Naperville official sues city

The Naperville city councilman acquitted earlier this year of shoving a police officer will file a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the city and police officers involved in the case.

The lawsuit alleges Councilman Richard Furstenau's civil rights were violated and the arrest besmirched his reputation, which led to a failed state Senate bid, his attorney, Shawn Collins, said today.

Collins said Furstenau will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to discuss the lawsuit.

Furstenau previously had attempted to settle the matter by sending a letter to the city requesting $129,529 to cover the cost of his legal fees, damage to his reputation, personal campaign contributions and individual campaign contributions.

The city refused the request, contending his civil rights were not violated and his arrest was based on probable cause following an investigation into the incident.

Collins said the lawsuit no longer specifically requests reimbursement for campaign contributors.

"If we recover money in the lawsuit, he (Furstenau) can do whatever he likes with it," Collins said. "He feels strongly about people contributing to a campaign that was ultimately doomed by the arrest that occurred."

Furstenau was acquitted in May of shoving officer Mike Hull prior to a Jan. 1, 2006, parade in downtown Naperville. The arrest came more than two weeks after the incident occurred.