The Cook County state’s attorney has agreed to a $50,000 settlement with the mother of David Koschman, who died 11 years ago of a brain injury after former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s nephew punched him during a drunken altercation.
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Nanci Koschman accused prosecutors of covering for Daley’s nephew, 29 at the time of the 2004 incident, and keeping him out of jail. She reached the $50,000 settlement with the county Friday, five months after City Hall paid her $250,000 to drop similar claims against the Chicago Police Department, which twice refused to seek charges against the nephew, Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko.
In the $50,000 settlement, which will be paid with tax dollars, Koschman dropped her legal claims against the county and the state’s attorney office, which twice concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge Vanecko.
Sally Daly, a spokesman for State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, said the office admits no wrongdoing and was prepared to argue the case before a federal appeals court. But the office agreed to the settlement because it was cheaper than going to court, Daly said.
“The costs associated with this litigation would greatly exceed the amount of this allotted settlement,” Daly said in a statement. “Therefore, the settlement presented the most efficient and cost-effective solution to bring this matter to a conclusion.”
Vanecko, 40, is on probation after serving 60 days in jail. Last year he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
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