The history of Haroon Paryani, who was allegedly run over by former Chicago Department of Public Health employee Mike Jackson on Feb. 4, is expected to be part of the argument used by Jackson's attorneys in defending him, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Jackson's lead attorney, Tom Breen, said that his goal 'isn't to trash anybody. It's to get to the facts that occurred that night.' Jackson is charged with first-degree murder and is being held in DuPage County Jail after allegedly assaulting a nurse in a Downers Grove hospital while out on bail in the Paryani case. His next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 31 in Cook County.
In court, Jackson's defense team has tried to portray Paryani as the aggressor—and it appears that lawyers may have some ammunition. The Chicago Reader and the Tribune reported that Paryani had previously been sued by a cab customer for attacking her, was convicted of battery charges and, in a separate case, fined and suspended by the city for violent behavior. In the court file of Jackson's case, there is a 1989 lawsuit involving a woman who sued Paryani for $6 million, claiming he had verbally and physically abused her during a cab ride. A jury found Paryani guilty, and he was ordered to pay the plaintiff, Josine Plooy, $150,000 in damages. Paryani appealed and the parties reached an out-of-court settlement in 1996.
Paryani's boss at the time of his death, Mohammad Dawood, said to the newspaper that he never had any problems with Paryani, who worked several years for his company, Seven Day Cab. However, city records reveal that, in May 2001, Paryani was fined $875 and suspended for 17 days for discourtesy, abusive behavior, unsafe driving and for taking an indirect route.
However, many feel that even if the driver instigated the Jackson incident, he should not have been killed. Al Wiederer, who represented Paryani in the Plooy case, noted to the Tribune that '…even if he was the aggressor, how do you justify running him over three times?'
In addition, supporters of Jackson have launched a site, www.endcabviolence.com, that features Paryani's photos. Visitors to the controversial page are requested to relate stories of run-ins with Paryani either by calling a phone number or sending e-mail. Paryani's friends and family members said that Jackson's friends are trying to smear Paryani's reputation. 'I just think the tactics they're trying to pull are very stupid,' said Paryani's daughter, Keeran, 20. 'They're just trying to do everything to get [ Jackson ] out of it … .' She added that Paryani 'was a caring and loving father.' WBBM780.com reported that activists have criticized the site, calling it 'offensive and insensitive.'
Now, the Chicago Dispatcher has launched its own site, www.stopkillingchicagocabdrivers.com, that seeks incriminating information about the man accused of murdering Paryani. ( The site asks, 'Have you witnessed Mr. Jackson using illegal drugs or otherwise behaving violently or erratically? If so, please share your story with us.' ) Taxi drivers argued that the site with Paryani's pictures is attacking a person who cannot talk back. Robert Rose, who has been driving cabs in Chicago for more than 40 years, told the Tribune in a separate article that searching out information on a dead man ( a reference to the End Cab Violence site ) is despicable.
Also, The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has announced its support for cab drivers, whose occupation the committee paints as offering plenty in the way of danger but little in terms of benefits, including health insurance. Among its goals is to assist the Paryani family in its legal battle.
