Jussie Smollett: Chicago sues Empire actor over investigation costs

The lawsuit doesn’t specify an amount of money the city is seeking but does indicate it wants over $390,000 plus 'further relief as this court deems just and equitable'

The city of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against Jussie Smollett, in a bid to recoup the costs of investigating a racist, anti-gay attack that he said he was the victim of in January. Smollett was later accused of allegedly staging his own attack, before the charges against him were dropped.

The 12-page civil lawsuit, filed in Cook County court, is the latest volley in the legal battle that began when Smollett reported that masked men beat him up on 29 January in Chicago, shouting slurs and wrapping a rope around his neck.

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.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify an amount of money the city is seeking but does indicate it wants over $390,000 plus “further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.” It also asks that Smollett be ordered to foot any legal bills Chicago incurs in suing him.

According to the filing, more than two dozen officers and detectives spent two weeks investigating Smollett’s claims, with the police department forced to pay for 1,836 overtime hours.

The city’s resolve to take Smollett to civil court follows a 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. Some, including Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, criticised the move.

Smollett has maintained his innocence and said that he has told the truth from the beginning.

His 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. It also said Smollett wouldn’t be “intimidated” into paying anything.

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.

Additional reporting from agencies