Deborah Dewaard.
The plaintiffs allege that on December 8, 2022, they were involved in an altercation with Daniel Jones at Rowdy's Bar. The situation escalated when Jones made derogatory comments towards Gorges and attempted to instigate a fight. Despite efforts by Herlihy to de-escalate the situation, tensions rose outside the bar where physical confrontation ensued. Plaintiffs assert that during this altercation, Defendant Dewaard continued serving alcohol to an already intoxicated Jones and later provided false statements to authorities to cover up her actions.
Following these events, Herlihy and Gorges claim they were unjustly arrested months later based on misleading reports from the defendants. They faced severe charges including armed robbery and aggravated battery but were acquitted after a trial on October 18, 2023. The plaintiffs argue their arrests were baseless and orchestrated through false evidence and witness tampering by the defendants.
Herlihy and Gorges are seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress and loss of liberty due to their wrongful imprisonment. They also demand punitive damages against individual defendants for their alleged misconduct under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 which includes false arrest, violation of due process rights, conspiracy to deprive constitutional rights among other claims.
Represented by attorney Danielle A. Pinkston from Pinkston Law Group P.C., the plaintiffs call for accountability from all parties involved in what they describe as a gross miscarriage of justice. The case is presided over by judges from the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID No. 1:24-cv-10753.