Sawyer v. Chicago Police Department et al
| Justin Sawyer |
| Chicago Police Department, James Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Chase Auto, Riverdale Police Department, Doty Road Auto Pound, City of Chicago, Ryan C. Edwards, Kevin M. Coyne, S. Goncher, J. Barboza, T. Lewis, J. Woodman and D. Patriarca |
| 1:2025cv03344 |
| March 28, 2025 |
| U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois |
| Franklin U Valderrama |
| Truth in Lending |
| 15 U.S.C. § 1681 Fair Credit Reporting Act |
| Plaintiff |
Docket Report
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This docket was last retrieved on September 18, 2025. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.
| Document Text |
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| Filing 54 REQUEST by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for entry of default against defendant (Exhibits) (Received via pro se online portal on 9/18/2025) (vjd, ) |
| Filing 53 REQUEST by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for entry of default against Defendant (Exhibits) (Received via pro se online portal on 9/18/25.) (jxm, ) |
| Filing 52 PROOF of Service by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer (Attachments) (Received via pro se online portal on 09/17/25.) (jxm, ) |
| Filing 51 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: The Court sets the following briefing schedule on Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction #46 : Defendants' response due on or before 11/4/2025 (one week after Defendants' deadline to answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint); Plaintiff's reply due on or before 11/18/2025. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 50 EXHIBIT LIST by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 9/11/2025) (men, ) |
| Filing 45 ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant City of Chicago by Maxwell Evan Lisy (Lisy, Maxwell) |
| Filing 49 DECLARATION in support of Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction by Justin Sawyer. (Received via online pro se portal on 9/9/25). (gcy, ) |
| Filing 48 MEMORANDUM of law by Justin Sawyer in support of motion for preliminary injunction #46 . (Received via online pro se portal on 9/9/25). (gcy, ) |
| Filing 47 NOTICE of Motion by Justin Sawyer. (Received via online pro se portal on 9/9/25). (gcy, ) |
| Filing 46 MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for preliminary injunction. (Received via online pro se portal on 9/9/25). (gcy, ) |
| Filing 44 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: On or before 11/4/2025, the parties shall file a joint initial status report. A template for the Joint Initial Status Report, setting forth the information required, may be found at http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Judges.aspx by clicking on Judge Valderrama's name and then again on the link entitled 'Joint Initial Status Report. Plaintiff must serve this Minute Entry on all other parties. If the defendant(s) has not been served with process by that date, plaintiff's counsel is instructed to file an individual status report indicating the status of service of process by the same deadline. The parties are further ordered to review all of Judge Valderrama's standing orders and the information available on his webpage. Any nongovernmental corporate party that qualifies under the Rules is reminded of the requirement to file a disclosure statement under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7.1/N.D. Ill. Local Rule 3.2. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 43 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Before the Court is Plaintiff's notice of related FOIA and APRA litigation demonstrating Defendants' obstruction of records #40 , which Plaintiff informs that Court that he intends to rely on in support of discovery motions, motions to compel, and any requests for adverse inference or spoliation instructions. As the Court stated in its Minute Entry of 9/4/2025 (which was entered the same day as, but after, Plaintiff filed his notice #40 ), a Court may take notice of certain information related to motions pending before it. To date, no discovery motions are before the Court. Plaintiff may request that the Court take notice of additional information if any such motions are filed at a later date. Additionally, Plaintiff filed a notice of filing of digital exhibits #39 , as well as two digital exhibits #39 , which Plaintiff notes are referenced in his pending emergency motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. The Court denied Plaintiff's renewed emergency motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in its Minute Entry of 8/18/2025 with leave to refile as a preliminary injunction #32 . To date, Plaintiff has not filed a renewed motion for a preliminary injunction. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 42 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Before the Court is Plaintiff's motion for judicial notice of Court records in Abraham Carmichael v. Village of Riverdale, et al., No. 1:24-cv-09444 (N.D. Ill.) #36 . Plaintiff states that he seeks "judicial notice of specific, undisputed public records from the Carmichael case, including the complaint, incident reports, and any resulting orders or official filings," and that "[t]hese records are offered not to prove the truth of the allegations in Carmichael, but to demonstrate a pattern and practice of alleged misconduct by local law enforcement officers, which is relevant to Plaintiff's claims." It is true that a Court may take judicial notice of court documents. See Deicher v. City of Evansville, Wis., 545 F.3d 537, 541 (7th Cir. 2008). However, a Court does so in the context of deciding a motion; currently there is no motion before the Court for consideration. If and when a motion, including but not limited to a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment, is before the Court, Plaintiff may again seek judicial notice of records in Carmichael. The Court denies Plaintiff's motion #36 without prejudice. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 41 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: For the reasons stated in the motion, the Court grants Defendant City of Chicago's unopposed motion for an extension of time to answer or otherwise plead #35 . Defendants City of Chicago, Ryan Edwards, and Kevin Coyne's answer or other responsive pleading is due on or before 10/28/2025. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 40 NOTICE of related FOIA and APRA litigation demonstrating Defendant's obstruction of records by Justin Sawyer. (Exhibits) (Received via pro se online portal on 09/04/2025.) (daj, ) |
| Filing 39 NOTICE of filing of digital exhibits by Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 09/03/2025.) (daj, ) |
| Filing 37 DIGITAL EXHIBIT submitted by Justin Sawyer For more information, please visit https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/ExhibitDrop. If you wish to download a digital exhibit, please send your request to the Certified Copy Desk (CCD) inbox at [email protected]. You will be provided with an invoice and charged according to the Fee Schedule. Once your payment has been processed, you will receive a URL via email to download the exhibit. (vkm, ) |
| Filing 36 MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for judicial notice of court records in Abraham Carmichael v. Village of Riverdale, et al. (Attachment) (Received via pro se online portal on 9/2/25.) (jxm, ) |
| Filing 35 MOTION by Defendant City of Chicago for extension of time to file answer or otherwise plead (unopposed) (Hughes, Jahnee) |
| Filing 34 ATTORNEY Appearance for Defendant City of Chicago by Jahnee Hughes (Hughes, Jahnee) |
| Filing 32 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Before the Court is Plaintiff's renewed emergency motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary inunction #29 . In his motion, Plaintiff requests that the Court enjoin and stay all criminal prosecutions against him. "The court may issue a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to the adverse party or its attorney only if: (A) specific facts in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly show that immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be heard in opposition; and (B) the movant's attorney certifies in writing any efforts made to give notice and the reasons why it should not be required." Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b). There is no indication that Defendants have been served in this case. And Plaintiff has neither submitted an affidavit nor explained in his motion or amended complaint why he faces "immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage" if the Court does not rule on the motion before Defendants can receive notice and file any opposition. The Illinois and Indiana state court criminal cases referenced in Plaintiff's motion have been pending since June 4, 2024 and February 14, 2024, respectively (the Court may take judicial notice of the state court dockets, Deicher v. City of Evansville, Wis., 545 F.3d 537, 541 (7th Cir. 2008) (it is proper to take judicial notice of court documents)). Plaintiff does not explain in his motion why, over a year after the initiation of both cases, there is now an emergency. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to present an emergency warranting ex parte relief and the Court denies Plaintiff's motion #29 . If Plaintiff wishes to file his motion as one for a preliminary injunction after Defendants have been served and appeared in this case, he may do so. As the Court stated in its Minute Entry of 8/13/2025, Plaintiff is responsible for serving Defendants. The Court again encourages Plaintiff to consult the U.S. District Court Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program for legal assistance. Mailed notice. (jcm) Modified on 8/18/2025 (jcm). (Main Document 32 replaced on 8/18/2025) (jcm, ). |
| Filing 31 SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendants Chicago Police Department, Doty Road Auto Pound, Riverdale Police Department (Attachments: #1 summons, #2 summons)(lj, ) |
| Filing 33 AFFIDAVIT of Justin B. Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 8/17/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 30 NOTICE of Pro Se Contact Information filed by Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 8/13/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 29 EMERGENCY MOTION for temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction filed by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 8/13/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 28 PROPOSED Memorandum Opinion and Order filed by Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 8/13/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 27 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Telephonic hearing held on 8/13/2025 on Recruited Counsel's Motion to Withdraw #23 . Recruited Counsel Mark Brown and Plaintiff appeared telephonically. Plaintiff advised the Court that he had no objection to Recruited Counsel's motion. Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the motion and with no objection from Plaintiff, the Court grants the motion to withdraw #23 . Plaintiff informed the Court that he did not want new counsel recruited and wants to represent himself. The Clerk is directed to update Plaintiff's contact information to that on his original appearance form #6 : Justin Sawyer, 11594 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628, (464) 333-2656, [email protected]. As the Court stated during the hearing, the next step in the case is service. Plaintiff is responsible for serving Defendant with the amended complaint and a summons in this case consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. Service must be performed by someone other than the plaintiff who is over 18 years old and must be accomplished within 90 days after the lawsuit was filed. Plaintiff is put on notice that Rule 4(m) requires the Complaint to be served within 90 days of it being filed unless the court finds good cause to extend the date. The Court considers the complaint to have been filed upon payment of the filing fee, 7/1/2025, so the 90-day clock started on that date. The Court strongly encourages Plaintiff to consult the U.S. District Court Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program for legal assistance, information about which can be found at: https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Pages.aspx?/2+UWDbtVzCDq3Lu8BusuQ== or 312-435-5691. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 26 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Recruited Counsel's Motion to Withdraw #23 is taken under advisement and a telephonic hearing on the motion is set for 8/13/2025 at 9:00 a.m. The call-in number is 1-855-244-8681 and the access code is 2306 072 6527. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. The Court directs Plaintiff's counsel to communicate with his client to provide Plaintiff with the date, time, and call-in details for the telephonic hearing, and to confirm his appearance at the scheduled motion hearing, no later than 8/12/2025 at 10:00 a.m. If plaintiff is in custody, the Court directs counsel to facilitate his appearance at the motion hearing. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 24 SUMMONS Issued (Court Participant) as to Defendants Chase Auto, Doty Road Auto Pound, James Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (Attachments: #1 summons, #2 summons, #3 summons, #4 summons, #5 summons, #6 summons, #7 summons, #8 summons)(lj, ) |
| Filing 25 OBJECTION to Attorney Mark A. Brown's Motion to withdraw. (Received via pro se online portal on 8/4/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 23 MOTION to withdraw from assignment pursuant to Local Rule 83.38 for Justin Sawyer. (Brown, Mark) |
| Filing 22 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Plaintiff has filed several documents, including an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order #20 , despite being represented by counsel. Those documents #19 , #20 , #21 are stricken. See, e.g., United States v. Traeger, 289 F.3d 461, 471 (7th Cir. 2002) ("Once [plaintiff] was represented by counsel, he was not entitled to have the district court consider his previous pro se motion."); see also Von Kahl v. Kallis, 2019 WL 3947910, at *3 (C.D. Ill. Aug. 21, 2019). Plaintiff is informed that he may not personally file documents, as the Court granted his motion for attorney representation #17 and his recruited counsel has filed an appearance #18 , so Plaintiff is now represented by counsel. Plaintiff shall communicate directly with his counsel about his concerns. Plaintiff's counsel is instructed to share a copy of this Minute Entry with Plaintiff. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 21 NOTICE of Emergency Filing and Imminent Irreparable Harm filed by Justin Sawyer.(Received via pro se online portal on 7/29/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 20 EMERGENCY MOTION for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction filed by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 7/26/2025) (jh, ) (Proposed Order added on 7/31/2025: #1 Main Document) (jh, ). |
| Filing 19 NOTICE OF OBSTRUCTION by State Court proceedings and Request for court intervention filed by Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 7/25/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 18 ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Justin Sawyer by Mark A Brown Appointed Attorney Appearance (Brown, Mark) |
Filing 17
ORDER: Before the Court is Plaintiff's renewed motion for attorney representation #12 . Based on the information in Plaintiff's renewed motion for attorney representation #12 and the claims alleged in the amended complaint #15 , as stated in the Court's Minute Entry of July 7, 2025, the Court grants Plaintiff's motion for attorney representation #12 . The Court recruits counsel for Plaintiff. The Court enlists Mark A. Brown of Lane Brown, LLC, 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60606, [email protected] to represent Plaintiff in accordance with counsel's trial bar obligations under N.D. Ill. Local Rules 83.11(h) and 83.37. Recruited counsel shall enter an appearance for Plaintiff by July 22, 2025. By August 22, 2025, recruited counsel shall inform the Court whether he intends to proceed with Plaintiff's Complaint or submit an amended complaint. The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Order to Plaintiff, recruited counsel, the Systems Department of the Northern District of Illinois, and the PACER Service Center at http://www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/register.html. Signed by the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama on 7/8/2025. Mailed notice. (jcm)
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| Filing 16 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: Plaintiff has paid the filing fee #15 . Accordingly, the Court terminated Plaintiff's amended application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) #11 as moot. However, based upon the information in Plaintiff's amended IFP application, as well as his motion for attorney representation #12 , the Court finds that Plaintiff cannot afford an attorney and has made sufficient efforts to obtain counsel on his own. Accordingly, the Court grants Plaintiff's motion for attorney representation #12 . The Court will enter a separate order recruiting counsel. The Court terminates Plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order #5 without prejudice, as lacking a basis in fact and law. Plaintiff, through recruited counsel, may refile any request therein if recruited counsel finds the request to be supported by fact and law. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 15 AMENDED Complaint by Justin Sawyer. (jh, ) |
| Filing 13 RECEIVED Amended Complaint by Justin Sawyer. (Received via pro se online portal on 5/31/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 12 MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for attorney representation. (Received via pro se email on 4/2/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 11 APPLICATION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. (Received via pro se email on 4/2/2025) (jh, ) |
| Filing 10 MINUTE entry before the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama: The Court has reviewed Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) #3 and denies Plaintiff's motion. To determine whether a litigant is indigent, many judges in this district use the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines (available at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines). See Newell v. Velacruz, 2017 WL 5905275, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 26, 2017); Bittman v. Illinois, 2013 WL 120285, at *1 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 8, 2013) (same). The HHS poverty guidelines for 2025 for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia set the poverty level for a household of one at $15,650. Plaintiff's IFP application lists his 12-month income as $20,232. That amount is well above the HHS's poverty threshold. Although Plaintiff lists a $17,000 debt to the Illinois DMV, based on the information included in Plaintiff's IFP application, the Court is not convinced that Plaintiff cannot pay the $402 filing fee. As such, Plaintiff's IFP motion is denied without prejudice. By 4/22/2025, Plaintiff must either pay the $402 filing fee or file an amended motion for leave to proceed IFP detailing why Plaintiff's income is insufficient to pay the filing fee or why his debt makes him unable to pay the fee. Failure to file an amended IFP application or pay the filing fee by this deadline may result in dismissal of the lawsuit. Additionally, the Court denies Plaintiff's motion for attorney representation #4 , as it indicates that Plaintiff contacted just one lawyer seeking representation. Plaintiff must contact at least three law firms or legal aid organizations to demonstrate that he has made a reasonable effort to obtain counsel on his own. See Pickett v. Chi. Transit Auth., 930 F.3d 869, 871 (7th Cir. 2019) ("A litigant's good faith but unsuccessful effort to obtain counsel is a necessary condition to the provision of judicial assistance to recruit a lawyer."). After making those attempts, Plaintiff may refile the motion if unsuccessful, if his case progresses. Finally, the Court notes that Plaintiff has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order #5 . The Court cannot substantively consider any filings until it either grants an IFP application or Plaintiff pays the filing fee. The Court directs Plaintiff's attention to the U.S. District Court Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program, information about which can be found at: https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/Pages.aspx?/2+UWDbtVzCDq3Lu8BusuQ== or 312-435-5691. Mailed notice. (jcm) |
| Filing 7 DIGITAL EXHIBIT submitted by Justin Sawyer For more information, please visit https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/ExhibitDrop. If you wish to download a digital exhibit, please send your request to the Certified Copy Desk (CCD) inbox at [email protected]. You will be provided with an invoice and charged according to the Fee Schedule. Once your payment has been processed, you will receive a URL via email to download the exhibit. (men, ) |
| Filing 9 MINUTE entry before the Executive Committee: Case reassigned to the Honorable Franklin U. Valderrama for all further proceedings pursuant to the provisions of 28 USC 294 (b). Mailed notice (Attachments: #1 Request for Reassignment) (jh, ) |
| Filing 6 PRO SE Appearance by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer (Attachments: #1 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| Filing 5 MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for Leave to File a Complaint ; MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for Temporary Restraining Order With Supporting Evidence and Clarifications (Attachments: #1 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| Filing 4 MOTION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for attorney representation (Attachments: #1 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| Filing 3 APPLICATION by Plaintiff Justin Sawyer for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Attachments: #1 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| Filing 2 CIVIL Cover Sheet (Attachments: #1 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| Filing 1 RECEIVED COMPLAINT filed by Justin Sawyer; Jury Demand. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A, #2 Exhibit B, #3 Exhibit C, #4 Exhibit D, #5 Exhibit E, #6 Exhibit F, #7 Exhibit I, #8 Exhibit J, #9 Exhibit K, #10 Exhibit L, #11 Exhibit M, #12 Exhibit N, #13 Exhibit O, #14 Envelope) (Received by mail in the Clerk's Office on 3/28/2025.) (jp, ) |
| CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Judge Joan B. Gottschall. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Heather K. McShain. Case assignment: Random assignment. (Civil Category 2). (jp, ) |
| CLERK'S NOTICE: Pursuant to Local Rule 73.1(b), a United States Magistrate Judge of this court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action. If all parties consent to have the currently assigned United States Magistrate Judge conduct all proceedings in this case, including trial, the entry of final judgment, and all post-trial proceedings, all parties must sign their names on the attached #Consent To# form. This consent form is eligible for filing only if executed by all parties. The parties can also express their consent to jurisdiction by a magistrate judge in any joint filing, including the Joint Initial Status Report or proposed Case Management Order. (jp, ) |
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