Heading into Circuit Judge Willie M. Whiting' s courtroom on March 27—the fourth time this year—activist Vernita Gray was hopeful.
Hopeful that she would receive compensation for the thousands of dollars worth of belongings she lost when her condo association illegally evicted her Feb. 23. Hopeful that the association would be forced to reimburse her for the legal, medical and housing expenses she has incurred since then. Hopeful that it would be forced to pay for acting against her because she's gay.
But after last Tuesday's court date, Gray is left looking to the civil courts for relief.
Whiting granted only two of Gray's five requests, ordering the condo association to replace the door that was damaged when sheriff's deputies smashed their way in to evict her, and to reimburse her $250 for the five days between her eviction and the day she regained possession of her condo.
Whiting denied requests that Gray be reimbursed for her possessions or her medical or legal expenses.
Gray's attorney, Yvette Stringer, had also sought to have The 7355 South Shore Drive Condominium Association and its president, Shelley Norton, held in contempt for allowing sheriff's deputies to remove Gray despite an order that put her eviction on hold.
Deputies were acting on an eviction order that was issued in November but put on hold on Feb. 7. In continuing the order, Whiting gave Gray until March 9 to pay $1,300 in condo assessments, fines and fees.
But deputies were never notified that the eviction was postponed, and when they arrived on Feb. 23, Gray alleges, Norton did nothing to stop them. Judge Whiting blamed herself—and Shelley Norton—for the deputies not being properly notified of the situation.
"The court has learned a very important lesson, and your client has suffered," Whiting said to Stringer. "I accept part of the responsibility for what happened, but it doesn't all fall on the court."
Whiting, who has had harsh words for Norton in the past, again brushed aside suggestions that Norton tried to stop Gray's eviction.
Norton did not appear in court, instead waiting outside the courtroom until the proceedings ended.
In addition to filing discrimination and harassment complaints with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the city Commission on Human Relations, Gray plans to pursue a civil suit against Norton and the condo association.
Her attorney estimated that 85% of her possessions—furniture, clothing, photographs and community honors—were lost or damaged during her eviction.
She recovered one community award Saturday, March 24, when Horizons Community Services surprised her by replacing the Human First Award she won in 2000. Gray was helping to emcee the awards portion of this year's Human First benefit gala when she was regiven an award of her own.
There has been a strong outpouring of community support for Gray, including a benefit party and a protest outside her condo that drew up to 80 people.
Gray also spoke briefly at last Wednesday's Lobby Days in Springfield, where she said her illegal eviction reiterated the need for legislation that gives legal protections to LGBTs.
"I'm one of the people who never thought it would happen to me," said Gray, gay and lesbian liaison for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. "Let's have (legislation) there for those who need it in the future."
While maintaining that activists should work toward making the entire city, and not just the North Side, safe for gays, Gray said she is selling her condo unit as soon as its door is replaced.
"I would never sleep another night there," she said. "I don't feel safe (in that building)."
Copyright © 2001 Lambda Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Lambda publishes Windy City Times, The Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community, Nightlines, Out Resource Guide, Clout! Business Report, Blacklines and En La Vida. 1115 W. Belmont 2D, Chicago, IL 60657; PH (773) 871-7610; FAX (773) 871-7609. Web at outlineschicago.com E-mail feedback to outlines@suba.com!
