The former Director of Transportation of Proviso Township says he was wrongfully terminated for his support of other political candidates.
According to the complaint, Charles Fredrickson became the Coordinator of Transportation in 2001 and then the Director of Transportation in 2005 until his termination in 2009. During that time, Fredrickson publicly supported various candidates that were running against candidates politically affiliated with defendant Ronald Serpico, the mayor of Melrose Park, the complaint states. Those candidates included Steve Morella, Tony Peraica, Kathleen Ryan, Teresa Kelly and Jesse Martinez.
When defendant Michael Corrigan became the Supervisor of Proviso Township, he informed Fredrickson that there would be a pretermination hearing regarding Fredrickson and that his termination was due to politics, according to the complaint.
The complaint further states that Corrigan and other members of the board - defendants Don Sloan, Timothy Gillian, Anthony Williams and Mari Herrell - are "controlled by and politically aligned with Serpico" and all voted to remove Fredrickson from his position as Director of Transportation.
Fredrickson says he was unlawfully penalized for exercising his right to freedom of speech and he is seeking, among other things, reinstatement, back pay and compensatory and punitive damages.
Read the complaint after the jump.
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A city cab driver says that vouchers she accepts from disabled passengers are not being reimbursed.
According to the complaint, in July 2006, PACE began to administer a federal program called TAP (Taxi Access Program) that provides customers with disabilities a means to travel at reduced rates for trips that originate in the city of Chicago.
Katrina Chambers-Bates, a city cab driver since 1984, says that certain vouchers she submitted to PACE for payment had been returned unpaid and when she inquired as to why, she was told by Luis Melero, TAP Manager of Pace, that there was an "11-minute rule"- which she was never notified of and which Melero could not provide any written evidence of - and that he then threatened to have her license revoked.
The complaint states that the following then occurred:
- Katrina spoke to Mark Jamil, the then 1st Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Services, who said he had never heard of an "11-minute rule" and that the city would not take her license away.
- Still, Melero sent a letter to Katrina, at an incorrect address, stating that she was removed from the TAP program.
- Based on the letter, a Notice of Violation and Complaint against Katrina for failure to comply with TAP and seeking revocation of her license was granted by default.
- Katrina learned her license was revoked when she sought annual renewal.
- Katrina was able to have the default judgment and revocation vacated for lack of service.
- At a hearing on the complaint, Katrina was fined and her license revoked but she later appealed and the license revocation was reversed.
- Despite an order indicating that Katrina's license suspension has already been served, 1st Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Services, Shellie Riedle, refused to renew her license and she must apply for a new one.
Read the complaint after the jump.
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A high school student is suing the city, the board of education and several police officers after allegedly being shot for carrying a portable game believed to be a gun.
Darrius Wilson says that on January 22, 2008, he arrived at Wendell Phillips Academy High School and was carrying a Sony Play Station Portable in violation of school rules. While he was subjected to the search that is required upon entering the school, police officer Parker detected the PSP in his jacket and yelled "Gun," the complaint states.
According to the complaint, the following then occurred:
- Wilson ran because he had been in trouble before for having a PSP at school and feared being disciplined.
- Officers Parker and Davis chased Wilson out of the building and down several blocks to the CTA where Wilson was purchasing a fare card.
- Wilson was shot three times: twice in his back and once in the side of his torso.
- Officer Davis patted Wilson down and found no gun on him or nearby.
- Officer Davis left the scene for ten minutes while one of the defendants planted a gun at the scene.
Read the complaint after the jump.
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A man says he was held against his will, attacked and swiped at with a butcher knife at Uncle Joe's Diner.
A complaint filed today by Michael Myles states that on November 9, 2007, while Myles was a patron at the diner, defendant Joe Neish confronted him "for which an unprovoked altercation ensued."
The complaint then states that Myles was locked inside the restaurant against his will, kicked, pushed, punched and swiped at with a large butcher knife by employees of the defendant and by Neish (whose name is spelled 'Neisch' at other points in the complaint).
Read the complaint after the jump.
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