Chicago Attorney Held in Insurance Fraud Case

September 23, 2005

A Chicago attorney who allegedly worked for a husband-and-wife team accused in a multi-million dollar insurance fraud scam was ordered held without bail in bond court yesterday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Eric P. Ferleger, 53, who is charged with felony money laundering, made a brief appearance at Cook County's 26th and California courthouse. Ferleger was the attorney for Tad and Donna Christensen, owners of a company with offices in Chicago suburbs La Grange and Bridgeview that boards up and promises to fix fire-damaged homes, prosecutors say.

In fact, in many cases the company -- Action Fire Restoration -- allegedly didn't fix the homes but did pocket the homeowners' insurance money.

Late Thursday, the Christensens, who live in Burr Ridge, were charged with insurance fraud, money laundering and aggravated home repair fraud, among other charges, said Tom Stanton, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

The Christensens also are being investigated by DuPage County authorities.

In the case against Ferleger, prosecutors say Tad Christensen tried to pay cash for a $1.75 million piece of property in La Grange last year, but the owner became suspicious and refused to sell. Christensen then gave Ferleger a check to buy the property. Ferleger immediately turned over ownership to Christensen, according to prosecutors.