Thursday, July 27, 2017

Lawyers Get Richer

  • Red-light and speed cameras that Chicago motorists love to hate will finally be generating something other than $100 tickets.

    The City Council on Wednesday gave final approval to a $38.75 million settlement that will offer 50 percent refunds to 1.2 million motorists denied due process when the city failed to send them a second notice of violation required until May, 2015 and imposed $100 late fees four days too soon.

    [...]

    Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), chairman of the City Council’s Transportation Committee railed anew about the fact that $11.7 million will go to attorneys.

    That’s nearly one-third of the settlement — standard for class-action lawsuits. But, Beale called it galling.

    “That money should be reimbursed to the people — not the lawyers. The lawyers found a loophole in this system, filed a lawsuit against the city and now they are getting that pot of gold,” Beale said.
EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE OF BEALE'S REACTION - Must credit SCC:


We're sure more than a little bit of that settlement money will find itself into campaign coffers, bundled by assorted law firms, partners, and assorted third parties.

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28 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

“That money should be reimbursed to the people — not the lawyers. The lawyers found a loophole in this system, filed a lawsuit against the city and now they are getting that pot of gold,” Beale said.


If the city hadn't tried this stunt in the first place, this wouldn't be an issue.


rb

7/27/2017 12:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's start by eliminating half the city council who approved the cameras in the first place, Alderman Beale...

Beale, who said Monday that "heads should roll" over the need for the massive settlement, has long been a critic of the automated ticket enforcement system.

https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170726/bridgeport/ald-burkes-awkward-joke-about-south-side-schools-goes-awry


rb

7/27/2017 01:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In other words, the lawyers did all the work, and now they want to be paid for it. Fair is fair.

7/27/2017 02:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those lawyers worked hard for that money.
They had to find the right people to grease, and for the right amounts.

7/27/2017 02:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know how you avoid paying lawyers? City Council corrects the problem as soon as they are aware and makes restitution to the affected parties.

7/27/2017 03:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We're sure more than a little bit of that settlement money will find itself into campaign coffers, bundled by assorted law firms, partners, and assorted third parties.




Maybe the Feds should look into it? National Trial Lawyers Assco

7/27/2017 06:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The lawyers didn't find a "loophole" asshole they uncovered a violation of due process and hammered your dumb asses! You know who actually finds "loopholes"? Those you keep settling lawsuits with who don't deserve a fucking dime because to fight it out might be perceived as racist. Fuck off, Beale, you race baiting piece of shit.

7/27/2017 06:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They are worth every penny. I just wonder what the "living" hourly wage is for the selected group of lawyers and their firm actually is? Is this connected law firm making excessive profits on the backs of the poor, the minorities, those on disabilities, the Title VII protected classes, the elderly, women, those of non-traditional sexual orientations and Native Americans? Thank you Alderman Beale for bringing to light the social inequity and socially justice challenged tactics that law firms deploy with their self serving get rich schemes to join the uber rich 1% just like so many career elected officials. Thank you alderman for protecting and speaking out for those protected classes.

7/27/2017 06:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More of this; http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5049fdefecad04a361000008/throwing-money.gif
J-TownJoker

7/27/2017 06:52:00 AM  
Blogger Mr. SouthSide said...

Personally, I find Beale galling.

7/27/2017 06:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The camera company is "not" refunding their cut. Their cameras did what they were supposed to do.

7/27/2017 07:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
That like the movie Casablanca

When the police chief about out during raid of the casino.
I am shocked shocked there is gambling going on here.
The the casino manager walks up to police chief and says
Sir here are your winnings and the chief says Thank you

7/26/2017 07:18:00 AM

I knew that scene looked oddly familiar...

7/27/2017 07:03:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No...no...no...SCC!

T.I.F. money is to revitalize poor neighborhoods!

Cigarette taxes are to discourage smoking!

Red light camera's are for the safety of children, because they're near schools and parks!

Bag taxes are to save the environment so people will reuse them!

Beverage taxes are for your health, so you'll drink less sugary drinks (except for the 870,000 LINK card holders in Cook county)!

It's not about money, it's for you're own good!

Now shut up and pay....

7/27/2017 07:05:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Beale must feel like he's not getting his "cut", but he can't come right out and say that.
He makes a magnanimous appeal on behalf of "the people".
One crook hates to see another crook do better than himself!

J.J.

7/27/2017 07:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's Kimshee Foxx
When she is told there is actual crime going on in crook county.

With police
States attorneys
And judges stepping away from doing the job.

The criminal will continue to increase the hold of the community

7/27/2017 07:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like how Ed jerk Burke said Stevie Wonder could see problems with the city's red light cameras. Well Ed, did you ever step up and try to end it???

7/27/2017 09:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Howard Fine & Howard LLC said...

i am shocked shocked that the suckers i mean plaintiffs will get 7 bucks back if they apply. this is too much. this is an outrage!

7/27/2017 10:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So because I actually paid my tickets on time after the 1st notice I will not be reimbursed those fines but if I just tossed it in the garbage and said f-it when I got the initial fine I'm going to get my money back? Someone please tell me again, why play by the rules??

7/27/2017 10:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those lawyers worked hard for that money.
They had to find the right people to grease, and for the right amounts.

7/27/2017 02:53:00 AM
The payoffs had to be extremely high! How many alderthieves got paid off? Then we have this headline from breaking news:

Then we have this breaking news headline:
Emanuel: Cubs chose lucrative concerts over more night games

If we had a true media not the dishonest 24/7 owned by city hall headline would read:
Emanuel: The refused to payoff the amount requested to the aldermen and myself

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-wrigley-night-games-met-0727-20170726-story.html

But then you see here Sarah Palin going after the New York media with a vengeance:

Sarah Palin to subpoena two dozen New York Times staffers in lawsuit
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/27/sarah-palin-to-subpoena-two-dozen-new-york-times-staffers-in-lawsuit.html

Now that is "change we can believe in!"

7/27/2017 10:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"If the city hadn't tried this stunt in the first place, this wouldn't be an issue."

Heh. What makes you think this wasn't the plan all along? Enact poorly written law with the expectation that at some point it will be tried in court and penalties awarded. The payout stiffs the unfairly treated citizens (only 50% back) while the other 50% lines the pockets of the lawyers---exactly as planned.

The Chicago Way...the rich get richer and the chumbolones keep paying.

7/27/2017 10:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Class Action" out to be outlawed.
The BAR is the BANE of our society, the most corrupt organization there is. Like a vampire coven, they such the lifeblood out of their victims and don't think twice about it.

7/27/2017 11:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder if their gonna keep my refund cuzza my unpaid parking tickets. A lotta people entitled to a refund owe the City money.

7/27/2017 12:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Motorists should be getting that measly 50% BEFORE the shystersget their cut.
It's likely some 50% of the 1 million eligible red light motorists won't be found or apply for their refunds anyway.

If the City broke the law, they shouldn't be entitled to a dime of the fine.

$38.75 million settlement
$11.70 million liars fee
===== (is this right?)
$27.05 mil balance
$13.525 mil to motorists @ 50%
======
$13.525 mil back to the City for violating the law, plus any unrefunded claims monies.
Well Rahm just found another one way to fund Sanctuary & Immigration Legal Aid.

Meanwhile the Rahm stoolie in the Finance-Revenue Dept that dreamed up this flim-flam still has their job and probably promoted.

7/27/2017 12:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember the firm " Dewey-cheatem and how"

7/27/2017 08:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If it wasn't for lawyers I wouldn't need a lawyer

7/27/2017 09:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's LESS than half the fine! If everyone got their full share, it's $32 and change. That's BULLSHIT. It doesn't teach the City a lesson that what they did was wrong because this hasn't cost them anything. They still come out ahead.

To make them cut this crap out it has to HURT them badly - something on the order of 200% of the fine + the fine refunded would do nicely.

7/28/2017 12:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yawn, Nothing changes except the name of the scam. You get fined wrongly then you get 50% back. The other 50% they keep. The lawyers get paid from the moneys refunded and the city still makes millions. It's all legit, nothing to see here, move along! What a wonderful world we live in

7/28/2017 06:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Funny how those "loopholes" never work out for the average American citizen right?

What loophole was passed and when was it sent to vote for illegal alien drivers licenses in Illinois?

Que all the idiots saying vote them out when we never even have a chance

7/28/2017 08:46:00 PM  

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