The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) must pay nearly $3 million to a woman currently serving a 58-year sentence for the brutal murder and dismemberment of her landlord.
In a New Year’s Eve ruling, the Illinois Appellate Court upheld a $2.8 million verdict for Sandra Kolalou.
The payout stems from a 2018 personal injury lawsuit where Kolalou was struck by a CTA bus while walking in a crosswalk.
The CTA fought to overturn the verdict, arguing that the trial should have been delayed or the payout reduced because of Kolalou’s criminal status.
However, the court ruled that because Kolalou had not yet been convicted of murder at the time of the civil trial, her criminal charges were “prejudicial” and could not be used to influence the jury’s decision on her injuries.
The CTA also pointed to social media posts showing Kolalou cliff-jumping and traveling to South Africa and Egypt, claiming she was not as injured as she stated.
The court ultimately rejected these arguments.
While the civil case was in motion, Kolalou was arrested for the October 2022 slaying of 69-year-old Frances Walker.
Prosecutors proved that Kolalou killed Walker and dismembered her body after receiving an eviction notice.
Despite her massive legal win against the city, Kolalou will likely never see the outside of a prison cell to spend the money.
She is scheduled for release in July 2076, at which point she will be 90 years old.
