The murder allegations against Kolalou and her absence from court due to being in jail were not disclosed to the jurors during the civil trial.
In Rogers Park, a March 1, 2018 accident resulted in a lawsuit in 2019. The incident occurred when Kolalou was crossing the street in a crosswalk and a #22 Clark bus, while making a left-hand turn at Clark and Howard, struck her.
Kolalou filed a lawsuit against both the CTA and the bus driver. She alleged that she had sustained permanent back injuries, which might require surgery in the future, and that she frequently experiences excruciating pain, rating it as a “10 out of 10” on the pain scale, in her lower back and legs.
Prosecutors surprised Kolalou with murder charges for killing her landlord, Frances Walker, in their West Ridge home, only four months before the trial.
In a matter of weeks, the civil attorneys representing the case made a move to have the jury sequestered for the upcoming trial, but unfortunately, their efforts proved to be futile. Nonetheless, they did manage to convince the judge to prohibit the use of the name Kolalou during the trial due to the strong prejudice against murderers.
Despite having divorced years earlier, she continued to use her married name, Sandra White. Thus, when the case proceeded, she was identified as Sandra White.
During the trial on February 27, 2023, Kolalou was awarded $3 million by the jury along with the costs.
According to court records, the CTA filed a motion for a new trial in May 2023. The motion cited the inadequate audio quality of Kolalou’s deposition, which was recorded inside the Cook County jail. Additionally, the motion claimed that Kolalou did not disclose her social media accounts, leading to further complications.
In a filing, the CTA alleged that Kolalou was experiencing excruciating leg and back pain while indulging in various activities such as cliff-jumping, swimming with dolphins, playing tennis, wearing high heels, and traveling to far-off destinations like Egypt, South Africa, and Mexico. These activities were all documented on her social media profiles.
During the recent trial last fall, the second jury almost came to the same decision as the first one, and Kolalou was granted $2.8 million along with costs. Interestingly, during the trial, an expert testified that the photos shared on social media did not contradict Kolalou’s claims of suffering from severe pain in her back and legs.
The CTA made an attempt to secure a third trial, but unfortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful. However, they are appealing the decision. The transit agency has put forward several arguments, including the postponement of the civil trial until the criminal case is resolved. The lawyers representing the CTA will put forth the argument that the value of the defendant’s life in prison differs significantly from her life outside, and that she will not have access to private medical services while incarcerated.
