Sims-Hearn v. Office of the Medical Examiner

Plaintiff, Gwendolyn Sims-Hearn, filed a claim in the Court of Claims, seeking compensation pursuant to the Crime Victims Compensation Act (740 ILCS 45/1 et seq. (West 2000)), for the death of her son. She claimed her son was murdered because he had witnessed a murder. After the Court of Claims denied her claim, plaintiff filed a pro se negligence action against defendant Office of the Medical Examiner of Cook County, alleging that defendant’s negligent autopsy resulted in the Court of Claims denying her claim. Defendant then filed a motion to dismiss this complaint on the basis that the…