Cook County assessor sued for failing to pay fine

CHICAGO — The Cook County Board of Ethics has filed a lawsuit to force county Assessor Joe Berrios to pay a $10,000 fine for hiring his son and sister to work in his office.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports (http://bit.ly/1lZpk31 ) the suit was filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.

The fine was imposed in 2012 after an ethics board investigation concluded Berrios violated anti-nepotism rules.

According to the lawsuit, Berrios hired his son and sister two days after taking up his duties in December 2010.

Berrios has refused to pay the fine. He argues the county ethics ordinance doesn't apply to independently elected officials and contends the ethics board has no jurisdiction over him.

Representatives for Berrios could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit.