Africa and Aboriginal Tuesdays: Qui Tam, Consumer Fraud, Deceptive Trade Practices, And Slavery Era Disclosure Lawsuit Filed by Bob Brown – Statement By Pan-African-Roots

As you perhaps know, on May 12, 2006, Bob Brown filed, pro se, as a “realtor” and plaintiff, and as a “private attorney general,” a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago. This historic and precedent setting qui tam (whistleblower), consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices (false advertising and misleading and unfair public statements), and slavery era disclosure lawsuit was filed on behalf of, and in the name of, the City of Chicago and the general public against 102 defendants.

This lawsuit alleges, with specificity and particularity, more than 549 counts of perjury on more than $4.2 billion dollars in City of Chicago contracts. It demands in excess of $12.6 billion in triple damages, plus other relief as provided by law. It exposes and documents, in a 624 page Complaint with more than 1,200 footnotes, massive non-compliance with and gross violations of the Chicago Slavery Era Disclosure Ordinance, the Chicago False Claims Act, the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

On July 20, 2006, the Corporation Counsel filed a notice and motion of the City of Chicago to decline intervention in the lawsuit. Judge Rita M. Novack, at the City’s request, ordered that:

1) This action shall be conducted by the realtor as the plaintiff, and the City’s Notice is spread upon the record;

2) The case is unsealed; all present contents of the Court’s file in this action, including this Order and the City’s Notice, are hereby made public, and all future filings shall not be, or made, under seal unless pursuant to a subsequent order of this Court or as provided by Court rule(s);

3) Copies of all future filings, notices, discovery, and correspondence between parties shall be served upon counsel for the City as if the City were a party in this matter, and the parties shall otherwise keep the City fully informed of activity in this case;

4) The Complaint shall be served upon the defendants (summons to issue);


5) This matter is set for status on September 26, 2006 at 10:00am in Courtroom 2571 of the Richard J. Daley Center without further notice.

On September 26, Bob will amend his Complaint in order to sue on behalf of and in the name of the City of Chicago and the People of Illinois; the Cities of Oakland, Berkley, Richmond and Los Angeles; the City of Milwaukee; the City of Detroit and Wayne County; the City of Cleveland; the City of Philadelphia and other jurisdictions who have passed slavery era disclosure laws. Defendants conduct business in these 10 cities and counties, and 6 states, and have committed the same fraudulent conduct and acts in each of them, resulting untold billions in damages.

This lawsuit seeks to compel disclosure of any and all records of investments and profits from the slave trade and slavery; the names of any and all slaveholders; and material facts that will prove that the slave trade and slavery were and are illegal when and where they were practiced against African People from 1435 to 1888; and that they were and are crimes against humanity! It also seeks to compel defendants to pay billions of dollars in civil penalties and fines, treble and punitive damages.

We need and ask for your assistance, legally, politically and financially. Thank you in advance and any and all assistance you might give. We will never be ungrateful for all that you have done and will do for the People and their Movements!

All comments may be directed to paroots02@yahoo.com. Bob Brown is an organizer, lecturer, research specialist and writer focusing on progressive and revolutionary movements and organizations fighting for global justice. He is a former member of the Chicago Chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, former Director of the Midwest Office of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, co-founder and former member of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, and an organizer for the All-African People's Revolutionary Party. Bob Brown currently serves as co-director of Pan-African Roots and the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

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