Chicago likely to pay $250,000 settlement in Koschman case
The Chicago City Council's Finance Committee on Monday approved a $250,000 settlement to a Mount Prospect woman's lawsuit accusing police of covering up the 2004 death of her son at the hands of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley's nephew.
Nanci Koschman also is expected to receive an apology from the city, under the settlement that goes before the full Chicago City Council on Wednesday for approval.
A portion of the lawsuit against the Cook County state's attorney's office remains pending.
"We can say Mrs. Koschman is relieved to have the city agree to a settlement," her attorney, G. Flint Taylor said. "The county state's attorney's office though was equally responsible for the cover-up as the city, and that still needs to be resolved. We're hopeful the county will follow suit with what the city has done."
The suit stems from the death of Koschman's 21-year-old son, David, after a confrontation with Daley nephew Richard J. Vanecko outside a Rush Street bar on April 25, 2004. According to a special prosecutor appointed to investigate in 2012, Vanecko, who stood 6 feet, 3 inches and 230 pounds, knocked the 5-foot-5, 125-pound Koschman to the ground during the early morning confrontation, causing the Mount Prospect man to hit his head on the pavement. David Koschman died of his injuries 11 days later.
His mother's suit alleged Chicago police and county prosecutors conspired to cover up the circumstances of his death and falsely portrayed him as the aggressor in the confrontation.
Vanecko faced no charges until December 2012, when Special Prosecutor Daniel Webb indicted him. He ultimately pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 2½ years of probation.
Once the full city council approves the settlement, Nanci Koschman will receive the $250,000 payout within 60 days, Taylor said.
Along with the money though, comes an apology, which Taylor said is important to Koschman as she continues to grieve the loss of her son.
"The city's recognition that there was wrong done here is very important to us," he said.
Along with the city of Chicago, the suit named as defendants 21 current and former Chicago police officers; the Cook County state's attorney's office; Vanecko; and unidentified Daley family members cited as participants in a "cover-up" that interfered with preliminary investigations.
"The proposed settlement brings legal closure to the matter," said John Holden, Chicago law department spokesman.
Nanci Koschman could not be reached for comment Monday.