Kingdom Authority International Ministries, et al. v. The City of Rockford, et al., Winnebago Co. Cir. Crt., Case No. 2013-L-288.

Rockford Register Star Article: Jury awards $360K to plaintiffs in Mark Barmore civil trial

Keenan J. Saulter served as lead trial attorney for nine children and one daycare worker who witnessed a horrific police involved shooting death while attending (and working at) a church based daycare center in Rockford, Illinois. This daycare shooting and the botched investigation into it by the Rockford Police Department was one of the most racially divisive and highly litigated cases in the history of the City of Rockford.  After an extensive lead up to trial, the Defendant City of Rockford offered the 10 Plaintiff’s represented by Attorney Saulter approximately $6400.00 each (or a total of about $64,000 for the group).

After a two week jury trial, the Jury returned a verdict in the favor of Attorney Saulter’s clients in the amount of: $345,000.00.

Not only was this trial significant, but due to the extensive investigation that Attorney Saulter and other attorneys undertook into the City of Rockford Police Department’s investigative techniques—the Winnebago-Boone County Integrity Task Force was formed to investigate all officer involved shootings and in-custody deaths.

The efforts of Attorney Saulter (and others) led to significant reforms relating to the manner in which Police Use of Force cases are investigated in the Rockford Area.