$375K Western Springs Settlement For Problem Home: Village

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs is settling a decade-long legal dispute over a house with alleged code violations.

The three-story home in question is at 4740 Central Ave., next to 48th Street.

On Monday, the Village Board approved the settlement.

In 2013, Western Springs recorded liens on the property, contending it contained code violations. A year later, the village filed an order requiring demolition or repair of the house owned by Paul Hejhal. Then, Cook County Judge Sophia Hall issued the property's deed to the village.

Next, Western Springs put the house up for bid and accepted the winning one from M. Patrick Quinn for $622,000.

In 2016, Hejhal filed a lawsuit to get the property back, pointing to issues in the process. The same judge reversed herself in 2019, granting the house to Hejhal.

Litigation between the parties continued; Hejhal died in 2020.

Explaining the situation, the village's lawyer, Michael Jurusik, said the judge's contradictory rulings put all the parties in a tough spot.

Under the agreement, Hejhal's estate will get $375,000 from the village and $160,000 from the Quinns' title insurer.

"It's bringing closure to a piece of litigation that has existed for the better part of a decade," Jurusik said. "It was a stressful period of time for (the Quinns), and it was a distraction for the village."

Village President Heidi Rudolph said the village was glad to have the litigation settled.