Chicago sues Jussie Smollett to recoup cost of investigating alleged hate attack

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 actoras 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

6 years ago

Duration 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.

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 thisseason 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 wrongdoingbut 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.