Court Certifies Class Action in Lawsuit Against the City of Chicago Seeking Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Speed and Red Light Camera Fines and Penalties

On November 2, 2016, a Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois found that a lawsuit against the City of Chicago challenging the legality of its speed and red light camera enforcement program can proceed as a class action.  The suit alleges that the City of Chicago ignored the requirement under its own municipal code to issue the appropriate notice to accused drivers and provide a 14-day grace period prior to issuing a determination of liability, depriving vehicle owners of the statutorily required due process and pre-liability notice.  The suit also alleges that the City prematurely assessed late penalties in violation of its own municipal code.  Collectively, according to the suit, these practices unlawfully accelerated the City’s ability to issue, enforce and collect fines and penalties.

In a prior ruling in the lawsuit, the Court found that the City’s failure to follow these requirements rendered the speed and red light camera violation illegal and void.  Today’s ruling granting class certification allows the Plaintiffs to pursue these claims on behalf of the approximately 1.5 Million people affected by these practices and seek to invalidate and/or recoup approximately $500 Million in fines and penalties.

The lawsuit is entitled Simpson v. City of Chicago, Case. No. 15 CH 4802 and is pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.  Myron M. Cherry and Jacie C. Zolna of Myron M. Cherry & Associates and Antonio Romanucci of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC represent the Plaintiffs.

For further information, contact Jacie Zolna at (312) 372-2100 or jzolna@cherry-law.com.