Father of Palestinian American boy slain outside Chicago files wrongful death lawsuit
CHICAGO– The father of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy who was fatally stabbed in what authorities say was a hate crime has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
Oday Al-Fayoume filed the lawsuit last month against the suburban Chicago landlord accused of the attack that killed his child and seriously injured the boy's mother. The attack – which has revived fears of anti-Muslim discrimination in the large Palestinian community in the Chicago area – has drawn condemnation from the White House.
Authorities allege that Joseph Czuba, 71, targeted Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother Hanaan Shahin on October 14 because of their Muslim faith and in response to the war between Israel and Hamas. Czuba pleaded not guilty to hate crime and murder charges in October.
The wrongful death lawsuit filed Nov. 21 in Will County names Czuba, his wife, Mary Czuba, both of Plainfield, and their property management company, Discerning Property Management.
Joseph Czuba allegedly told his wife to inform Shahin that he wanted the family to move out of the apartment where they had lived for two years. He also allegedly said he feared Shahin's “Palestinian friends would harm them,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit alleges that Mary Czuba and the management company “were indifferent and failed to recognize a threat and prevent serious bodily harm” to their tenants. There is a hearing on March 11.
“Justice comes in many forms… and there is obviously an incredible loss in Wadea, but his mother was also seriously injured, and we believe there are avenues for compensation for what the family has been through,” said Ben Crane, Oday Al-Fayoume's lawyer.
The Czubas do not yet have an attorney in the wrongful death case and Mary Czuba has filed paperwork to divorce Joseph Czuba, according to court documents.
Czuba remains incarcerated in Will County as he awaits a hearing in the criminal case in January. His lawyer, George Lenard, has said he will not comment on the case outside court.