Settlement Deal Offered in Civil Case For Deadly Melissa Lech Hit & Run

The civil case against a Naperville man who allegedly ran down a young woman from Joliet and then fled, leaving her to die, has a settlement agreement on the table.

The family of a 20-year-old Joliet woman left for dead on the side of McDonough Street has offered to settle a wrongful death lawsuit for $250,000. The settlement deal calls for attorneys representing the estate of University of Illinois student Melissa Lech to get $84,325.09 of the settlement. Half of the remaining $165,674.91 will go to Lech's mother, Maria Lech. Melissa Lech's two sisters, Monica and Michelle Lech, would split $82,837.45, according to court papers. Melissa Lech, a Plainfield South High School graduate, was run down on McDonough Street in August 2008. On the night of her death, she drank on the way up to a White Sox game, continued drinking at the game and on the way back to Joliet, and then headed to the Jefferson …

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Court Supervision: Brand New Year

The New Year didn't start out all that great for everyone.

The New Year turned five days old today. And out of those five days, the Will County Courthouse was only open for three of them. That may not be a lot of days, but they were still action-packed and exciting. How action packed and exciting? Well, let's take a look: Are you a fan of true crime? Then come like our Facebook page.

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Ann C. Piasecki

10:33 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013

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Add the Punchline to Our Dog Gone Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your caption to Patch's weekly comic challenge and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your southwest suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Plainfield Rocks, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Bad Coffee cartoon: This coffee tastes like tar.

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Great Escape

More Than Just a Movie: Great Escape

Each week, Naperville Patch will tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier.

As the weekend approaches, why not consider enjoying a unique twist to movie watching and dining with a visit to Hollywood Palms. Entering the theater, a three-story tall glass conservatory surrounds movie-goers with palm trees and other tropical plants. Each auditorium has its own theme, representing the jungle, the sea, countries like China and Egypt and film animation. After 5:30 p.m., the theater is open only to those aged 18 years and older and a full bar is available. That’s right, a full bar. Not just beer and wine, but all your favorite cocktails and frozen house specialties. After grabbing a drink in the lobby, find a seat in the auditorium that features high-backed leather executive chairs behind a bar top table that gives you …

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