YOUNGSTOWN Lawsuit settled over mob murder

Terms of the settlement were not available.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A wrongful-death lawsuit filed against reputed local mob leader Lenny Strollo by the widow of his former rival has been settled out of court.
Terms of the settlement were not available Friday. A document filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court said only that the suit is settled and dismissed.
The settlement entry was signed by Judge John R. Milligan, a retired judge from the 5th District Court of Appeals, who presided over the case.
Judge Milligan was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court after all the local common pleas judges stepped aside.
Background
The suit was filed in February 2002 by Linda Biondillo, who was the wife of Ernie Biondillo and the fiduciary of his estate. It sought $5 million in damages from Strollo for ordering Ernie Biondillo's murder in June 1996.
Also named as defendants were Bernard Altshuler, who helped plan the killing, and Jeff Riddle, Cleveland Blair and George Wilkins, who the suit says carried out the hit.
All of the defendants are serving prison sentences for their roles in mob-related activities, including Biondillo's murder. Strollo, 72, was sentenced in January to 12 years and eight months in a federal prison for leading the criminal enterprise.
Ernie Biondillo, of Campbell, was 53 when he was shot in his car on the city's East Side while he was driving to work. Strollo has testified that he and Ernie Biondillo were mob rivals and has admitted giving the order to have Biondillo killed.
bjackson@vindy.com