In a striking legal battle, a group of plaintiffs, including Gurnee Motel LLC and its associated entities, have filed a lawsuit against the Village of Gurnee for alleged violations of civil rights through unlawful searches. The complaint was lodged by Gurnee Motel LLC, along with Priyanka Shah and Veeral Shah, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 6, 2024. They accuse the Village of Gurnee, a home rule municipal corporation, of conducting illegal warrantless searches that infringe upon their Fourth Amendment rights.
The case centers around allegations that the Village of Gurnee conducted multiple unauthorized searches of the guest register at Fairbridge Inn, operated by Gurnee Motel LLC. These actions allegedly took place on seven occasions between August 2023 and February 2024. The plaintiffs argue that these searches were unconstitutional as they were carried out without administrative warrants or subpoenas, referencing the U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Los Angeles v. Patel which deemed such practices illegal without proper judicial oversight.
Priyanka Shah and Veeral Shah, both Indian-American citizens and owners involved in the management of Gurnee Motel LLC and V Capital LLC respectively, claim racial discrimination played a role in these violations. They assert that their rights under both federal law and the Illinois Constitution were breached due to their racial identity being "East Indian" rather than "White." The complaint highlights an ongoing pattern of racial discrimination allegedly perpetrated by officials within the Village's police department and other municipal bodies.
The plaintiffs are seeking significant relief from the court. They demand compensatory damages exceeding $750,000 for civil rights deprivations, business disruptions, and economic losses incurred due to these alleged illegal activities. Additionally, they request punitive damages to deter future misconduct by the defendants. The lawsuit also seeks attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 as part of their claims for various counts involving false arrests and interference with constitutional rights.
Representing the plaintiffs is attorney Paul Caghan from Chicago-based law firm located at North Wacker Drive. The case has been assigned Case ID No. 1:24-cv-9603 with proceedings expected to delve into complex issues surrounding municipal liability under Section 1983 claims related to unlawful search practices.