http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-patterson13.html
$5 million wasn't enough for ex-Death Row inmate
July 13, 2005
BY NATASHA KORECKI Federal Courts Reporter
The City of Chicago offered to pay freed Death Row inmate Aaron Patterson more than $5 million last year to settle his civil rights lawsuit alleging he was tortured by police detectives, an attorney said Tuesday.
Patterson -- whom former Gov. George Ryan pardoned in 2003 for two murders -- balked at the sum and asked for about twice that amount, Patterson attorney Tommy Brewer said.
But days before a federal grand jury indicted Patterson on drug and weapon charges last August -- a case on which he's now standing trial -- the city withdrew its offer, Brewer claimed. He plans to argue to a jury this week that Patterson didn't need to sell drugs because he had millions of dollars at his disposal.
City Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle said offers have been made, but she can't discuss specifics. One source said the city's now offering just over $1 million.