NORTH TWP. | Pursuing a full financial accounting and the return of more than $70,000 in deposits, North Township has filed suit against its former catering service.

Filed June 29 in Lake Superior Court, the complaint alleges Unique Events Inc. has collected money for services as well as deposits on future events at Wicker Park in Highland.

The township terminated its contract with the catering company in May. In early June, the township demanded the company account for money paid in services and deposits. The company has since refused to comply and failed to return money owed the township, according to the suit.

The suit asks the court to order an accounting from the time the company first contracted with the township several years ago until its termination.

According to the township's attorney, David Gladish of Highland, the company was given 10 days to rectify a list of deficiencies but failed to do so, which prompted the termination.

The township has since replaced Unique Events with a new catering service, Dining Solutions, owned by a chef with the Chicago Culinary Institute.

North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan said Wednesday wedding events will not be disrupted because of the dispute with Unique Events.

"The township is doing everything it can to make sure the innocent bystander to this situation doesn't incur financial loss and that things don't go awry," Mrvan said.

Mrvan said couples who have paid deposits to Unique Events will be credited the amount and asked to sign a waiver giving Gladish the authority to work on their behalf to recover the money.

"Nothing more financially will be asked of anyone," he said.

The new contract with Dining Solutions is still in progress, but it will include provisions to prevent similar problems in the future, according to Mrvan.

The new caterer will be required to be bonded, Gladish said.

"Which means if the money is misappropriated, we have an insurance policy that will go to recoup money wrongfully converted to personal use," he said.

Thomas Fife, owner of Unique Events, said Wednesday the township already has an accounting of all deposits though the funds have not been transferred to the township.

"They will not get those back until I settle this the right way," Fife said. "I got notice the day after (Mrvan's) election with no forewarning. They gave me 30 days to get my things and go."

Fife, whose contract would have taken him into 2010, said he intends to file a wrongful termination suit in response to the township's resorting to litigation to settle their differences.