Peter Francis Geraci, a prominent figure known for his ubiquitous television advertisements and establishment in bankruptcy law, has recently experienced an unfavorable turn in a long-standing legal dispute. This year has been fraught with legal challenges for Geraci and his family, adding to the complexities surrounding his public persona.
Earlier in 2017, Geraci’s wife, Holly, faced a legal setback when she unsuccessfully appealed a jury verdict. This verdict held her responsible for assaulting a dog walker within their River North condominium building. The appeal dismissal marked the culmination of a four-year legal effort by the Geracis, who were attempting to shift blame onto the dog walker, resulting in significant legal expenses and public embarrassment.
Now, Peter Francis Geraci himself has concluded a seven-year legal battle with a former employee and a rival attorney, only to face defeat. The lawsuit, which spanned several years and involved substantial financial stakes, centered on accusations of stolen trade secrets. Geraci claimed that R. William Amidon, a former computer coder in his employment, and Thomas G. Macey, a competing bankruptcy lawyer, conspired to misappropriate proprietary software crucial to his business operations. Geraci alleged Macey incentivized Amidon to steal these computer programs.
During the seven-day trial, Peter Francis Geraci testified, asserting that the software in question was indispensable to his business model. He initially sought damages as high as $90 million. However, this amount was reduced by the judge to $2 million before the case was presented to the jury. Ultimately, the federal jury rejected Geraci’s claims against both Amidon and Macey.
In response to media coverage, Geraci, known also for his lavish real estate holdings such as an $8.63 million penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, which was noted as Chicago’s priciest unfinished home sale, communicated his dissatisfaction. He suggested that the “real story” was being overlooked and expressed his view that media outlets were unfairly targeting him.
Thomas Macey’s attorney, Tim Elliott, commented on the protracted nature of the litigation and indicated that an appeal from Geraci would not be unexpected, given the history of the case. Adding another layer to the legal complexities, attorneys previously associated with Geraci in a related state court matter faced sanctions. A DuPage County judge mandated them to pay $100,000 for incorporating spyware into emails sent to the opposing legal counsel.
Following the trial, Rathje Woodward, the law firm representing Macey, issued a press release detailing their victory. They highlighted that the jury had carefully reviewed the evidence and concluded that Mr. Macey had not engaged in any unlawful or unethical behavior. The Rathje Woodward legal team included attorneys Tim Elliott, Emily Shupe, David Hollander, and Nicole Winters, who successfully defended Macey against Geraci’s allegations. The firm expressed satisfaction that their client was vindicated after seven years of litigation.
