Following a six-month stay on the litigation due to an ongoing police investigation at the time, a lawsuit against the Yale Chamber of Commerce’s former treasurer is proceeding.
The chamber revealed to its members in December 2024 that their treasurer was involved in an alleged embezzlement case. The treasurer had worked for the chamber’s executive board since 2019, with the chamber’s website showing that Kellie Lauwers, wife of State Sen. Dan Lauwers of Brockway Township, began her work as treasurer in 2019. She was replaced in the role by Fred Manulow.
The chamber filed suit against her on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in St. Clair County’s Circuit Court, but a stay of proceedings was ordered by Judge Michael West in March.
According to the lawsuit, Lauwers allegedly began embezzling in December 2022, and had taken $32,300 from the chamber via checks written to herself. The embezzlement was discovered in November 2024, when a review of profit statements showed discrepancies, and further investigation found that Lauwers had allegedly forged signatures of other board members.
Via the original complaint, the chamber says Lauwers admitted to the theft but claimed she would not repay the money, even threatening to move the money out of her name to make it unreachable in the event of a judgment against her.
Though the status of the police investigation into Lauwers is currently unclear, lawyers on both sides were notified for a status conference originally scheduled for October 7. However, the status conference has since been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.
