President of fire sprinkler company files suit seeking to remove VP

A fire sprinkler company is suing one of its directors and shareholders, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and reckless misconduct.

Fire Protection Co. and its president, Charles Hrebic, filed a lawsuit Feb. 9 in Cook County Circuit Court against Jack Cousineau, the vice president of the company.

According to the complaint, Cousineau has become absent without leave and has failed to make sales in the past five years. Cousineau, the suit states, thwarted Hrebic's attempts to renew a line of credit for the company, but refuses to leave by selling his shares to Hrebic.

The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages and repayment for the salary paid for Cousineau’s removal from the company.  They are represented by Ceasar A. Tabet, Mark H. Horwitch and Brent M. Ryan of Tabet Divito Rothstein in Chicago.

Cook County Court case number: 15CW02217.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and represents only one side of the story.