Why This Case Matters
Exposing Negligence & Fighting for Justice
Click for a Copy of the Lawsuit
The Village of Oak Park has failed in its duty to enforce mandatory health and safety codes, leading to serious public health risks, financial harm, and regulatory failures. This lawsuit seeks to hold the Village accountable for its systemic negligence and selective enforcement practices, which have disproportionately impacted property owners, contractors, and residents.
🚨 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.
The Core Issues
Widespread Asbestos Exposure: Thousands of properties were permitted for construction without obtaining mandatory Cook County demolition permits, which require asbestos testing and remediation.
Selective Code Enforcement: Village officials applied building codes inconsistently, penalizing some property owners while allowing others to violate regulations without consequence.
Financial and Property Losses: The Village’s failure to enforce safety standards and its retaliatory actions against select individuals have resulted in severe financial damages.
Ongoing Public Safety Violations: Despite evidence of these failures, Oak Park continues to approve permits for properties that do not meet legal safety requirements.
Key Evidence Supporting This Case
FOIA records showing that between 2019 and 2023, Oak Park issued 12,036 building permits, yet Cook County only issued 500 demolition permits.
Emails from Cook County confirming that demolition permits are mandatory when altering load-bearing walls.
Video evidence proving that the Village enforced these codes selectively against certain contractors while ignoring violations elsewhere.
Asbestos test results and expert statements confirming hazardous material contamination in multiple properties.
A list of properties currently under construction in Oak Park that have not obtained the legally required permits.
How You May Be Affected
If you are a property owner, contractor, worker, inspector, or resident in Oak Park, you may have been directly impacted by these regulatory failures. Many individuals were unknowingly exposed to asbestos, suffered financial losses due to non-compliant permits, or faced unjust enforcement actions.
What This Lawsuit Seeks to Achieve
This class action aims to:
Ensure compliance with mandatory demolition and asbestos regulations.
Compensate affected individuals for property devaluation, financial harm, and health risks.
Halt ongoing construction in non-compliant properties until safety standards are enforced.
Establish accountability for the Village’s negligent actions and systemic failures.
Join the Fight for Accountability
This lawsuit is about more than one person—it’s about everyone who has been affected by Oak Park’s failure to protect its residents and businesses. If you believe you have been impacted, we encourage you to join the lawsuit and demand justice.
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