Jussie Smollett says the City of Chicago is unfairly trying to do a money-grab after his criminal case was dismissed. He filed a motion to dismiss the $500K suit Chicago filed against him to recoup the cost of the investigation into the attack against him, TMZ reports. If it does get tossed with prejudice as he hopes, the City would not be permitted to refile it.
In the direct aftermath of the attack, Smollett said the attackers had peppered him with racist and homophobic epithets. Later, the Empire star was accused of staging the attack in a bid to up his profile, claims he has staunchly denied. Fallout from the attack resulted him getting the boot from his hit Fox show, which the network then later cancelled.
TMZ reports that Smollett is arguing in court docs that Chicago has not shown “a direct link between [Jussie’s] statements and the costs the City incurred.”
“The City’s Complaint appears to be an unprecedented effort to seek penalties andresources expended in connection with allegedly false statements made to the police where the related criminal case concerning the statements was dismissed …on all counts,” attorneys for Smollett declared.
In addition to the $130K the City of Chicago incurred in overtime, lawyers are hoping Smollett will cover attorney fees and punitive damages, totally nearly $500K.
