In re Ramberg

50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 617
CourtCourt of Claims of Illinois
DecidedDecember 31, 1997
DocketNo. 96-CV-1740
StatusPublished

This text of 50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 617 (In re Ramberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Claims of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Ramberg, 50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 617 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER

Per Curiam.

This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on September 3, 1994. The Claimant, Rebecca Ramberg, seeks compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereafter referred to as the Act. 740 ILCS 45/1 et seq.

This Court has carefully considered the application for benefits submitted on December 6,1995, on the form prescribed by the Attorney General and an investigatory report of the Attorney General of Illinois which substantiates matters set forth in the application. Based upon these documents and other evidence submitted to the Court, the Court finds:

1. That on September 3, 1994, the Claimant was beaten and robbed by several unknown offenders. The incident occurred at 1115 North Sacramento, Chicago, Illinois. While being questioned by the investigating police officer, the Claimant refused to give a full disclosure about the incident. Due to the Claimants lack of cooperation, no further action was taken by the Chicago Police Department.

2. That section 6.1(c) of the Act states that a person is entitled to compensation under the Act if the applicant has cooperated fully with law enforcement officials in the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant.

3. That it appears from the police report that the Claimant declined to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant in that she refused to give a full disclosure about the incident to the investigating police officer.

4. That by reason of the Claimants refusal to fully cooperate with law enforcement officials in the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant as required by the Act, she is not eligible for compensation thereunder.

5. That this claim does not meet a required condition precedent for compensation under the Act.

It is hereby ordered that this claim be and is hereby denied.

OPINION

Frederick, J.

This claim arises out of an incident that occurred on September 3, 1994. The Claimant, Rebecca Ramberg, seeks compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Crime Victims Compensation Act, hereinafter referred to as the Act. 740 ILCS 45/1 et seq.

On February 26, 1996, the Court, relying on the investigatory report, denied the claim. The Court found that Claimant failed to cooperate fully with the law enforcement officials in the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant pursuant to section 6.1(c) of the Act. The Claimant timely filed a request for hearing and the cause was tried before the Commissioner.

The evidence before the Court consists of the testimony of the Claimant and the police reports.

The Claimant testified that she was in the process of packing up personal property as she was moving. She was also in the process of selling some of the furniture. Two girls and a man agreed to buy some things and indicated they would come back with a truck. The three buyers came back. Instead of buying the property, the two girls locked the doors and the man beat the Claimant. The Claimant was tied up with an extension cord and dragged into the kitchen. She was told she would be killed if she had them arrested. Claimant did not know the three suspects. Shortly thereafter, the suspects found Claimant trying to untie her feet. Then they picked Claimant up and threw her out the window. Claimant landed in the garden next to the house. She felt paralyzed.

The police were called when a witness found Claimant lying in the garden. An ambulance was called and Claimant was taken to the hospital. Claimant testified she talked to the police and told them everything, including giving them a description of the perpetrators. Claimant indicated that her back was broken. She had surgery and rods were put in her back. She was in the hospital for six weeks but no police made any inquiries. Claimant testified she worked for Jewel prior to the incident but has too much pain to work now.

Claimant did indicate that a Detective Jaglowski interviewed her. She agreed he may have asked her if the incident was drug related. Claimant indicated she told the detective it was not drug related and it was about selling furniture. She did not recall becoming hostile when the detective asked her if the incident was drug related.

Claimant testified she never saw the perpetrators before and did not know who they were.

Claimant indicated she had numerous medical bills which she had sent to the Attorney General. She did not know the full extent of the bills or if they had been paid by Public Aid. From what she understood, they all had been paid by Public Aid but she did not know for sure.

Claimant also testified she cleaned houses and worked for Jewel part-time. She claims a loss of support for her 13-year-old son. Claimant was receiving $250 per month from AFDC.

The Court has also carefully reviewed the police report. The reports substantiate Claimants testimony in all factual respects regarding the occurrence. The reports indicate the police responded to a home invasion. The Claimant was found lying on the ground below a second-floor window. The Claimant told the police what occurred and the report taken by the police is consistent with Claimants testimony. Claimant gave a description for the offenders but indicated she did not know them. The police reports indicate that “R/Os noted several inconsistencies in victims statement.” However, the alleged inconsistencies are not stated in the report and no police officers testified at the trial to explain the purported inconsistencies.

The supplemental report states: “During this interview [of the victim], it was determined that this incident might have been drug related and when the victim was confronted with this information, the victim became hostile towards R/O refusing to answer additional question.” This confrontation occurred after the Claimant had related the information concerning the incident to the detective. The detective suspended the case. Detective Jaglowski did not testify at the trial to explain how the incident “might be” drug related. Claimant testified this incident was not drug related.

To receive compensation pursuant to the Act, a Claimant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she has met all conditions precedent for an award under the Act. (In re Application of Cox (1994), 47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586.) Section 76.1 of the Act provides that a person is entitled to compensation under the Act if law enforcement officials were notified of the perpetration of the crime and the applicant cooperated fully with law enforcement officials in the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant. In re Application of Dymon (1992), 45 Ill. Ct. Cl. 460.

Claimant testified that she reported the crime as she lay on the ground with a broken back and gave descriptions of the assailants who were not known to her. She testified she cooperated with police. She denied the incident was drug related.

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Related

In re Dymon
45 Ill. Ct. Cl. 460 (Court of Claims of Illinois, 1992)
In re Cox
47 Ill. Ct. Cl. 586 (Court of Claims of Illinois, 1994)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 Ill. Ct. Cl. 617, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ramberg-ilclaimsct-1997.