Fox River Grove Castle Owner Wins Federal Suit Against Neighbor Who Took License Plate Numbers and Looked Them Up

Michael Strohl, owner of the castle in Fox River Grove, sued a complaining neighbor across the street named Diana Durso in Federal Court in September, 2011.

Blow-up figures decoratded the street side of the Bettendorf Castle on Christmas Day.

Blow-up figures decorated the street side of the Bettendorf Castle on Christmas Day.

His complaint is that she took about fifty license plate numbers and had someone in the Chicago Police Department look them up for her.

Then, she contacted the visitors in an attempt to dissuade them from returning.

The case, before Rockford Federal Judge Frederick Kapala, concluded on December 21, 2013.

From the docket entry of December 21, 2011, it is clear that the owner of the castle won:

“Pursuant to defendant Diana Durso’s offer of judgment and plaintiff Ralph Casten’s acceptance of offer of judgment, the clerk is directed to enter judgment for plaintiff Ralph Casten and against defendant Diana Durso in the amount of $2,501.00 plus reasonable attorney fees and costs accrued as of December 16, 2011.

“This case is closed.”

Judge Kapala’s final court order, in part, from October 22, 2012, follows:

“On September 8, 2011, plaintiff, Ralph Casten, filed a one-count class action complaint against defendant, Diana Durso, alleging that she obtained, disclosed, and used personal information from the motor vehicle records of plaintiff and at least 50 other persons in violation of the Drivers Privacy Protection Act (“DPPA”), 18 U.S.C.§ 2721 et seq.

“On December 19, 2011, a little over three months after the complaint was filed and before any motion for class certification was made, plaintiff accepted defendant’s offer of judgment ‘in the amount of $2,501.00 plus reasonable attorney fees and costs accrued as of the date of the offer (December 16, 2011) to be determined by the court in this case.’

“Shortly thereafter, the court entered judgment in favor of plaintiff pursuant to the parties’ agreement.

“On February 8, 2012, the plaintiff moved this court to award attorney’s fees in the amount of $51,918, which defendant opposed and suggested that $7,500 was more reasonable ‘in light of the nominal relief obtained by Plaintiff.”

Requested costs amounted to $1,289.42.  These were reduced to $875.02.

Attorney’s fees have not yet been determined.

Attorney for Mr. Casten was Robert Hanlon, while Vincent C. Mancini and Terry Ekl represented Mrs. Durso.

The Office of Internal Affairs is investigating the police officer who looked up the names for Mrs. Durso.


Comments

Fox River Grove Castle Owner Wins Federal Suit Against Neighbor Who Took License Plate Numbers and Looked Them Up — 1 Comment

  1. Kudos to Ralph Casten and Attorney Robert Hanlon.

    If you think this case took a long time in Federal Court, don’t hold your breath about how long it will take the Office of Internal Affairs at the Chicago Police Dept. to finish their case.

    You won’t live long enough.

    They will fool around so long that the officer will retire and escape all punishment.

    I say this, based on a complaint I made to the CPD about an officer assigned to ORD who went ballistic (I was lucky he didn’t go Postal), when I asked him a question there one day.

    My question must have upset his little, old, family dog that was sleeping on its cushion on the front seat of the police SUV.

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