Contact: Alexander Loftus

Voelker Litigation Group

311 W. Superior, Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60654
312-772-5396
alex@voelkerlitigationgroup.com
VOELKER LITIGATION GROUP FILES LAWSUIT AFTER EYEWITNESS
CONFIRMS POLICE HAD NO RIGHT TO KILL UNARMED MAN ON INTERSTATE
88.
March 5, 2015, Chicago, IL: Daniel Voelker and Alexander Loftus of Voelker Litigation Group
filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of Shane Cataline through his parents
Rebecca Gysan and David Smith against Conservation Officer Steven Francisko and the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources for killing Shane in violation of the 4th, 5th, and 8th
amendments of the United States Constitution.
Shanes family recently located an eyewitness who saw Steven
Francisko kill Shane and videotaped a statement that directly
contradicts what the officers involved claimed happened.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZjurNYT514)
On November 22, 2013 at approximately 10:45 a.m. Shane was
stopped by Conservation Officer Steven Francisko and Illinois
State Trooper Luke Kuehl for what the officers called a welfare
check on his drive from Toledo, Ohio to his new job in
Mountain View, California. State Trooper Kuehl pulled his
vehicle directly behind Cataline and Francisko swiftly pulled his
pickup directly in front of Cataline. Francisko was apparently
trying to prevent the unarmed, sober, software developer in a
mini-van whose welfare they were checking on from fleeing
the scene.
When Shane refused to get out of his vehicle Kuehl attempted to pull him out in furtherance of
the welfare check. Shane pulled onto the roadway when the officer attempted to open his
vehicle door and did a u-turn heading eastbound on Interstate 88. (Kuehls dash-cam video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytJpqi3EYa0)
A semi-truck driven by Sean Dale approached from the opposite direction, forcing Shane off the
road and into Kuehls squad car parked on the side of the road. Immediately before the impact
Kuehl bailed out of his car leaving his squad car door open and rolled on the ground away from
his vehicle.
Immediately after the impact Francisko was up on the hood and shot Shane five times.
Independent eyewitnesses confirm no one was in physical danger when Shane was shot.
Francisko did not say stop or freeze or anything before killing Shane. Kuehl was not in his

vehicle nor was he standing between Shanes minivan and his vehicle when Shanes van made
contact with the squad car.
The family is suing for money damages sufficient to punish and deter this egregious conduct.
This is a tragic event and the family deserves answers, said Daniel Voelker, The officer who
killed Shane and the agencies that participated in hiding the truth need to be held accountable.
This killing is the latest in a series of poorly investigated police shootings. Voelker observed,
This incident highlights why independent review such as what was as recently advocated for by
the President of all police shootings is necessary.
The Voelker Litigation Group represents clients in high-stakes litigation throughout the United
States including class action, fraud, contract, real estate, civil rights, intellectual property,
securities, and labor and employment disputes. Our legal team, composed of trial lawyers with
more than 75 years of combined litigation experience, has handled cases of all sizes from the
relatively small matter to high-stakes litigation. Members of our legal team have been selected
for professional designations such as Leading Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the AV-Preeminent
rating. Please contact the firm at 312-448-8457 or visit www.voelkerlitigationgroup.com for
more information.