Elmhurst Firm Twice Hit By Neighbor's Trucks

ELMHURST, IL – Semi-trucks from a business in north Elmhurst's industrial park have twice struck a neighbor's building.

The incidents have resulted in litigation. And the city has issued a warning.

Chicago Water and Fire Restoration on Larch Avenue wants to stop its neighbor, Super Ego Holding, from using its property.

The most recent crash was in the middle of a workday on March 10. Video footage shows a Super Ego driver backing into the corner of Chicago Water's office.

"The building shook when it happened," Kseniya Kelly, a Chicago Water co-owner, said during an interview. "People were crying."

The driver left.

Another crash occurred at night in December 2023. In still another instance, a truck crossed onto Chicago Water's property and dragged a boulder with it. Super Ego later used a forklift to move it back.

Other instances have been reported, including a Super Ego trucker parking his cab at Chicago Water for the night and possibly sleeping there.

A Super Ego executive did not return messages for comment.

March's crash prompted Elmhurst police to issue a chronic nuisance warning a month later. Such a warning requires a response on how to correct the issue.

In his reply, Super Ego's in-house lawyer, Seid Grebovic, said the company would update its training on local parking and trespassing laws. He said the firm would stress respecting neighbors' properties.

He also promised the company would add signs about such issues and designate a manager to deal with local concerns.

Kelly said the drivers have a solution available to them: At the end of Larch Avenue is a large cul-de-sac where trucks can turn around.

"But they don't use that," she said.

In last year's litigation, a DuPage County judge issued an order agreed upon by the parties. Super Ego was required to pay Chicago Water $300 every time one of its drivers trespasses.

It also must pay $300 when it fails to provide Chicago Water with the names of offending drivers within five business days. According to court documents, Super Ego continues to miss that deadline.

Under the order, Super Ego must pay $100 for each day after the five days that the company fails to provide the information.

One of those cases was in February when a driver parked overnight at Chicago Water. As of the court filing, 30 days had passed, and Super Ego hadn't given the driver's name, meaning Super Ego owed $3,300, according to court records.

After the March 10 crash, police stopped the driver, who said Super Ego never discouraged him from trespassing on Chicago Water's site, the documents said.

Fixing the damage cost Chicago Water $23,440, which Super Ego was asked to pay, according to Chicago Water's lawsuit.

Chicago Water stated it needed to repair the building soon because of a coming marketing event.

Because Chicago Water's business involves repairing damaged buildings, the lawsuit said, it would hurt its image with potential clients if its own structure were visibly damaged.

Super Ego said it filed a claim with its insurance company.

Chicago Water said the trucking firm did the same with the December 2023 incident, with the repairs costing more than $8,000. But it took many months to get the money, Chicago Water said.

In response to the recent damage, Super Ego's lawyer, Grebovic, told Chicago Water that it would not take long to pay because the company had already opened up a claim with its insurer. He said he would need to see an estimate before proceeding with anything.

"(I)s it your client's position that the building is unusable because of the small damage?" he asked.

Super Ego's response, Chicago Water maintained, shows its "lack of concern."

Chicago Water's Kelly said Super Ego has not honored the court order.

"They don't tell us when they trespass. They take their sweet time to repay," she said. "They just don't care."

A sign and boulders are on Chicago Water and Fire Restoration's property in Elmhurst. Super Ego trucks have been seen on video trespassing at Chicago Water. (David Giuliani/Patch)

Damage to Chicago Water and Fire Restoration's building can be seen after a Super Ego truck crashed into it on March 10. (Courtesy of Chicago Water and Fire Restoration)