* Cook County Record…
A woman claiming Illinois Democrats, led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, have denied her jobs after she complained a Madigan operative sexually harassed her, is trying to force a reluctant Chicago Teachers Union to turn over documents to aid her lawsuit.
In March 2018, Alaina Hampton filed suit in Chicago federal court against Madigan, his campaign organizations and the Illinois Democratic Party. Hampton alleged defendants inadequately addressed her complaints she was harassed by Democratic Party staffer Kevin Quinn, then retaliated against her for lodging the complaints.
As part of the retaliation, Hampton alleged the Chicago Teachers Union did not hire her to help with a political campaign, and the union is refusing to provide documents she claims may prove retaliation was at play. […]
Hampton said she and teachers union lobbyist D’Javan Conway exchanged text messages in which Conway indicated the union was “eager and ready” to have Hampton work with them on Johnae Strong’s campaign for state representative of the Fifth Legislative District in the 2018 election. The union and United Working Families, a grassroots political group, endorsed Strong for the seat.
However, Hampton said Conway eventually told Hampton union officials had learned she was “on the outs” with Marty Quinn, the suit said. Hampton said the union then ended communications with her.
* From the filing…
Accordingly, on March 15, 2019, Ms. Hampton issued very narrow and limited subpoenas to the CTU Respondents seeking relevant information regarding the CTU Respondents’ interactions and communications with each other, Ms. Hampton, Ms. Strong and individuals associated with the Defendant political committees regarding Ms. Hampton in order to determine what, if anything, transpired between the time in which CTU first indicated a desire to retain Ms. Hampton’s services in connection with Ms. Strong’s potential campaign and the time in which Ms. Strong withdrew her candidacy.
To date, however, the CTU Respondents have refused to search for and produce any responsive documents. Ms. Hampton has made every possible reasonable attempt to resolve this matter, as required under Rule 37, to no avail.
As such, Ms. Hampton now moves to compel the CTU Respondents to produce the very limited but highly relevant categories of documents that they have inexplicably refused to produce and for an award of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:00 pm:
Sounds like Hampton knows what she’s looking for.
Given the large net Judge Kennelly allowed Gonzo and Peraica to cast against Madigan, you’d think this request would be a slam dunk.
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:00 pm:
The motion was granted on May 30.
- Shytown - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
It’s disappointing to see how Alaina Hampton continues to be ostracized by the Illinois political establishment - even the far left? Shameful.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:40 pm:
Just my opinion, but this is pretty hilarious. I never knew Speaker Madigan had such deep ties to the progressive community.
- JoeMaddon - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 1:42 pm:
Speaker Madigan has been close to the current leadership of CTU for awhile now.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
According to the State Board of Elections, Johnae Strong filed her petitions on 12/4/17 and withdrew on 12/12/17. An eight-day would-be candidacy.
So, CTU didn’t hire Hampton to help on a campaign that pretty much didn’t exist?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:12 pm:
===An eight-day would-be candidacy===
Moe, you should know better than that. Campaigns gear up long before the filing period begins.
- Anon-I-Guess - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:13 pm:
So she has text messages saying they were considering hiring her but the “on the outs” conversation isn’t documented? This is going nowhere.
- MakePoliticsCoolAgain - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
Just curious - do all the folks who haven’t been offered positions with the Pritzker administration also able to file a lawsuit? Asking for a friend(s)…
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:20 pm:
She complained about harassment, then she went to work against a Madigan-backed candidate. I think she’s going to have a tough time proving the retaliation was for the former and not the latter offense.
I’m not saying she’s wrong, just saying it’s going to be tough to prove.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 2:33 pm:
== So, CTU didn’t hire Hampton to help on a campaign that pretty much didn’t exist? ==
Why wouldn’t Conway just tell Hampton that the campaign was over?
Even better, does Hampton have texts from Conway where is says they can’t hire her because she was “on the outs” with Quinn?
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 3:04 pm:
==I’m not saying she’s wrong, just saying it’s going to be tough to prove.==
It’s one to to feel like one’s been wronged, it’s another to convince a jury your case has a preponderance of evidence.
Lawsuits: a way to run through your hard earned money without having fun.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 3:23 pm:
== Lawsuits: a way to run through your hard earned money without having fun. ==
A lot of plaintiffs E-Lit is done on a contingency basis.
What is she supposed to do if she is really being blackballed? Just take it and go work in another field?
- Centennial - Tuesday, Jun 4, 19 @ 3:50 pm:
Could she have been “on the outs” simply because she worked against Lipnski? That seems more plausible, albeit not as sensational.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 6:41 am:
Three dimensional checkers, why do you think Hampton’s lawyer is pro bono?
- DrurysMissingClock - Wednesday, Jun 5, 19 @ 10:50 am:
Plenty of folks who worked for Marie Newman still work closely with CTU. It’s like y’all are looking for reasons not to believe a woman.