Appeals Court Rejected Chicago Woman's Damage Claims
A federal panel upheld a jury verdict that denied civil damages to a woman injured in a 2018 Chicago police confrontation.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has denied a request for a new trial from Breah Bedford regarding civil damages from a police officer and the city. A jury previously rejected her claims stemming from a 2018 incident in Chicago, clearing Officer Brandon DeWitt of liability.
Why it matters
The ruling concludes a long-standing legal challenge concerning police use-of-force and the admissibility of expert testimony in civil litigation. The court affirmed that the exclusion of certain evidentiary records did not constitute a reversible error in the lower court proceedings.
A jury previously rejected civil claims brought by Breah Bedford against Officer Brandon DeWitt and a business owner. This verdict followed a 2020 investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which cleared the officer of wrongdoing.
The players
Breah Bedford
She is the plaintiff who sought damages following a physical confrontation with police and business staff.
Brandon DeWitt
He is the police officer who was cleared of wrongdoing by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in 2020.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
This federal court holds jurisdiction over appeals from district courts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Civilian Office of Police Accountability
This Chicago agency is responsible for investigating allegations of police misconduct and use of force.
The details
The dispute centers on a June 24, 2018, confrontation near Big City Tap on Belmont Avenue, where Officer DeWitt shoved then-18-year-old Bedford to the ground. While a jury awarded over $120,000 in damages to a second plaintiff involved in the same conflict, they found in favor of the defense regarding Bedford's claims after hearing testimony about her conduct at the hospital.
Timeline
The confrontation occurred on June 24, 2018, at 9:30 p.m.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability cleared the officer of wrongdoing in 2020.
The federal appeals court rejected the bid for damages on October 14, 2026.
Legal Context
This case reflects broader judicial trends in how federal courts handle expert witness testimony and the admissibility of past use-of-force records in civil rights litigation. These precedents shape how future plaintiffs in Chicago can present evidence regarding officer history during trials.
This final court decision clarifies the legal threshold for civil liability in Chicago police encounters and confirms the status of the investigation into the 2018 incident. The ruling signals that existing administrative findings regarding officer conduct remain the primary legal framework for the case.
The takeaway
The appellate decision underscores the difficulty of overturning jury verdicts when central testimony regarding plaintiff conduct is contested in court. Litigants should be aware that administrative exonerations by oversight bodies often carry significant weight in subsequent civil jury deliberations.
Further reading
For more information on regional oversight and judicial rulings, visit the Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CWB Chicago.
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