CTA Ordered to Pay $3M to Sandra Kolalou for North Side Landlord Murder
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has been ordered to pay approximately $3 million to Sandra Kolalou, a convicted murderer currently serving a 60-year prison sentence. Kolalou was found guilty of killing and dismembering her North Side landlord, Frances Walker, shortly after receiving an eviction notice in 2022.
Court Ruling and Background
This case took a significant turn following Kolalou’s prior legal issues. Three years before the murder, she had filed a lawsuit against the CTA after being struck by a bus on Chicago’s Far North Side. The situation escalated as legal proceedings continued, ultimately leading to murder charges against her.
Verdict and Appeal
Kolalou’s murder conviction was upheld despite the CTA’s attempts to appeal the court’s decision. The Cook County Court of Appeals rejected the CTA’s request to overturn the lawsuit judgment, resulting in the substantial financial award to Kolalou.
Key Details
- Convicted Individual: Sandra Kolalou
- Victim: Frances Walker
- Initial Charge: Murder and dismemberment
- Sentence: 60 years in prison
- Eviction Notice: Received days before the murder in 2022
- Sued CTA: After a bus incident on the Far North Side
- Payout Amount: Nearly $3 million
- Court’s Decision: CTA’s appeal denied by Cook County Court of Appeals
This situation raises concerns about the intersection of civil and criminal law, highlighting the complexities involved in lawsuits against public entities.
