Lawsuit seeks $5 million while alleging park district was evicted and employee mistreated

The husband of a former Wilmette Park District employee is suing the district and its executive director for unfair and “abusive” treatment that negatively impacted the health of his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Cox, who died in December 2023.

The North Shore record has been investigating allegations made in the lawsuit and related activities in the park district for nearly five months. On Wednesday, June 19, the Wilmette Park District released a public statement on the lawsuit, which was filed on May 1. Due to the statement and questions from the community about its meaning, The record releases a summary of the trial (below) as it completes its report.

The suit seeks damages of at least $5 million.

According to the suit, Wilson and the park district forced Elizabeth Cox out of her position as superintendent of human resources and risk management in the spring of 2023 while she investigated an inappropriate relationship between Wilson and a subordinate.

Cox reportedly waived a training requirement for a co-worker in December 2022, and Wilson and the park district began investigating her and the waiver in January 2023, urging her to resign or face termination in March 2023. according to the suit.

During this time, Cox was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She was first diagnosed in August 2022, underwent a mastectomy in January 2023, left the district in May 2023 and died in December 2023, according to the lawsuit.

Upon Cox's departure from the park district, it is alleged that Wilson refused to provide Cox with unused sick leave, as he allegedly did with other departing employees. The suit also alleges that Wilson and park district staff mismanaged the communication and transfer of health and life insurance documents.

The continued “distress” caused by the park district's behavior reportedly caused Cox to begin receiving therapy and medication for anxiety and contributed to his hospitalization before his death in December 2023. It also impacted his ability to renew a life insurance policy, among other things, the lawsuit claims.

While declining to comment on “confidential personnel matters or pending litigation,” the park district said in its statement:

“The park district and Steve Wilson vehemently deny the allegations contained in the complaint and look forward to providing facts in the appropriate venue for such disputes.”

The record is awaiting answers to a number of questions sent to the Wilmette Park Board of Directors and Executive Director Steve Wilson. During his investigation, The record spoke with several current and former park district employees and acquired numerous public records. A more detailed article will be posted on TheRecordNorthShore.org once responses are received.

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