* WCIA TV’s Mark Maxwell…

The campaign for Democrat J.B. Pritzker is threatening to file a countersuit for defamation after 10 current and former campaign staffers accused the campaign of racial discrimination.

The campaign is eager to file a motion to dismiss, but has no way to pursue that path until the other party serves them with the lawsuit, which officially allows the case to proceed. […]

At the time of this publishing, plaintiff attorneys Shay Allen and Jeanette Samuels have not served the Pritzker campaign with the complaint. The case cannot begin until the defendant has been served. […]

Meanwhile, Allen and his co-counsel have conducted roughly a dozen media interviews and have scheduled a press conference for Monday, October 22nd, which is 15 days before the upcoming election.

Allen even drove more than three hours each way to be interviewed by Mark Maxwell, and they haven’t served the Pritzker campaign?

* From the Pritzker lawyer’s letter to opposing counsel…

Likewise, it has come to the Campaign’s attention that at least one of your clients left work early one day asserting that she was feeling unwell when, in fact, she then made at least one press appearance.

Sheesh.

Go read Maxwell’s full report.

By the way, during Maxwell’s interview of Shay Allen, the lawyer said one of the reasons his clients sued was because job openings were not made publicly available to campaign workers. That’s kinda bizarre.

* Meanwhile…

Democratic attorney general candidate Kwame Raoul on Friday said he wouldn’t judge a federal civil rights lawsuit recently filed against governor candidate J.B. Pritzker’s campaign, but also called it “shoddily drafted.” […]

Jeanette Samuels, an attorney representing the staffers, said in an email, “We respectfully disagree with State Senator Raoul’s characterization and wish him the best of luck on his campaign.”

Sen. Raoul is right. The lawsuit is without a doubt shoddily written.

* From March…

Shay T. Allen (5th subcircuit): A solo practitioner, Allen was found not qualified by all three bar groups mainly for his short career and lack of experience. The Chicago Bar Association also mentioned problems with punctuality. Allen declined to comment on his evaluations through his attorney, Jim Doppke.

Allen also has a beef against him at the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

*** UPDATE *** I’m told two of these staffers were let go after the primary, and the third is the one who quit after Pritzker’s “least offensive” quote came out during the primary…

EXCLUSIVE: 3 former ⁦@JBPritzker⁩ campaign staffers describe discrimination, also Pritzker sends letter to attorney filing lawsuit suggesting defamation suit #ILGOV18 coming up 4p ⁦@nbcchicago⁩ pic.twitter.com/DWtl2yYO82

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) October 19, 2018