Alabama firm gets e-filing contract extension in Cook County courts; profits capped at $3.5 million annually
BY TINA SFONDELES Staff Reporter tsfondeles@suntimes.com April 17, 2013 5:48PM
Updated: April 17, 2013 6:25PM
An Alabama-based company will provide the Cook County Circuit Court with an electronic filing system for the next three years under a contract extension approved by the county board Wednesday.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposal capped On-Line Information Services Inc.’s profits at $3.5 million a year during its three-year contract.
Users will be charged $2.95 to view documents but will not be charged if the company meets its $10.5 million cap prior to the end of its contract.
Commissioner John Fritchey questioned why the company was chosen, and whether it might be worth a re-bid to save money. But Cook County Budget Director Andrea Gibson said the company has already invested $5.5 million into implementing the system, and to abandon the work and go with another company will force the county to lose $7.5 million.
Preckwinkle later said she’s also had discussions about expanding e-filing to the county’s criminal courts.
