Kane County's Hurlbut named in suit alleging sex crime
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Kane County Board member Cathy Hurlbut on Friday called a lawsuit "political extortion" that seeks medical and counseling costs for a girl who claimed she was the victim of a sexual assault by the Hurlbuts' son two years ago.
Teresa and Steven Stultz last month sued Cathy and John Hurlbut and their son, claiming in the lawsuit the boy "forcibly" removed the girl's clothing while the two were in the Hurlbuts' Elgin basement Dec. 1, 2009, held her to the couch and had sex without her consent.
"We deny every allegation in the lawsuit. We will fight that. We will not settle that lawsuit," said Cathy Hurlbut, a county board member since 1994.
Hurlbut is seeking the GOP nomination for Kane County Circuit Court Clerk in the March 20 primary. Her husband is running for judge.
The suit, filed Nov. 29, claims the Hurlbuts were upstairs within "earshot" of the girl's cries of "No!" and did nothing to stop it.
The suit seeks $50,000 from the Hurlbuts to pay for the girl's medical costs, counseling and emotional distress.
Jeffrey Meyer, attorney for the Stultz family, declined to answer questions about the lawsuit.
Meyer said the primary election and filing period to run — which ended Monday — had nothing to do with the lawsuit's timing. Meyer is running for Republican nomination for the county board's 17th District.
"I want to make clear it has absolutely nothing to do with politics. It is solely focused on making sure a wrong is made right and my clients are able to recover for their injuries," Meyer said.
Elgin police spokeswoman Sue Olafson said a report was filed with police regarding an incident that occurred at the Hurlbuts' home Dec. 1, 2009.
The city of Elgin this week denied a Freedom of Information request by the Daily Herald — which was seeking a copy of the police report — on the grounds both parties involved were juveniles. Both were 16 at the time.
Both are now older than 18, but the Daily Herald is not naming the Hurlbuts' son because he has not been charged as an adult with a crime, nor is the paper naming the girl because she's alleging she was the victim of a sexual assault.
The Kane County state's attorney's office declined to comment because the case involved juveniles. Juvenile records also are kept confidential.
In a prepared statement, Cathy Hurlbut said the lawsuit was an effort to damage her reputation, embarrass her family and distract voters from the "real issues."
"In the current political climate where the politics of personal destruction has become a blood sport, individuals such as Mr. Meyer and his cronies seek to destroy their opposition through these underhanded tactics," Hurlbut said. "I am certain this will not be the last attempt by those advisers and negative campaigners to sully my good reputation."
Both sides are due in court Feb. 16, 2012.
