Potential Burge settlements would get Daley off the hook

Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley

The city of Chicago may be settling two lawsuits stemming from the Burge police torture scandal, and that may be good news for former Mayor Richard Daley.

Ronald Kitchen and Michael Tillman are both suing the city, saying they were tortured by police under former Commander Jon Burge. Neither the city nor the attorneys for Kitchen and Tillman would discuss a possible settlement in court last Friday, but Judge Elaine Bucklo asked attorneys in the case about the status of a settlement. Attorneys told the judge that city lawyers would be submitting a written proposal to the torture victims sometime this week.

Former Mayor Richard Daley was ordered to sit for a deposition in one of the cases and answer questions on what he knew about the Burge torture scandal and when he knew it. If the city settles the lawsuit, the deposition of Daley would not happen. There's no guarantee, however,  that any proposed settlement would be accepted.