Second Lawsuit Filed Against Priest Accused In Fatal Hit-And-Run

ORLAND PARK, IL — A Catholic school teacher and her husband have filed a lawsuit against a retired priest accused of running her and a colleague down as they were leaving a parish holiday party at an Orland Park restaurant in December. The lawsuit also claims that waitstaff at the restaurant over served the elderly priest to the point of impairment before he got behind the wheel of his car.

Elizabeth Kostek was a third-grade teacher at St. Michael’s School in Orland Park. Kostek survived the accident in the parking lot of Square Celt Ale House and Grill, 39 Orland Square Dr., that claimed the life of her colleague, 61-year-old technology teacher Margaret "Rone" Leja. On Dec. 4, 2019, the teachers were at a holiday parish party, of which Rev. Paul Burak, 73, had also been a guest. Burak had retired as St. Michael’s pastor in 2018.

Police said Kostek and Leja were walking back to their cars in the parking lot when Burak hit both women in his 2016 gold Buick Regal and continued driving without stopping to help the women. Leja was pronounced dead at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Kostek was treated for non-life threatening injuries and was released from the hospital the next day.

A witness followed Burak as he continued driving northbound on LaGrange Road, police said. The witness told Burak to go back to the restaurant and took a picture of the priest's license plate. Burak returned to chaotic parking lot, but police said he did not disclose to officers that he had struck the two women.

The priest was initially charged with aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of a fatal crash, both felonies, after police found Burak’s car parked in the garage of his Palos Heights condominium. Prosecutors later dropped the aggravated DUI charge because of insufficient evidence.

The lawsuit, which also names Kostek’s husband, Lawrence, as a plaintiff, accuses Burak of negligence. Attorneys for the Kosteks are also suing Square Celt, claiming its wait staff over served Burak, who is said to have told police that he had a few drinks at the party and then “blacked out” behind the wheel.

The couple is asking for unspecified damages. Burak remains free on $10,000 bail, but is on electronic monitoring and only allowed to leave his residence for court appearances and medical appointments. Leja’s family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Burak.

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