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Illinois Policy Institute’s legal arm picking up settlement tab

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Illinois

* AP…

Officials in Lincolnshire say the Chicago suburb has settled two of the three lawsuits it faces regarding a right-to-work ordinance.

Under the deal approved Monday, the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center will pay $10,000 on behalf of the city to the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150. Officials say in exchange the union has agreed to drop two state court lawsuits.

That’s really odd. I’ve never heard of such a thing. But, hey, when you’re apparently attempting to gut organize labor in order to weaken the Democratic Party (see Wisconsin, et al), you’ll do stuff like this, I suppose.

* Tribune…

The Lincolnshire ordinance approved late last year only applied to private companies within the village and not to public-sector employees such as police officers.

The two lawsuits questioned procedural matters in connection with the meeting at which Lincolnshire village board members approved the ordinance. One of the lawsuits filed in state court alleged an Open Meetings Act violation, arguing officials prohibited two union supporters from speaking during public comment at the meeting where the ordinance was approved.

Depending on the outcome, the lawsuit could have nullified trustees’ approval vote of the ordinance, Huebert said.

The other lawsuit pertained to email exchanges involving village officials following the meeting at which the ordinance was approved, he said.

The third lawsuit is in federal court. It claims that a municipality in a state that isn’t “right to work” can’t unilaterally pass a “right to work” ordinance.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 10:49 am

Comments

About 4 months too late for Leslie Munger.

Vertical Integration.

Rauner has everything he’d ever want with his vertical integration.

He has mouthpieces, radio, newspapers, media outlets, think tanks, legal arms to umbrella every legal maneuver… Rauner has a party, two caucuses and unlimited cash to fund EVERY bit of this… including the bags of popcorn for a movie… all within vertical integration.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 10:53 am
The two suits that were settled were ethical/procedural in nature. The open meetings act suit was based on restricting public comment based on individuals’ position on the ordinance. The union sought legal fees and a rewrite of the public comment rules. They got both, though the Village admitted no wrongdoing.

The fight now will be over whether a Village can pass a right to work law, and given that a Kentucky federal court struck down a similar county-based law on the same merits that this is being sued, it will be a tough fight for Lincolnshire.

Home rule villages still aren’t states or territories, and therefore are not empowered to pass “right to work” laws.

Comment by Man with a Plan Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 10:55 am
But IPI is a non-taxable not-for-profit with only an educational mission.

Comment by walker Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:31 am
Walker, you forgot to add “non-partisan.”

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:49 am
From Wikipedia (I know, not the most reliable source, but not too bad on non-controversial stuff):

“Champerty” and “maintenance” are doctrines in common law jurisdictions that aim to preclude frivolous litigation. “Maintenance” is the intermeddling of a disinterested party to encourage a lawsuit. It is “A taking in hand, a bearing up or upholding of quarrels or sides, to the disturbance of the common right.” “Champerty” (from Old French champart, a feudal lord’s share of produce) is the “maintenance” of a person in a lawsuit on condition that the subject matter of the action is to be shared with the maintainer. Among laypersons, this is known as “buying into someone else’s lawsuit”.

In modern idiom maintenance is the support of litigation by a stranger without just cause. Champerty is an aggravated form of maintenance. The distinguishing feature of champerty is the support of litigation by a stranger in return for a share of the proceeds.

— Lord Justice Steyn, Giles v Thompson

Comment by titan Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm
I’m still shocked that of all the municipalities in Illinois, well-heeled Lincolnshire was the one to take up this cause.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm
That leaves the case to be decided on the merits in that federal suit, which could well be determined by Trumps appointment to the ninth Supreme Court seat.

Comment by Anon. Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:17 pm
cant move income from the middle class to 1 or 2 ultra wealthy individuals if you have unions in the way.

It will be interesting to see how happy folks are with the economy when the spending is reduced. all those billions in savings Rauner is promissing represent billions not being spent and circulated in the economy….

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:37 pm
Sounds like the fix was in… as we’ll cover your losses. Doesn’t smell right, is it even legal?

Comment by Triple fat Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:17 pm
To me it appears Raunuer has a conflict of interest. What he is doing to the state he is the governor of appears to be in conflict. OW, what do you think?

Comment by Mama Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:42 pm
So Lincolnshire adopted the ordinance that IPI drafted.

Then Lincolnshire had IPI’s attorneys defend them when they got sued as a result of adopting the IPI drafted ordinance.

And now Lincolnshire is having IPI pay the judgment for them that resulted from that lawsuit.

I wonder how the residents of Lincolnshire feel about being a front for the IPI.

Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Walker also forgot “America’s only zero depth think tank”…G should look a little here after they are done with the absentee ballot scandal

Comment by Annonin' Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 3:09 pm
- Mama -

It’s going to come back to the voters to decide in 2018.

That’s a real as I have it right now.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 3:32 pm
== I wonder how the residents of Lincolnshire feel about being a front for the IPI. ==

A lot of them probably don’t even realize it.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 5:01 pm
So did IPI leave a little something extra on the night stand for Lincolnshire officials’ efforts?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 5:28 pm
Fake Governor Rauner: If any of you municipalities or counties have Unions that are paying decent wages… I want you to beat the cr#p out of them. Don’t worry about it… we’ll pay your legal bills.

Comment by Triple fat Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 8:14 am