Carter v. Skokie Valley Detective Agency, Ltd.

Following a jury trial, Terry Harris was convicted of the murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping of Emma L. Hopkins. (People v. Harris (1989), 132 Ill. 2d 366, 547 N.E.2d 1241.) This case involves the civil action for money damages brought by Hopkins’ mother, Emma Carter, as administrator of her daughter’s estate, against Harris’ employer, the Skokie Valley Detective Agency, Ltd. (Skokie Valley). Count I of plaintiff’s complaint was a wrongful death claim and count II was a survival claim. Plaintiff alleged that Skokie Valley was negligent in hiring Harris as a…