Algonquin To Settle Lawsuit With 800-Number Lawyer

The Algonquin Board spent almost an hour in closed session Tuesday before approving a settlement agreement with an 800-number personal injury law firm that wanted to comb through the Village's traffic accident reports last year.  "We've agreed to a method of releasing the reports," said Village Attorney Kelly Cahill.

Village officials were reluctant to say why they demurred from providing Milwaukee-based Hausmann-McNally SC with full police reports including names, addresses and phone numbers of people in local accidents. A FEN search of Illinois and Wisconsin records found little about the multi-state firm recently except self-promotion. However, in 2002, records show its head, Charles J. Hausmann, pleaded guilty to interstate mail and wire fraud in a kickback scheme with a chiropractor. He later lost his Wisconsin law license for a year over the matter.

What appeared to be similar Hausmann-McNally lawsuits against Marengo and Libertyville were closed out last month circuit clerks' records show.

In other action Tuesday, the Board formally approved awarding a contract for more road rehabilitation in the Village's Spring Creek neighborhood.  Work's underway in one area and now will begin in the rest thanks to last month's postponement of roadwork in the Indian Grove neighborhood until next year.