Ferocious flyers suits settled

Fioretti v. Haithcock and vice versa ends

07/01/2009 10:00 PM

By MICAH MAIDENBERG
Editor

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The litigants in a lawsuit and a counterclaim stemming from mailings sent out in the last days of the 2007 campaign for 2nd Ward alderman have settled, according to a Feb. 13, 2009 court filing, bringing to a formal end a particularly ferocious chapter in the closely fought race.

The legal proceedings began when the current alderman of the 2nd Ward, Robert Fioretti, sought a restraining order and injunction against the former holder of that seat, Madeline Haithcock, after a March 17, 2007 flyer paid for by the Haithcock camp hit 2nd Ward voters’ mailboxes.

The flyer called Fioretti a “stalker” and accused him of abuse and harassment of a woman, referring to a 2003 order of protection. The order was vacated but that wasn’t noted in Haithcock’s mailing. Calling the document false and defamatory, Fioretti’s camp sued for a retraction and other measures.

Later, Haithcock countersued, citing an April 2007 mailing by Fioretti’s campaign that accused Haithcock of bribing Larry Doody, a former candidate for the seat, and, in a separate flyer, maintaining various connections to Tony Rezko, “Fast” Eddie Vrdolyak and such controversial 2nd Ward developers as Warren Barr, William Warman and East Lake Management head Elzie Higginbottom. Doody declined to comment.

Robert Anderson, Haithcock’s attorney, confirmed the retraction letter, saying Fioretti agreed to drop his suit in return for it.

“We thought it was mutual. We dismissed the case, and that was the end of it. It was time to end the dispute,” Anderson said. “Basically, this was done in the heat of the moment and that was it. It was a political dispute. As politics go, we didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Michael Conway, the attorney representing Fioretti in the litigation, was confident his side would get the letter.

“I never felt that it wasn’t going to be forthcoming,” he said. “The initial political pamphlet was just incorrect.”

The retraction letter is not included in court filings, and Conway did not provide a copy by Chicago Journal’s deadline.

Haithcock declined to comment on the settlement.

David Goodsir, representing The Strategy Group, a firm named in Fioretti’s original suit, had no comment other than to say his client denied all liability in the case. Fioretti did not return a phone call.

Contact: mmaidenberg@chicagojournal.com


2 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Another South Looper from South Loop
Posted: 07/01/2009 11:47 PM

Agreed on Haithcock. She was incompetent and ignored stuff. However, Flip-Flop Bob has worked his way to near-zero credibility. He promised not to take money from developers but did. He came out against the Children's Museum but then voted for it. He promised he would not support a fence around MRJ Park and then he did. He promised openness in development decisions yet his advisory council meets in secret. He let's developers start work before city ordinance allows. You can't trust him!


By South Looper from South Looper
Posted: 07/01/2009 10:49 PM

Haithcock was a joke. With all the family working in the office, getting paid campaign funds, having rent free office by a 2nd ward developer, getting a big going away campaign contribution from many developers during the run-off, having ole\' Rich Manakio running the campaign (also with city buildings dept). It\'s a wonder she does not have any property owned or gifted from developers.