The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has been ordered to pay $3 million to Sandra Kolalou, a woman who was involved in a bus crash and later convicted of killing and dismembering her landlord. Despite the hefty judgment, Kolalou will remain in prison until at least July 2076, when she will be 90 years old.
The Illinois First District Appellate Court upheld a $2.8 million jury verdict against the CTA for a 2018 bus crash that left Kolalou with orthopedic and neurological injuries. The CTA admitted negligence, but the dispute centered on the amount of damages Kolalou should receive. The court rejected the CTA’s arguments to delay the case or reduce the verdict due to Kolalou’s pending murder case.
In October 2022, Kolalou was charged with the murder and dismemberment of her 69-year-old landlord, Frances Walker. Despite the pending charges, a Cook County judge allowed the personal injury case to proceed under Kolalou’s maiden name, Walker, without referencing the criminal case. The CTA later filed a motion for a new trial, citing issues with Kolalou’s deposition and her alleged failure to disclose social media activities.
During the civil trial, social media posts showed Kolalou engaging in activities like cliff-jumping, swimming with dolphins, and traveling to various destinations, despite claiming debilitating leg and back pain. A second jury awarded Kolalou $2.8 million in damages, including funds for future medical care and loss of normal life.
The CTA argued that the trial should have been postponed until the murder case concluded and that jurors should have been informed about Kolalou’s potential life sentence. However, the appellate court rejected these claims, emphasizing that Kolalou had not been convicted at the time of the civil trials, making the outcome uncertain.
Kolalou was ultimately convicted in April 2024 and sentenced to 58 years in prison for the murder and dismemberment of her landlord. Despite her conviction, the appellate court’s ruling holds the CTA responsible for the multimillion-dollar judgment. This decision, while acknowledging the severity of Kolalou’s crimes, underscores the application of civil law and evidentiary rules.
The news of the appellate court’s ruling was first reported by Legal Newsline. This unique reporting, supported by readers, highlights the complexities of the case and the legal implications for the CTA in light of Kolalou’s conviction.
