In this two-part series, Les Gold expertly breaks down a major case for the fire alarm industry involving the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District. Part one, in the November issue, analyzed the illegal actions of the district and subsequent injunctions while part two breaks down the resulting modified permanent injunction. Understand why this critical, complex case was decided in favor of the fire alarm industry.
To recap, in 2009, the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District passed an ordinance under which it took over fire alarm monitoring for all commercial properties in the district. Several private alarm companies that had previously provided those services in the district sued. After the hearings, the district passed a new ordinance which repealed the 2009 ordinance and replaced it with a modified set of requirements. The district argued that the new ordinance mooted the controversy; the alarm companies disagreed as did the appeals court. After several more legal twists and turns, a modified permanent injunction was passed in favor of the fire alarm industry. The district court’s rationale for granting the modified permanent injunction is the focus of this column.