Thursday, September 21, 2006

Chicago Suburb Can Be Sued For Racketeering

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:
A federal judge has allowed civil racketeering claims to move forward against Bridgeview officials as she refused to throw out a lawsuit that alleges the mayor and others used strong-arm tactics to lure the Chicago Fire soccer team to the village.

A lawyer for the Bridgeview mayor, however, noted that U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve did not comment on whether she believed the claims in the lawsuit.

Former World Golf Dome owner John LaFlamboy filed the lawsuit last year, alleging that Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek and other village officials ran a conspiracy to pressure him into selling his 50 percent ownership interest in the dome to the village. The village used the dome successfully to lure the Fire to Bridgeview, where the team haas built its home stadium.
Trying to expose the government for what it is: a racketeering enterprise dealing in extortion.