Who Is Affected?

Are You Affected by Oak Park’s Negligence?

The Village of Oak Park’s failure to enforce mandatory safety regulations has impacted countless individuals. If you have suffered financial harm, health risks, or unfair treatment due to these violations, you may be eligible to join the lawsuit.

If you received a building permit in Oak Park within the last 30 years to work on your home, you are most likely an affected class member. The workers on your property were also impacted.

Who May Qualify?

✅ Property Owners – If your property was improperly permitted or you faced financial losses due to Oak Park’s enforcement failures.

✅ Contractors & Construction Workers – If you were exposed to asbestos, faced unnecessary work stoppages, or lost business due to selective enforcement.

✅ Inspectors & Industry Professionals – If you worked on sites where safety violations occurred without proper asbestos mitigation.

✅ Residents & Tenants – If you lived in or near properties that were affected by unsafe construction or asbestos exposure.

The Story of 1166 Cuyler

1166 Cuyler is a prime example of Oak Park’s failure to enforce mandatory safety regulations. The Village conducted several inspections of the property, with reports stating that work had already been completed prior to inspection. Despite these findings, the property was never fined the required 2x permit fee as mandated by Village code. Instead, records indicate that it was only fined for starting concrete work—while the plaintiff in this case was subjected to the full 2x permit penalty for similar infractions.

📌 Inspection reports confirm that work was completed before the Village ever inspected the site.

📌 The property was never fined the mandatory double permit fee imposed on the plaintiff.

📌 Head Building Inspector Steve Cutia was responsible for identifying the violations but failed to enforce consistent penalties.

Ongoing Violations in Oak Park

Even today, multiple properties are operating without the required Cook County demolition permits, yet the Village continues to selectively enforce penalties:

📌 1185 Ridgeland, 928 Lyman, and 544 Oak Park Ave are all actively under construction without the necessary Cook County demolition permits.

📌 The Village has cited these properties for various code violations but has never cited them for failing to obtain the required demolition permits.

📌 Given their age and condition, all three properties likely contain significant amounts of asbestos, yet no testing or remediation has been enforced.

Shocking Permit Findings

📌 FOIA Evidence (2019-2023): Oak Park issued 12,036 building permits, yet Cook County issued only 500 demolition permits during that same period.

📌 Initial findings: Approximately 85-90% of homes that required a Cook County demolition permit never received one, even though Oak Park granted them permits to proceed with construction.

📌 73 properties reviewed – Only 11 had the required Cook County demolition permits.

📌 First quarter of 2023: Oak Park issued 12 demolition permits, but only 1 property had the necessary Cook County permit – and that property belonged to the plaintiff.

📌 The remaining 11 properties were all in violation, yet the Village failed to enforce compliance.

Expert Testimony on Asbestos Risk in Oak Park

A certified asbestos tester and remediation expert provided the following insights:

Q: How long has the Cook County demolition permit requirement been in effect?
A: I’m not sure when the permit began. There have always been a mix of permit requirements depending on property type, location, and regulatory agencies like the EPA, IDPH, City of Chicago, and Cook County. I have been in the industry for over 30 years, and I believe it has been in place for at least that long.

Q: What percentage of homes you test in Cook County have asbestos?
A: I can’t give a percentage due to the mix of older and newer homes.

Q: Based on your experience in Oak Park, if you were to test 100 homes, how many would you expect to test positive for some form of asbestos?
A: Oak Park is an older community, and I would guess most of the homes we test in Oak Park have some form of asbestos.

Q: What is the average quote you see for asbestos remediation?
A: There really isn’t an average. Costs can range greatly as sometimes exterior materials are present, including roofing and siding.

This expert testimony reinforces the critical health risks posed by Oak Park’s failure to enforce asbestos safety regulations. Many homes in Oak Park contain asbestos, and without proper remediation, residents and workers may have been unknowingly exposed.

🚨 Health Risks from Asbestos Exposure

A professional asbestos remediation expert has confirmed that most Oak Park homes contain asbestos due to their age. The failure to enforce Cook County’s demolition permit requirement has led to widespread exposure.

Who is most at risk?

• Construction workers & contractors working in homes without proper asbestos remediation.

• Homeowners & tenants unknowingly exposed during renovations.

• Inspectors & city employees who enter contaminated properties.

Asbestos exposure can take years to manifest—many victims won’t experience symptoms until decades later. Oak Park’s negligence has created a ticking time bomb for public health.

Long-Term Health Consequences

Exposure to asbestos can result in lifelong health complications and even fatal illnesses.

• There is no safe level of asbestos exposure—even a small amount can cause irreversible damage.

• Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take 10-50 years to appear.

• There is no cure for mesothelioma, the most aggressive form of asbestos-related cancer.

⚠️ If you worked or lived in an Oak Park home, you may be at risk.

🚨 If this sounds like you, take action today. Don’t wait—your health, safety, and financial security could be at risk.

What You Can Do Next

🔹 Check Your Eligibility – Review the details and see if you qualify.
🔹 Submit Your Information – Join the lawsuit by providing key details about your situation.
🔹 Stay Informed – Receive updates on the case and legal actions.

[Join the Lawsuit Now] (Link to sign-up page)