Fritz Reuter July 23, 1998
Fritz Reuter and Sons, Inc.
3917 West Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood. IL 60611

Re: request for the intercession of this office File No: CF 98 04 0089

Dear Mr. Reuter;

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me recently with regard to your consumer complaint file regarding your allegation of a "kick back" scheme practiced within the industry of fine instrument manufacture and sale. As I related to you in our lengthy and wide ranging conversation, your original contact with this office was via your filing of a consumer complaint and, although your concerns may touch upon consumer protection issues, the system of cooperative mediation of consumer disputes which this office offers to Illinois Consumers is certainly not the appropriate vehicle for resolving the problems you identify in your complaint which emanate from the bad business practice that you allege.

As you will recall from our conversation, I told you that I had reviewed your complaint with the Chief of the Consumer Fraud Bureau prior to our phone conversation and identified that I would review the file and the further attachments which you provided to me subsequent to our phone conversation again with the Chief of the Bureau. In reviewing the facts presented in this matter for a second time, we have again determined that no action within the authority of the Attorney General's Office is presently warranted. Therefore your file is being closed at this time.

Please be advised that the decision made by this office in no way precludes you from seeking further action or reflects upon the validity of your claim. If you wish to pursue this matter personally, it would be necessary for you to obtain private legal counsel because this office is unable to give legal advice to private citizens nor can this office act as legal counsel for private citizens.

I am aware, from our phone conversation, that this is an issue of great concern for you as it impacts your business directly. Because this is the case, you may wish to consult with a private attorney to discuss what avenues remain open to you personally or as a class should you be able to develop interest amongst manufacturers of fine instruments who may have experienced the types of business problems you have related in your letter to this office.

Thank you again for bringing this issue to the attention of the Illinois Attorney General, and, should we receive indication from other concerned Illinois Citizens that the practice you identify in your letter is impacting them, either as consumers or within their business dealings, your file will be reviewed again for possible further action. Should this be the case, we will contact you via the mails. If you have any questions which are not met by this correspondence, please don't hesitate to contact the undersigned at your convenience.

PATRICK HURLEY
Mediation Coordinator
Attorney General
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, II 60601