Thaddeus Jimenez, 36, was ordered held without bail after an Irving Park shooting in August. View Full Caption DNAinfo; Cook County Sheriff's Office

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The man authorities claim was shot in both legs for refusing to rejoin a gang has filed a lawsuit against the alleged shooter, Thaddeus Jimenez.

Jimenez, 36, made headlines in 2009 when he was exonerated for a murder that he was arrested for at the age of 13. Jimenez spent more than 16 years in prison and was awarded $25 million in damages by a federal jury in 2012.

Prosecutors last month characterized Jimenez as a prominent gang leader who's been known to spend upward of $50,000 recruiting new members with cash, guns and cars.

But in federal court last week, Jimenez claimed he was broke, according to the Sun-Times. Jimenez told court officials he didn't have any assets, but prosecutors pointed out there are 13 cars registered in Jimenez's name, including a Bentley and other luxury vehicles, the paper reported.

On Monday, Earl Casteel, the 33-year-old man Jimenez allegedly shot in broad daylight on Aug. 17, filed a lawsuit seeking at least $50,000 in damages.

Casteel's attorney, Kevin M. O'Brien, said Casteel was shot in both kneecaps and required surgery on both of his legs. Casteel has screws and plates in each leg and will require "significant physical therapy."

"Will he be able to walk again? Probably," O'Brien said. "Will he be able to walk without pain? Probably not. Will he be able to regain all the motion, flexion and extension that he had before this incident? Probably not."

The shooting happened about 11:20 a.m. Aug. 17 in the 3500 block of West Belle Plaine Avenue, according to prosecutors. Jimenez was driving his gray Mercedes convertible when he spotted Casteel, a former gang member who hadn't been active for four years and refused to rejoin, authorities said.

Jimenez, who was driving on a revoked license and was out on bond for a pending aggravated DUI case, pointed a gun at the Casteel's head before lowering it and shooting the man once in each leg, according to prosecutors. Both of Casteel's femurs were shattered.

Jimenez then sped off, only to be followed by an unmarked police SUV. After a brief chase, prosecutors said, Jimenez crashed his car and tried to make a run for it. He was arrested and charged.

Casteel's lawsuit seeks compensation for ongoing medical expenses, as well as mental and physical anguish.

Casteel "resisted efforts by this defendant [Jimenez] to get him to join the gang, and in return for his saying 'no' to being forcefully recruited into this gang, he ended up getting shot in both legs," O'Brien said.

In response to Jimenez's claim that he's broke, O'Brien said he plans to investigate Jimenez's finances and any money or property transfers that have happened since the August shooting.

"The court believes there are still assets left and so do we," said Judson Graham, an associate attorney with O'Brien's firm. "The truth is, it is difficult to burn the amount of money he got from his wrongful conviction case in only a few years, even if you're buying Lamborghinis."

Jimenez's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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