Further developments in two legal cases that we’ve been following. First, the law firm representing over 100 laid-off workers of Rolf’s Patisserie in Lincolnwood, which closed abruptly in December, says that an agreement has been reached in which the laid-off employees will receive their final paychecks and vacation pay. This follows a protest last week by the workers that the company had bounced their last paychecks and violated provisions of the WARN Act governing how companies give notice in a shutdown. Attorney Tom Geoghegan, whose firm represents the workers, says that “We were advised (Rolf’s) will pay final checks and vacation pay,” but the lawsuit regarding WARN Act violations will proceed. Rolf’s representatives did not comment on the suit or whether any agreement had been reached. [TribLocal]
Second, the bankrupt Giordano’s pizza chain went through a disposition of assets in a peaceful manner some months back, but now the heat’s getting turned up. Bankruptcy trustee Philip Martino alleges that ex-owners John and Eva Apostolou looted the company in the months prior to its bankruptcy filing, raising their combined salaries to $1.7 million and using hundreds of thousands in company funds for pay for things such as the payments on a home in Florida. The total figure Martino claims is over $4.4 million in fraudulent transfers prior to the bankruptcy filing in February 2011. [Tribune]
