Lawyers for the state of Indiana asked a federal judge Monday for a $109 million judgment against former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick, top aide James Fife III and missing former city councilman Frank Kollintzas.
Pastrick's lawyer, Mike Bosch, suggested the judge award $3.
Hammond federal Judge James Moody ordered the lawyers to write the proposals regarding damages Pastrick, Fife and Kollintzas could owe for their alleged roles in the 1999 sidewalks-for-votes scandal that led to convictions against several city officials.
MORE: Read the state of Indiana's proposed findings of fact and conclusions and those filed by counsel for former East Chicago Mayor Robert Pastrick in the matter of State of Indiana v. Pastrick et al.
Fife and Pastrick were never charged criminally in the matter, but neither man mounted any defense against the state of Indiana's civil lawsuit, which sought to hold the defendants accountable for money spent on the sidewalks-for-votes scandal.
Kollintzas fled the country, apparently to his native Greece, after he was criminally convicted with other members of the "Sidewalk Six."
The state's legal team, led by private Chicago lawyer Patrick Collins, proposed Moody rule the "racketeering enterprise" run by the defendants caused $32,187,242 in damage to the city. State lawyers argued Moody can triple that amount, tack on $12,437,150.30 in interest and levy a total of $108,998,876.30 against the men.
In a filing less than 1/4 the size of the state's proposal, Bosch said the state had proven little about the damages allegedly caused. Bosch wrote that Moody cannot "guess" about the damages. He proposed Moody should award $1 in damages, then triple that amount to $3.
The state's lawyers also renewed their call for Moody to order a "forensic accounting" of money received by Second Century and the Foundations of East Chicago, recipients of vast sums of money under Pastrick's casino deal.
The nonprofit Foundations get 2 percent of the Ameristar Casino and Hotel's revenues, while Second Century, a for-profit company, takes 0.75 percent. The Foundations have been the focus of a court fight over the money's distribution to churches and other groups. Second Century's use of the funds remains largely mysterious. The company is run by Pastrick allies Thomas Cappas and Michael Pannos.
Moody has not said publicly when he might file his order in the case.
