Man wrongfully imprisoned for over 40 years files lawsuit against CPD, Cook County

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man wrongfully imprisoned for over 40 years filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Chicago police, several Cook County prosecutors, Cook County and the city of Chicago.

James Soto was imprisoned for over 42 years for a murder he said he did not commit.

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Soto's conviction and that of his cousin, David Ayala, were thrown out last December. They both served possibly the longest time of anyone on a wrongful conviction in Illinois.

The judge who vacated the convictions said the two did not receive adequate counsel after the murders of a marine and a teenager in 1981.

Soto and his lawyers Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against those they say framed him.

The suit, which civil rights firm Loevy & Loevy filed, seeks damages from dozens of Chicago police officers, three Cook County assistant state's attorneys, Cook County and the city of Chicago.

Soto and his lawyers spoke on the filing Tuesday afternoon in the Lincoln Hall of Northwestern's Law School.

A man is speaking out after suing CPD and Cook County. He was wrongfully imprisoned for over 40 years.

He's come a long way.

"It's truly justice, justice delayed," Soto said. "A shot over the bow that it's intolerable for this to happen to someone like me."

Last year, Soto was released from Stateville prison.

While in prison, he got an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.

Soto's attorney said his federal lawsuit is among dozens brought by exonerees.

"The system is broken because there are cases like this one and others where the right thing to do is get a resolution, and instead what they do is hire expensive firms who charge millions of dollars in expensive fees," attorney Jon Loevy said.

Spokespeople for the city and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said they do not comment on pending litigation.

"Waiting for these cases, for these settlements to come through, or waiting to go to trial is to me ridiculous," Soto said.

While Soto waits for progress on the case, he continues his plans to become an attorney.

He is studying to take the LSAT in November.