A new class action lawsuit has accused the Chicago law firm of Kovitz Shifrin & Nesbit of improperly attempting to use the threat of lawsuits to force tenants to pay back rent.
Attorney Mario Kris Kasalo, of Skokie, filed the lawsuit on behalf of named plaintiff Gloria Sykes, and a potential class of many other additional plaintiffs. The complaint was filed on Nov. 21 in Cook County Circuit Court against the Chicago law firm of Kovitz Shifrin & Nesbit, claiming violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
According to the complaint, Sykes resides in an apartment complex located in the 9000 block of Dee Road, in suburban Des Plaines.
Sykes alleges in her class action lawsuit that the Kovitz firm used the threat of lawsuits to coerce tenants to pay alleged unpaid back rent, allegedly tacking on improper fees and costs that inflated the amount of debt owed.
She noted her unpaid rent bill now totals more than $18,700, making debt repayment difficult.
According to the complaint, when Sykes allegedly secured Covid-19 rent relief government funds in an attempt to satisfy the debt, the Kovitz firm allegedly declined to cooperate with the Housing Authority of Cook County and other relief agencies, allegedly rejecting any relief funds that could have ended the collection effort.
The lawsuit claims tenants were also misled as to whom the debt should be paid, as alleged communications from the law firm allegedly specifically directed tenants to "Glen Oaks Commons", which allegedly is not the name of the creditor.
The complaint further claims that there could potentially be hundreds of other tenants similarly impacted by the alleged collection practices of the Kovitz firm.
Plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial, as well as unspecified money damages, including attorney fees and court costs.
The Kovitz firm did not respond to a request for comment about the case from The Cook County Record.