Settlement coincides with introduction of Illinois bills to strengthen police hiring practices
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –– The tragic interaction between 36-year-old Sonya Massey and a Sangamon County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Deputy on a summer night last year should have ended with Sonya getting the help she needed during an emotional crisis rather than a death sentence. Instead, calling 9-1-1 led to the loss of Sonya’s life. Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorneys Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law and Antonio M. Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin have announced the $10 million settlement of the civil proceedings against the Sangamon County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Department and Sangamon County for the July 6, 2024, shooting death of Sonya Massey by then-Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson.
Grayson has since been fired from the department and is charged with first degree murder for her death. Many questions have been raised since Sonya’s death about the law enforcement hiring process in Sangamon County and Grayson’s fitness for the job, as details of two personal DUI convictions and several professional concerns surfaced after the incident. Reports indicate Grayson worked for 6 departments in 4 years before being hired by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department.
The Sangamon County Board approved the settlement on February 11, 2025. The agreement was mediated by ADR Systems and the Honorable Judge Kay M Hanlon (Ret.).
Attorney Crump, Attorney Romanucci, and the family of Sonya Massey issued the following statement:
“The settlement reached by civil attorneys for the senseless death of Sonya Massey brings some measure of accountability and closure to those who loved her, but nothing can remove the persistent pain, frustration and grief caused by her senseless death. The use of deadly force during that encounter is as stunning as it is deeply, deeply sad. It is the hope of Sonya’s family that her death can bring change, and that the community will continue to say her name so no one ever needlessly loses their life again when all they are asking for is help.
“As we mark Sonya’s birthday today, we are grateful for Illinois State Senator Doris Turner (D48th), who represents Sonya’s district, for introducing SB1953 and for Illinois State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-27 th ), Chair of Judiciary-Criminal Committee, for introducing HB3837 last week. Both bills call for more robust background checks and the greater sharing of work history and personal history for applicants to law enforcement roles. It is squarely in the public’s best interest that those who are sworn to protect and serve our communities be held to a reasonably high standard before being given a shield and a service weapon. Sonya’s family believes that this type of a background check would have raised numerous concerns about the officer who would later take her life, and in creating a more thorough hiring process in Illinois that tragedies like Sonya’s can be prevented. “
Illinois State Rep. Justin Slaughter, sponsor of the Sonya Massey Bill HB3837 said:
“It is with a great sense of purpose that I am pleased to bring to the Illinois House floor HB3837, which seeks to make substantive change to how law enforcement applicants are reviewed before they are hired. The aim is to ensure those who are hired meet reasonable standards and qualifications and that any concerns about their professional conduct at prior law enforcement departments or in their personal lives are brought to the surface. This robust process is nothing short of what our communities deserve, so that the right people are in these critical public service roles. We do this in honor of Sonya Massey, so others like her will not be senselessly harmed or killed, and ultimately we can build greater trust between all citizens of Illinois and law enforcement officers.”
###
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
ABOUT ROMANUCCI & BLANDIN, LLC
Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death through impact litigation. For more than 25 years, we have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients – many for millions of dollars or record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors distinguish our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team,
