Prosecutor immune from lawsuit for launching criminal case

Civil Rights

By James G. Sotos

James G. Sotos heads The Sotos Law Firm P.C. in Itasca, concentrating in government representation. Sotos represents Illinois municipalities and governmental officials in federal and state litigation at the trial and appellate levels. He is a 1985 graduate of The John Marshall Law School.

Posted July 31, 2014 2:44 PM

Today’s column reviews a recent U.S. District Court decision that explored the scope of a state prosecutor’s entitlement to immunity from civil rights liability for his role in initiating a state court criminal case. On Feb. 14, 2012, Vaughn Neita, the owner of a licensed dog-grooming business and dog shelter, brought two dogs in his care to the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control. Neita advised ACC that one dog was overly aggressive and had attacked a poodle and that the other was so ill it was …

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