Judge Orders Former Mayor Daley To Testify In Police Torture Suit
(CBS) -- For a third time, a federal judge has ordered former Mayor Richard M. Daley to tell under oath what he knew about torture done under fired police commander Jon Burge.
WBBM's Bob Roberts reports it's no guarantee that Daley will be questioned.
Twice previously, city attorneys settled out of court before Daley could be questioned.
Alonzo Smith alleges that under Burge's orders detectives kicked him in the groin, beat him with a rubber night stick and repeatedly put a plastic bag over his head to induce a false confession.
Smith attorney Flint Taylor says Smith has stayed out of trouble since charges were thrown out against him in 2002.
"He's an upstanding citizen, and he deserves not only the finding the judge made, that he was tortured and that his case should be thrown out, but he also should be compensated for the 20 years he spent in jail," Taylor says.
Smith's civil rights lawsuit could put Daley and Burge on trial as co-defendants. Taylor says his client would consider a suitable financial settlement for all that he endured.
So far, no comment from city government or Daley.