News: Extensive Media Coverage of Record-Setting Settlement in Fair Housing/Disability Discrimination Case

Numerous media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, Southtown Star and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, all feature articles regarding the firm's record-setting settlement for Ungaretti & Harris client, St. Coletta's of Illinois.

Associated Press

The city of Markham must pay $400,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit that alleged officials tried to block the opening of a group home for developmentally disabled men, according to the Associated Press. The AP article ran on the Web sites of television stations ABC 7 Chicago, CBS 2 Chicago, WGN, and KWQC-TV6, as well as the Belleville News-Democrat, Examiner Illinois and Jacksonville Journal-Courier.  The story was also read on Chicago Public Radio.

Chicago Tribune

"We think this is a great victory for St. Coletta's residents and developmentally disabled residents who are still forced to struggle to enjoy the benefits of the fair-housing law," said Nicholas Anaclerio, an attorney for St. Coletta's, in the Chicago Tribune. "St. Coletta's is exceptionally pleased and...looks forward to continuing to be good neighbors."

Southtown Star

The settlement to St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation is believed to be the largest ever in Illinois involving fair housing laws and disability discrimination, according to the Southtown Star. "We hope this will deter other municipalities from discriminating against other disabled individuals," said Anaclerio in the Southtown Star.

Chicago Lawyer's "Around the water cooler" blog

One of the challenges of this case was trying to avoid a lawsuit, [Anaclerio] said. His client tried to work with the other side to address any concerns, unfortunately, litigation could not be avoided. He also said it was a challenge to find both monetary and non-monetary relief - but they did.

“It would be wise for any municipality, small or large, particularly those that don’t have employed legal counsel to make sure they understand the [law],” Anaclerio said. “Probably the majority of towns and cities and villages are anxious to comply with the law and if they understand what the requirements are, they are going to do their best to meet them.”

To read the full Chicago Lawyer blog posting, please go to http://www.chicagolawyermagazine.com/2008/05/16/around-the-water-cooler-markham-case.

In addition to Nick, John Durso, Jamie A. Robinson, Ronald S. Cope, Steven C. Bauer, Keith E. Edeus and David Levitt also worked on the case.

For more information on this decision, please see the Record-Setting Fair Housing Settlement in Disability Discrimination Case press release.