A Cook County couple is suing a River Forest high school and its basketball coach, alleging the defendants denied financial aid and other benefits the plaintiffs allege were promised their daughter.
Colleen and Mike Dillon and their 17-year-old daughter (identified as Jane Doe) filed a lawsuit Aug. 25 in Cook County Circuit Court against Trinity High School in River Forest, head basketball coach Eddie Stritzel and unknown conspirators.
According to the complaint, Stritzel recruited Jane Doe, on behalf of Trinity High, as an 8th grader, promising $3,500 in annual financial aid and a starting position on the team during her junior and senior years. The suit says these and other promises were broken, damaging their daughter’s college scholarship chances and bringing other negative consequences.
The plaintiffs allege the fraudulent recruitment tactics, allegedly conducted with the knowledge of Trinity officials, violate Illinois High School Association rules.
The Dillons seek a jury trial and damages of more than $30,000. They are represented by attorney Frank Avila of the Avila Law Group in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015-L-008690.