A judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit against the city of Chicago for allegedly illegally enforcing driving offense tickets. The tickets that were being enforced date back as early as 2015. Allegedly the city continued to collect fines for two years after the fact.
The lawsuit alleges those given tickets for using their cellphone while driving weren’t given the opportunity to argue their case in circuit court. Instead, the city decided to handle the tickets in Chicago’s Department of Administrative Hearings.
Class Action Suit Against Chicago
On April 14, 2023, Judge Pamela McLean Meyerson appointed Aaron Potek, Adina Klein, and Stephen Michelini as class representatives. Furthermore, Judge McLean Meyerson appointed Myron M. Cherry and Jacie C. Zolna as class counsel.
In an email, attorney Jacie Zolna stated if anyone was “issued a ticket for using a cell phone while driving from January 1, 2014, to August 6, 2015, I would be happy to talk to them. But at this point, people who are part of the case do not need to take any action. We will get information from the City on who was affected and will send them a notice in the mail advising them of their rights and options — but, again, no action is necessary at this time.”
Furthermore, the Court will be hearing more about the class action lawsuit on May 23 at 10:15 a.m.
Addition Information
Moreover, class action lawsuits were designed to achieve justice for those whose rights have been otherwise haven’t efficiently adjudicated. “In this case, many individuals have allegedly been issued invalid traffic tickets and, if they paid them, incurred damages too small to justify a separate action. Collectively, a court may efficiently adjudicate their claims,” stated the court documents provided to the Chicago Leader.
By Sheena Robertson
Sources:
Court Documents: Rabbi Aaron Potek, Adina Klein, and Stephen Michelini, as individuals and on behalf of those similarly situated v. City of Chicago, a municipal corporation Case No. 17 CH 10507 Calender 11
Fox News 32: Chicago driving ticket lawsuit worth $20M granted class action status
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Inset Image Courtesy of David Kranker’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
