Scott Whitman, a former U.S. embassy employee in Moscow, and his Russian bride were returning from a belated honeymoon when they ran afoul of Chicago police at O’Hare International Airport in August 1994. What started as a parking infraction turned nasty.
On Monday, a federal jury awarded the couple $400,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress and using excessive force.
Whitman left his car at the upper-level unloading area briefly when his pregnant wife felt sick, according to their lawyer, Daniel Alexander. But Whitman hurried back to the car when he saw Eula Scott, a traffic aide, writing him a ticket.
Ticket in hand, Whitman drove off for the rental car lot. But, Alexander said, after deciding that was too far off and that he had to let his wife know what was happening, Whitman returned to the unloading zone.
Upset at seeing him at the busy area again, Scott arrested him and called for backup. As Whitman’s wife, Natalie Menshikova, knelt, begging the officers to let her husband go, Officer Edward Oriole allegedly hip-checked her out of the way, Alexander said.
Later that night, Menshikova miscarried.
The officers were acquitted of battery against Whitman.
A wallet containing $2,100 in cash had been removed by police from the car. Five hours later, when the wallet was returned to the couple, the money was missing, Alexander said. The jury ordered the officers to repay the $2,100, he said.
