Depositions To Begin In Federal Class-Action Lawsuit By Women Alleging Privacy Violations In Cicero Lock-Up

By Ankur Singh

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The federal class-action lawsuit, Lesia Adair et al v. Town of Cicero is set to begin depositions of the named plaintiffs starting on December 20th, 2019. 

The lawsuit, which currently represents 948 women, alleges that the configuration of the Town of Cicero police lock-up facility forces women who are being detained to expose their privates while using the bathroom to both male officers and detainees.

An additional 30 depositions are scheduled for February 2020. Usually done during a case’s discovery period where evidence is gathered, a deposition is a question and answer session of a witness under oath so that all parties can have all the facts before the trial.

The women say they experienced “stress, humiliation and other emotional damages from the exposure and/or potential exposure of their genitals,” reports the lawsuit. “As well as the emotional and physical pain and discomfort they experienced from attempting to not use the bathroom facilities for as long as they could, due to their desire not to have to expose their genitals in the process.”

Video footage from inside the lock-up cells have also been collected and will soon be analyzed by the parties. The next status hearing is on January 27, 2020.