Lake County recorder warns of property deed scam
Lake County Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer is warning property owners to beware of a property deed scam.
Vanderventer said residents have contacted her office to inquire about letters they have received from a company offering to get them certified copies of their property deeds.
The company charges a grossly inflated price for the document, well above the $18 price set by state law.
Vanderventer said anyone who wants a certified copy of their deed should contact her office at (847) 377-2575 and they will be mailed the paperwork.
The deed will be sent to the applicant for the $18 fee, Vanderventer said.
$15 million settlement:& Waukegan attorneys Michael Schostok and Matthew Williams obtained a $15.35 million settlement on behalf of a child who suffered a brain injury during childbirth.
On Oct. 19, 2001, Vanessa Jenkins of Aurora was admitted to Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich for the delivery of her son, Cody Smithey.
The lawsuit said Dr. Martin Brauweiler chose to use a vacuum extractor to assist in the delivery, even though he was a family practitioner and unqualified to use the device.
After 18 attempts with the device, the lawsuit said, another doctor performed an emergency c-section and Cody had suffered brain injuries.
The settlement was approved by DeKalb County Judge Kurt Klein.
Reward offered: Lake County CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in a 2003 murder.
Jose Delgado, 29, is wanted for the Oct. 19, 2003 drive-by shooting death of Jesus Montes-DeOca on Waukegan's north side.
Delgado is at the top of the list of the county's most wanted gang members and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information about Delgado's whereabouts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (847) 662-2222.
Heard in the hallway: Congratulations to Assistant State's Attorney Christen Bishop and her husband, Waukegan attorney Greg Nikitas, on the May 15 birth of their son, William Paul Nikitas.