Cicero Vehicle Tower Costing Taxpayers In Free Rent Money
(CBS) -- A lawsuit against the town of Cicero is now questioning town attorney Michael Del Galdo's loyalty.
Taxpayers claim that Del Galdo was playing both sides of the fence and the town gave him town property, rent-free--ultimately costing taxpayers.
"That's not true," Del Galdo told CBS2's Brad Edwards.
Del Galdo's in-laws own town tower Tuff Car. Since 2009, the lawsuit against the town claims Del Galdo's firm represented both Cicero and Tuff at the same time.
In its response to the lawsuit, Cicero claims its out more than $270,000. Tuff Car says it was all part of the deal orchestrated by Del Galdo.
"My attorney is the best attorney there is," Cicero President Larry Dominick says.
Dominick admitted to the town giving Del Galdo $16.9 million in business. "He earned it," he said, adding that Del Galdo was pivotal in clearing a predecessor's lawsuits.
Del Galdo's firm has also donated more than $60,000 to Dominick's campaign, but he claims not to know. "I don't know what they give me because I never pay attention," he told CBS2.
But Del Galdo, in a statement, later to CBS 2 Investigators, said the Tuff Car claims are "false in their entirety."
But for the town president, Dominick, "We're trying to get rid of [Tuff Car] and they filed a lawsuit against us."
And in the meantime, Tuff Car has towed 489 cars on behalf of the Town of Cicero in July.
"I think they should be happy and get the hell out of town," Dominick says of Tuff Car.
Meanwhile, a Tuff Car attorney says the company stands by its statements. They were ordered to stop towing for Cicero but have continued until the lawsuit is resolved.