Malatesta Law

Female bartender brutally beaten by drunken off-duty Chicago cop awarded $850,000

mike — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:24:10 +0000

Will the city act? That’s the question many Chicagoans will be asking Wednesday – a day after the dramatic conclusion of a civil trial that stemmed from a notorious 2007 beating of a female bartender by off-duty police officer Anthony Abbate. A video recording of the attack later went viral worldwide.

Read the full story at NY Daily News

The Anthony Abbate, Jr. Civil Trial: And This Verdict Means What Now?

mike — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:04:53 +0000

When a federal jury on Tuesday found in favor of Karolina Obrycka and found the City of Chicago and Anthony Abbate, Jr. responsible, and awarded her $850,000 in compensatory damages, Obrycka said she was glad that justice had been served.

Read full story at Gapersblock

Jury Awards $850K To Woman Beaten By Chicago Cop Anthony Abbate

mike — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:22:35 +0000

A federal jury has ruled against the city of Chicago and a former Chicago police officer, in a civil trial alleging a code of silence in the Chicago Police Department led to the brutal beating of a female bartender five years ago.

Read the full story at CBS Chicago

Abbate verdict: Jury rules against city of Chicago, Obrycka awarded $850K

mike — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:18:08 +0000

A federal jury agreed Tuesday that Chicago police adhered to a code of silence protecting fellow officers in the case of a female bartender, whose beating by an off-duty officer was videotaped and went viral online. Read full story at … Continue reading →

Abbate: No memory of bartender beating, calls

mike — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:26:35 +0000

A former Chicago police officer convicted of beating a female bartender says he never asked fellow officers to help him out of trouble for that 2007 incident.

Anthony Abbate was back on the stand Tuesday in the civil trial filed by that bartender.

Read the full story at ABC Chicago

Court Report: Anthony Abbate, Jr. Civil Trial, Day 1

mike — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:29:26 +0000

“He was a man, in a bar, getting drunk.”

Anthony Abbate Jr. said he felt threatened by Karolina Obrycka when he pummeled and threw her around Jesse’s Shortstop Inn in Chicago on February 19, 2007. But, as City attorney Matthew Hurd explained at the beginning of Abbate’s civil trial today, he doesn’t remember because he was drunk.

Read the full story at Gapersblock

Abbate Civil Trial Begins

mike — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:26:53 +0000

The ex-Chicago cop fired after he was convicted of beating a female bartender is back in court — this time, facing a lawsuit in federal court.

Read the full story at CBS Chicago

Civil Litigation?

mike — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:41:43 +0000

I sometimes wonder why they call our practice civil litigation. Most of the time there is nothing civil about it. We are supposed to be professionals, but I think far too many in our profession treat their adversaries with such a lack of respect and so much animosity. I don’t understand it. You can be a strong advocate for your client without treating your opponent terribly or bending the rules. Arguments should be made before Judge or Jury, not outside the Courtroom. I had a very good experience on trial recently. Counsel argued vehemently for his client, and I mine. However, we were courteous outside of court and during the trial. Concessions were made by both sides when necessary and the case argued on the merits. It made the long process and hard work of a trial much easier. No one is going to get along with everyone all the time, but we should work on being more professional in our profession.

Trial Victory

mike — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:54:34 +0000

A long week of trial ended with Mike Malatesta earning a victory on behalf of his client the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in a premises liability case. Plaintiff suffered a subdural hematoma which required surgery to to repair. Some interesting issues regarding the medical treatment of the Plaintiff were argued during trial. However, ultimately it did not matter. After the jury deliberated they found the restaurant was not liable for any injuries.

Trial

mike — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:19:08 +0000

Finished the week with a successful trial. Two car accident, multiple head trauma and a wrongful death action. After leaving a bar Plaintiffs were injured when he intoxicated driver they were traveling with crashed his car into a dump truck. Plaintiffs sued both drivers and the bar. After two days of trial, we successfully argued a motion for directed verdict on behalf of one of the bar winning the case.