Another day, another loss for Tom DeVore
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tom DeVore lawsuit filed last year…
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Thomas G. DeVore, through counsel, complains against Defendant Tony McCombie, as the Illinois State Representative of the 89th District and Illinois Republican House Minority Leader, as follows:
Nature of the Case
1. In this First Amendment case, Plaintiff challenges the constitutionality of the manner in which Republican State Representative and Republican Minority House Leader McCombie regulates speech on a Facebook Page she utilizes to discuss government business and to interact with users about government business.
2. Defendant McCombie uses an official Facebook Page to discuss government business and to interact with users about government business. For approximately seven years, she has utilized this Facebook Page to discuss government business and has interacted with users about government business in relation to her roles as a Republican State Representative as well as Republican House Minority Leader.
3. Hundreds of Illinois citizens participate in the comments sections of this Facebook Page, expressing opinions, asking questions, and engaging in debate. Because of the way Leader McCombie uses her Facebook Page, the Page is a public forum under the First Amendment.
4. In an effort to suppress dissent in this forum, McCombie hides or deletes certain comments that criticize her or her policies, thereby making those comments invisible to the other constituents who are engaging in discussion on her Facebook Page and preventing certain citizens from engaging in debate with other members of the community. In at least one instance, Minority Leader McCombie has permanently banned Plaintiff from being able to engage in this forum at all after he has posted comments critical of the McCombie’s political activities, thereby completely prohibiting Plaintiff from being able to petition the Republican House Minority Leader on this public forum. These actions amount to content-based regulation of speech that violates the First Amendment.
Basically, DeVore was claiming that Leader McCombie’s personal/political Facebook page was actually her de facto official page, even though she clearly has a separate official page. The whole thing was doomed from the start.
* Great lawyering there, Tom…
“Failed to state a claim for relief.”
Sheesh.
He should really think about sticking to selling egg rolls.
…Adding… Click here for the full opinion.
- Mike Bosts Veterinarian - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:30 am:
This makes my day.
- The apologist - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:36 am:
“Failed to state a claim” indeed signifies a loss … but it’s standard legal jargon. Not sure it justifies a “sheesh.” That said, I would not hire this guy as my lawyer.
- Allknowingmasterofraccoondom - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:36 am:
Once a schmuck, always a schmuck. Does this guy have nothing better to do?
- H-W - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:46 am:
=== For approximately seven years === Plaintiff has been constantly harassing and intimidating Defendant and other members of the Leader’s Facebook community religiously. Defendant subsequently blocked Plaintiff from said Facebook account. Due to the Plaintiff’s religious beliefs that all he says is from the Goddess of Eggrolls, Plaintiff seeks to be unbloicked from the Facebook page. And of course, if there is money to be had, Plaintiff seeks immediate grifting.
- low level - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:51 am:
DeVore is just a loser lawyer…
- here we go again - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:56 am:
Ironically, Tom blocks people, typically Republicans, on his own personal Facebook page at first hint of any disagreement or pushback. Yes I know he’s not a public official so there is no legal issue, it just smacks of hypocrisy a bit. Point is he’s hardly a champion of free speech when it comes to his own Facebook page.
- Jerry - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 10:01 am:
I thought Cons were about get the gubbamint out of my life! He should have called someone at the ACLU for a consult. THEY are true Conservatives.
- ccapilla - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 10:18 am:
To “The apologist” above, yes “failed to state a claim” is legal jargon and how the dismissal of this case is being categorized. The full 10 page order is a bit more eye opening. Not only was the First Amended Complaint dismissed with prejudice for failing to correct defects pointed out in the initial complaint (i.e. failure to state a claim), the court also notes that DeVore appears to have cited nonexistent cases or misstated the premises of existing cases in arguing against dismissal. Sheesh, indeed…
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 10:23 am:
When you “practice” law for decades, aren’t you supposed to get better at it?
- Steve Rogers - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 10:38 am:
Tom, “and you want to be my latex salesman”
- Back to the Mountains - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 10:45 am:
The opinion that the Court entered is even better. Looks like there may be an issue with AI fabricating cites. One of the cases Devore cited the Court could not find, and one other cite was to a non-existent page in a case that did not deal with the issue for which it was cited. Definitely worth a read.
- Tom Devore's Eggrolls - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:12 am:
please don’t blame me- I never wanted to be involved.
- Little Tommy - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:21 am:
could someone please post the full opinion?
- John Parker - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:37 am:
The full docket is here, full opinion order document # 30:
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69538006/devore-v-mccombie/
- muscular - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:38 am:
For someone who has the words “liberty” and freedom” prominently tattooed on each arm, this is disappointing that he is not living up to the values he stands for. People have the freedom to manage their own personal social communications. Liberty means courts should not be regulating the lives of individuals, but Tom Devore wants to do just that.
- John Parker - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:38 am:
also here: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/illinois/ilndce/1:2025cv00323/470835/30/
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:41 am:
The last I had heard about Devore he was being critical of Plummer for his attendance record at the Statehouse.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 11:56 am:
===the court also notes that DeVore appears to have cited===
Nope. That was the defendant.
- thisjustinagaina - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 12:44 pm:
DeVore does worse as a lawyer than I did as a self-represented party.
- Cubs in '16 - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 4:40 pm:
DeVore yearns (hat tip to Seinfeld) to be relevant. I guess he’s achieved that but not in the way he’d hoped.
- Chrissie - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 4:46 pm:
This guy is the best. Even better are the people that buy into his game. smh
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 6:23 pm:
“Failed to state a claim for relief.”
I busted out laughing incredulously…this is a legal rookie mistake even pro-se prison litigators know to avoid…DeVore is a frivolous filer.
- Rusty Barnacle - Thursday, May 14, 26 @ 9:38 pm:
I hope Tom succeeds. Tom is Correct. Tony is using this page to discuss Govt Business. State Rep Keicher also blocks comments from people on his official State Rep page just because he does not like people have to say.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, May 14, 26 @ 11:32 pm:
===I hope Tom succeeds===
lolol
The case was dismissed with prejudice.