Suit: Men sexually abused as teens inside north suburban hardware store

Two men claiming they were sexually assaulted in the 1990s in a north suburban hardware store filed separate lawsuits on Friday.

The men, who weren’t named, blame the then-president of Linden True Value Hardware in Wilmette for the assault, according to the suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

One of the men claims he was 15 years old when the hardware store president inappropriately touched him in 1993. The second man alleges he was assaulted between 1992 and 1994, from ages 14 to 16.

Both claim the man forcibly grabbed them, fondled them and forced them to look at pornographic images, according to their lawsuits.

The suits also said the alleged assaulter suffered from pedophilia and, even though he was aware of his illness, negligently put himself around minors. They also hold the hardware company liable for allowing “a known child molester to roam freely” in the store.

Neither the man nor Linden True Value could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

The three-count suits claim sexual abuse to a minor and negligent or reckless misconduct. They are each demanding $300,000 in damages.