The Highland, Indiana business lawsuit is a federal civil rights case filed on September 2, 2025, by Palestinian American brothers Ghassan and Wajdy Odtallah, who allege that the Town of Highland denied them business permits and utility service at a building they leased, and then had Ghassan arrested for trespassing, because of their ethnicity. The suit, brought through their company Rock the Sky LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in Hammond, names the town, Town Council President George Georgeff, and police officers John Freyek and Addison Barnhill as defendants.1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
What the Brothers Say Happened With Their Permits
Ghassan Odtallah, of Munster, and his brother Wajdy, of Hammond, signed a lease in May 2024 for a commercial building at 7950 Kennedy Avenue in Highland. The site had previously operated as a fireworks business, and the brothers first applied for a license to run one of their own.2Chicago Tribune. Highland Facing Tort Claim From Renter of Building It Bought for Potential Animal Shelter
Highland refused. The brothers then applied to open a smoke and accessories shop at the same address, a use permitted under the property’s zoning. The town denied that application too and refused to allow utility hookups to the building.1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
The reason given was that the town itself was in the process of buying the building to convert it into a municipal animal shelter. According to the Odtallahs, they were not told the town had actually purchased the property until they filed a tort claim in November 2024. Highland also reportedly stopped accepting their rent payments.2Chicago Tribune. Highland Facing Tort Claim From Renter of Building It Bought for Potential Animal Shelter
The Tort Claim and the Arrest
In November 2024, the brothers filed a $700,000 tort claim against Highland, arguing that “speculative future plans” to acquire the building did not justify blocking permits for a valid leaseholder in a correctly zoned property.2Chicago Tribune. Highland Facing Tort Claim From Renter of Building It Bought for Potential Animal Shelter
On January 10, 2025, Ghassan Odtallah went to the Kennedy Avenue property. Council President George Georgeff arrived at the building and directed officers to issue a trespassing warning, according to body camera footage reviewed by the Post-Tribune. Officers Freyek and Barnhill then arrested Odtallah for trespassing, even though he held a valid lease. His attorney at the time said the arresting officer wrenched his arm, causing a shoulder sprain.1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination2Chicago Tribune. Highland Facing Tort Claim From Renter of Building It Bought for Potential Animal Shelter
No trespassing charge appeared in court records as of late January 2025. By May 2025, Ghassan had been charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
What the Federal Lawsuit Alleges
The complaint alleges violations of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, arguing that Highland denied permits and equal treatment because the brothers are Palestinian. Their attorney, David Wu, said the town’s conduct amounted to “unequal treatment of the Odtallahs — for no other reason than to discriminate against the Odtallahs on account of their belonging to a minority group,” and that Highland’s handling of the permitting and lease process “was motivated, primarily, by racial prejudice and discriminatory action.”1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
The suit characterizes the January arrest as retaliation for the tort claim and contends that the town’s interest in acquiring the property for an animal shelter “is not an acceptable justification to deny permits where all permitting conditions are met or to deny utility services to a valid leaseholder.”1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
What Highland Has Said
Highland Town Attorney John Reed said the town does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.2Chicago Tribune. Highland Facing Tort Claim From Renter of Building It Bought for Potential Animal Shelter The record reflects the town’s position that it had closed on the building roughly two weeks before the January 2025 arrest and was acquiring the property for legitimate municipal purposes.1Chicago Tribune. Fireworks Business Owners Sue Highland for Discrimination
Where the Case Stands
As of the most recent reporting in September 2025, the federal lawsuit is pending in the Northern District of Indiana. Highland has not publicly responded to the discrimination allegations beyond declining comment. The misdemeanor criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges against Ghassan Odtallah remain part of the broader dispute. No trial date or settlement has been reported.