By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A state appeals court has reversed a verdict that had enabled McLean County to recover $500,000 in legal fees it spent in a lawsuit involving Alan Beaman.
The Rockford man, who was exonerated after serving 13 years in prison for the murder of his former girlfriend, sued McLean County, the Town of Normal, several law enforcement officers and former state’s attorneys Charles Reynard and James Souk claiming ‘a malicious prosecution.’
That case was dismissed, but the county took the State’s Self-Insured Risk Retention Group to court claiming it should cover its legal fees.
McLean County won the case, but the 4th District Appellate Court unanimously reversed the case and sent it back to McLean County.
McLean County assistant state’s attorney Don Knapp said the office hasn’t determined whether to appeal the ruling.
“Until I get a chance to fully read that opinion, I can’t comment on the logistics or the county’s intent to respond,” Knapp said.
Beaman has a separate lawsuit against the Town of Normal that is still pending. He was released from prison in 2008 after the Illinois Supreme Court reversed his murder conviction in the 1993 murder of Jennifer Lockmiller. He was pardoned by then-Gov. Pat Quinn in January.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
