Jussie Smollett case: Hearing held on Chicago's lawsuit against 'Empire' actor

Tuesday, August 20, 2019
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Jussie Smollett case returned to federal court Tuesday morning for a hearing on the city of Chicago's $130,000 lawsuit against the "Empire" actor.

Officials said false claims of an attack made by Smollett cost the city more than $130,000. That money was spent on investigating the alleged racist and homophobic attack.
[Ads /]
WATCH: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on Jussie Smollett
Jussie Smollett case: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on 'Empire' actor


After a thorough investigation, authorities concluded Smollett knew his alleged attackers and staged the whole thing, but the charges against him were dropped.

The city is now asking a judge to make Smollett pay for the work of two dozen officers and detectives working hundreds of hours of overtime, over two weeks.

WATCH: Video shows Jussie Smollett with rope around his neck
CPD releases hours of video in Jussie Smollett case


The actor's lawyer said it's going to take a lot of work to prove that in court.



"Two basic issues, which is one is the causation, which is taking what the city says, they don't tie together what they allege are the facts, which obviously my client disputes, with the cause for overtime, which is why the overtime occurred versus using different policemen in different shifts and the like and we believe they have to be intertwined and tied together," said William Quinlan, Smollett's attorney.

Smollett was not in court Tuesday. If this case moves forward, Smollett's team would like to speak to city officials, including Superintendent Eddie Johnson.

Both teams will be back in court on October 22 when the judge will announce her decision on whether or not to dismiss this case.

Smollett may be facing more trouble. A hearing is set for this Friday in which a special prosecutor could be assigned to further investigate the Smollett case meaning there is a chance Smollett could be recharged.

Previous coverage:
'Empire' filming in Chicago near Jussie Smollett alleged attack site
Jussie Smollett: Judge dismisses motions by 'Empire' actor's attorneys
Jussie Smollett: Attorneys decline special prosecutor role in actor's case, report says
Jussie Smollett news: 'Empire' actor's attorneys argue against special prosecutor, want judge replaced
Jussie Smollett's attorneys argue for Chicago lawsuit to be moved to federal court
Chicago police release investigative files, video of alleged staged attack on 'Empire' actor
Judge orders special prosecutor to review Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: 911 calls released of Jussie Smollett reporting alleged attack
RELATED: Lee Daniels says Jussie Smollett not returning for final season of 'Empire'
RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney's Office releases documents in Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: Chicago police release 400 pages of Jussie Smollett case files
RELATED: Judge rules to unseal records in Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: 'Empire' will go 1 more season, Smollett's future is unclear
RELATED: Judge asked to recuse himself from petition to appoint special prosecutor in Jussie Smollett case
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's contract extended, no plans for character to return to 'Empire'
RELATED: Osundairo brothers file defamation lawsuit against Jussie Smollett's attorneys
[Ads /]
RELATED: Kim Foxx receives death threats after Jussie Smollett charges dropped
RELATED: Kim Foxx's chief spokesperson resigns from State's Attorney's Office
RELATED: 2 top staffers leaving Kim Foxx's State's Attorney's Office
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Kim Foxx's texts and emails raise more questions about recusal
Kim Foxx texts show she thought number of Jussie Smollett charges 'excessive'
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asks for review of how Jussie Smollett case was handled
RELATED: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asks for review of how Jussie Smollett case was handled
RELATED: City sues Jussie Smollett for cost of investigating alleged staged attack
RELATED: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx lets Derrion Albert killer off the hook
RELATED: Kim Foxx says 'this is personal' about calls for her to resign
RELATED: Jussie Smollett attorney responds to Chicago's civil suit threat
RELATED: Taraji P. Henson weighs in on 'Empire' co-star Jussie Smollett's case
RELATED: Chicago to file civil suit against 'Empire' actor for not paying $130K cost of police investigation
RELATED: In wake of Jussie Smollett, suburban police chiefs take no confidence stance against State's Attorney Kim Foxx
RELATED: Jussie Smollett case leads to protests for, against Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx
RELATED: Chris Rock rips an absent Jussie Smollett at the NAACP Image Awards
RELATED: Thousands referred for alternative prosecution by Cook County prosecutors haven't completed process
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's surprise deal raises new questions
RELATED: City of Chicago asks Jussie Smollett to pay for $130,000 cost of investigation
RELATED: FBI reviewing circumstances of Jussie Smollett's charges being dropped, sources confirm
RELATED: What's inside the CPD Jussie Smollett investigative file?
RELATED: Mayor Emanuel calls decision to drop charges against Smollett 'whitewash of justice'
RELATED: Charges dropped against 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett
RELATED: Osundairo brother at center of Jussie Smollett case compete in Chicago boxing match
[Ads /]
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: 'Pain and anger' around 'Empire' in recent weeks, Lee Daniels says
RELATED: FOP accuses Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx of interfering in Jussie Smollett investigation
RELATED: Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty to disorderly conduct charges
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Texts shed light on why State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself
RELATED: Jussie Smollett appears in court for hearing; Cameras allowed for Thursday hearing
RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Brothers 'taken advantage of' by Smollett, attorney says
RELATED: Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony counts by grand jury
RELATED: Brothers reportedly involved in Jussie Smollett alleged hoax release statement expressing 'regret'
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's check to brothers obtained by ABC News
RELATED: Jussie Smollett's character to be removed from 'Empire', producers say
RELATED: What's next for Jussie Smollett? Possible big police bill
RELATED: Jussie Smollett alleged hoax may cast doubt on real hate crimes, advocates fear
RELATED: Jussie Smollett out on bond after being accused of staging attack
RELATED: Jussie Smollett charged with disorderly conduct for filing false police report, prosecutors say
RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney Kim Foxx recuses herself from Jussie Smollett investigation
RELATED: Brothers told police Smollett was upset threatening letter didn't get enough attention, staged attack
RELATED: Activist calls for Smollett's arrest, believes actor lied about attack
RELATED: Brothers tell police that Jussie Smollett paid them to stage attack, official says
RELATED: Sources: Police investigating whether Smollett staged attack with help of others
RELATED: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on Jussie Smollett
RELATED: Jussie Smollett breaks silence on Chicago attack
RELATED: 'Empire' actor's family releases statement on attack, pictures of possible persons of interest released
RELATED: Photos show potential persons of interest in 'Empire' actor attack, police say
RELATED: 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett attacked in Chicago in possible hate crime, police say
Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.