20130618 PR-Village wins Skybar/Sheahan/Craig lawsuitContact: David Niemeyer
Phone: (630) 368-5000
Fax: (630) 368-5045
1200 Oak Brook Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523 Village of Oak Brook
Press Release
Village Wins Sky Bar/Sheahan/Craig lawsuit
Oak Brook, Illinois - June 13, 2013
Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. of the US District Court has granted the Village of Oak Brook’s
motion for summary judgment in the Lucky Fella LLC d/b/a Sky Bar, Sheahan, Craig lawsuit
against the Village. The Sky Bar is a tavern that used to operate in the Village. Tom
Sheahan is the former Police Chief and John Craig is the former Village President. The
Plaintiffs sued the Village as well as a number of its current and former elected and
appointed officials. The wide ranging complaint included allegations of defamation, loss of
reputation, conspiracy to prevent Sheahan from discharging his duties, and Sky Bar’s claim
that it was denied due process in the revocation of its liquor license.
By this action, the court has effectively dismissed this federal case. In the order, the federal
judge declined to accept jurisdiction of Craig’s defamation claim based on Illinois law.
The case was defended by the law firm DeAno and Scarry, LLC and paid for by the Village’s
insurance carrier, the Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (IRMA).
About the Village of Oak Brook:
Founded in 1958, the Village of Oak Brook is located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago and is
in proximity to the junction of Interstates 88, 294, and 290. The Village consists mostly of
residential subdivisions, with the exception of the Oak Brook Center shopping mall, other retail
and office properties along 22nd Street and Interstate 88. Oak Brook is the home of many
corporate offices, most notably, the world headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation, Ace
Hardware, Tree House Foods, Inland Real Estate and the service club organization Lions Clubs
International. Oak Brook is also known for being one of the few municipalities in the Chicago
area that does not levy a property tax on residents or businesses. Visit www.oak-brook.org to
learn more.
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For Release June 13, 2013