Chicago to sue Jussie Smollett for costs of investigation into attack

Empire actor Jussie Smollett missed a Thursday deadline to pay Chicago $130,106.15, and the city said it plans on filing a lawsuit "in the near future" in an attempt to get the money.

On March 28, the city's law department sent Smollett a letter demanding he reimburse the city for overtime worked by police officers who investigated an attack Smollett said took place in downtown Chicago on Jan. 29. When the money wasn't received, the department released a statement saying it was drafting a suit against Smollett.

In mid-February, police said Smollett orchestrated the attack, and he was charged with disorderly conduct and filing a false police report. Last week, Cook County prosecutors dropped the charges, after Smollett agreed to forfeit his $10,000 bond and put in community service hours; he did not admit any wrongdoing, and still says he was assaulted by two masked men.

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Should Smollett end up the defendant in a civil trial, jurors would have to decide if he was behind the attack, The Associated Press reports. Under Chicago municipal code, if an individual does not pay the initial amount demanded by the city, they could triple the amount ordered.