By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net
SPRINGFIELD -- State officials are considering legal action after discovering something fishy about 315 “new” copy machines purchased from a New York company last spring.
According to records, it appears as if the state believes the copiers actually were refurbished, rather than new.
The hit on taxpayers after the transaction with Brooklyn, New York-based M&M Computers is pegged at an estimated $165,217.
The copiers, which had been targeted for use at the Illinois Department of Transportation, were put in storage pending legal review.
The status of any possible legal action remains unclear because state officials aren’t talking publicly about the situation.
“I can’t comment for IDOT about this matter,” said agency spokesman Mike Claffey.
A lawyer for M&M acknowledged this week that the state has sent at least one letter seeking a solution. Attorney James Klatsky said the company has offered to compensate the state for any repairs.
“We did try to come to an amicable settlement with DOT,” said Klatsky. “We’ve been trying for some time.”
State records indicate M&M has supplied nearly $400,000 worth of copiers and equipment to other state agencies since the 2005 fiscal year, including the attorney general and the secretary of state.
“As far as I know, we’ve never had a problem with the State of Illinois,” said Klatsky.
The latest contract problem has cost taxpayers at least an extra $55,000 because the state purchased 100 additional copiers from a different company to make sure workers were still able to make copies while legal action is being considered.
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