Franklin Park trustees this month approved a settlement of $32,500 in a federal lawsuit filed by a Melrose Park man against the village and Sneakers Bar and Grill.
In his civil complaint, Justin Sonnefeldt had alleged that Chris Katsigiannis, one of the owners of Sneakers, “engaged in a conspiracy” with Franklin Park Police Officer Daniel Vega “to use excessive force” and “falsely arrest” Sonnefeldt in an incident that happened on Oct. 24, 2014.
The $32,500 settlement that village trustees approved on March 6 is part of the agreed-upon amount that Sonnefeldt will receive. Katsigiannis agreed to pay a separate, undisclosed amount to Sonnefeldt as well, Frank Andreou, an attorney for Katsigiannis, said in a phone call. Sneakers is at 9721 Grand Ave., Franklin Park.
Richard Dvorak, Sonnefeldt’s attorney, declined to comment when reached via email, citing a “confidentiality agreement with the non-village defendants.”
Katsigiannis’ attorney, Andreou, said “on our end of it, we can’t discuss what the case was ultimately settled for” but said his client had settled to avoid more hassle.
“Basically, it’s been our position that the lawsuit had no merit,” Andreou said. “For my client to conspire with the police department, at a time when police are under the microscope, is crazy. I don’t know what else to say. My client was protecting his employee … and he got sued for it. Settling the case was a difficult pill to swallow, but at the end of the day, he’s a business owner.”
Franklin Park Director of Police Michael Witz said in an email that a review of the incident found Vega had acted properly.
“We treat all persons the same when investigating a domestic dispute. We interview all parties involved, take statements, make reports, photograph injuries, take any and all video evidence if available and charge accordingly,” Witz stated in an email. “In the event there are visible injuries and the victim does not wish to sign a complaint, the police department signs on their behalf as required by law.”
In the lawsuit, filed on Oct. 23, 2015, Sonnefeldt had claimed that his girlfriend, a bartender who worked at Sneakers, told Katsigiannis and Vega that Sonnefeldt had hit her.
The complaint states that “in retaliation,” Katsigiannis and Vega had Sonnefeldt’s girlfriend “lure [Sonnefeldt] to Sneakers Bar and Grill so that Vega could beat the plaintiff, then falsely arrest him.”
Also in the complaint, Sonnefeldt claimed that Vega “used excessive force,” causing Sonnefeldt “emotional and pecuniary injuries,” including a broken nose.
Sonnefeldt was charged with criminal trespass and resisting and obstructing a peace officer in the incident, which took place Oct. 24, 2014. According to Cook County Court records, Sonnefeldt was found not guilty of those charges.
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Katsigiannis knew his bartender had a domestic complaint against Sonnefeldt, and he called police when he saw Sonnefeldt pull up to the establishment in a white Honda. Vega arrived on the scene and asked Sonnefeldt why he was at Sneakers, and Sonnefeldt said he was picking up his girlfriend, who had called him for a ride, the report stated.
The police report said Katsigiannis told Vega that his employee “had bruises on her face and body and that Sonnefeldt was the offender.”
Vega reportedly pulled out his gun, got into “the proper shooting position” and ordered Sonnefeldt to exit the Honda in order to be placed under arrest, according to the report.
“After being given several orders to exit his vehicle, Sonnefeldt related to this [officer], ‘OK, let me put the car in park.’ After Sonnefeldt put the car in park, [Vega] again screamed verbal orders to exit his car,” according to the report.
Sonnefeldt exited the Honda with his hands raised, and Vega holstered his gun and began to put handcuffs on him, the report stated. As this happened, Sonnefeldt “tensed his left arm and attempted to pull away from [Vega],” which resulted in Vega “using an arm bar take down and drag Sonnefeldt to the ground” in order to place Sonnefeldt under arrest, according to the report.
Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.