Cook County taxpayers to foot bill in dispute involving Board of Review commissioner

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Cook County taxpayers to foot bill in dispute involving Board of Review commissioner

Cook County taxpayers are set to pay $180,000 as part of a settlement involving a wrongful termination lawsuit against Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele.

Cook County taxpayers are set to pay $180,000 as part of a settlement involving a wrongful termination lawsuit against Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele.

What we know:

The lawsuit was brought by Steele's former employee, Frank Calabrese, who claimed he was fired after speaking with county investigators about alleged unethical conduct.

Calabrese alleged Steele pressured him to leak confidential information related to the Chicago Bears' tax appeal on their Arlington Heights property.

"She wanted the Bears to pay more taxes on the Arlington Heights property than the other two commissioners," said Calabrese. "I can't speak to her personal motivations, but that's what she wanted."

When he refused and reported the issue to the county's Office of Inspector General, Calabrese says Steele terminated his employment.

"She wanted me to leak the information. I did not want to leak the information, it was against the law, against our rules," he said. "I refused to do it."

The Cook County State’s Attorney negotiated the settlement, which includes no admission of wrongdoing.

"I just wanted my job back," Calabrese said. "But the State's Attorney said she doesn’t want to give you your job back, here’s all this money instead."

The full county board is scheduled to vote on the payout on Wednesday.

The backstory:

Steele has faced public scrutiny over multiple controversies in recent months. She was charged with DUI last November after allegedly hitting multiple cars. Police body camera footage captured Steele telling an officer, "I’m an elected official."

Additionally, a report from the county’s inspector general found Steele committed an ethics violation by leaking confidential information about the Bears’ tax appeal. Calabrese claims Steele initially asked him to leak the information and did so herself after he refused.

What we don't know:

Steele has not provided any comment on the settlement or the allegations made by Calabrese.

What's next:

If approved by the board, the settlement will resolve the lawsuit. Longtime Finance Committee Chairman John Daley noted the board votes on several employment-related settlements each year.

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