Contact me at markploftus@aol.com

Interesting article in the Chjcago Sun-Times about the settlement of a lawsuit involving a local politician and the Town of Cicero(where Al Capone used to run things). Back in 2000, Joseph Moreno, a Cook County Commissioner, had decided to run for Town President of Cicero against Betty Loren Maltese, the Republican incumbent. Moreno attended an event in Cicero one night and was driving home when he was pulled over by the Cicero Police and arrested for drunk driving(in the midst of the campaign). Moreno claimed that the arrest was a dirty trick orchestrated by his opponent. And oddly enough, prosecutors dropped the charges citing a lack of evidence. Moreno lost the election but filed a Civil Rights action against Cicero and the officers involved in the arrest. His civil case got considerably better when one of the arresting officers admitted he had been part of a plot to set up Moreno. [And that officer also has a lawsuit pending against Cicero, claiming that town officials threatened his job after he cooperated with the FBI probe into the Moreno's arrest]. Oh, and another fact that probably helped the plaintiff's case - Betty Loren Maltese, the victor in the 2000 election? Currently sitting in prison for convictions on some corruption charges. Although there is apparently a confidentiality agreement, Moreno's settlement is supposed to be between $400,00 to $500,000. The Town of Cicero however, continues to insist it did nothing wrong. Right. Let's think about this for a moment...

1) Prosecutors drop the DUI charges, saying there is on evidence;
2) The arresting officer admits to a plot;
3) Moreno's opponent, if she is to testify in the civil case, would do so wearing that bright orange prison suit. Yeah, I think this is a case you might want to settle.