Patch Releases Part 3B of the Legal Investigation Into the Former Village Attorney
Read "Part 3B" of the legal report into the former village attorney paid for by the taxpayers of Oak Lawn.
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The Oak Lawn Village Board released a second investigative report into the former village attorney now known as Tressler LLP after questions arose about the firm's billings and handling of litigation.
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Godfrey and Kahn was hired by the village in May 2011 to conduct a second investigation into the former village attorney.
The village board voted unanimously last April to accept a $500,000 from the firm. The settlement also carried an agreement to keep the final report confidential.
The saga continues with Part 3B of the Godfrey and Kahn report. The 206-page document includes:
- Mayor Dave Heilmann's reponses to Godfrey and Kahn "observations" into the hiring of Heilmann's attorney friend and community theater partner Norm Chimenti;
- Email and snail-mail correspondence between 2008 and 2012 from Oak Lawn elected and village officials;
- Village board open meeting and executive session minutes;
- Invoices for Kmart litigation and Oak Lawn firefighter Sharon Januszewski's sexual harrassment lawsuit against the village and Oak Lawn Fire Department;
- An Oak Lawn Patch article from May 4, 2011.
And this is just a sampling.
Warning: Documents contain some graphic language.
The report was obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Village.
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andy skoundrianos
2:17 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Boy Dave sure doesn't like the Village manager to be involved in hiring attorney's. Even though that is the managers job. I guess when Dave can pick his buddies that means they are a-ok with him, anyone else and they are lousy. He really doesn't like it when people have an independent thought other than the one he has.
Homegrown in OL
9:59 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
After reading this section of the report, it certainly doesn’t look like Phelan likes letting the manager manage anything. Clearly he is a control freak who thinks he should micro-manage the Village staff instead of setting policy as a trustee. Phelan’s arrogance and hot-headed temper appears to be clearly documented. His vindictive personality is a liability for Oak Lawn. Furthermore, the foul language he uses in his day-to-day communication is inappropriate for an elected official that is supposed to represent the Village of Oak Lawn. His agenda appears to be a personal crusade to get jobs for friends and family and reap whatever rewards he can attain regardless if his actions are legal. Oak Lawn has turned into the new Cicero…an embarrassment for the residents who live here.
District 666 Resident
11:15 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
This report certainly doesn't help Tom Phelan. It does expose him as much or more than any other person involved in village government. I don't see much about the other Trustees. What does that tell everyone?
vote
11:39 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Hey homegrown, funny I thought you were talking about Heilmann sure sounds like we read the same report. This was the report on the investigation of Heilmann's law firm choice who were his " friends " maybe you forgot that point.
District 666 Resident
12:08 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Well the Mayor didn't use the best judgment either but you have to admit that the report doesn't make Phelan, Heilmann or the attorneys look very good. I would add that the Finance Director and Manager are not portrayed well by their own words and actions either. The report makes it clear that the Tressler firm were friends of the Mayor and the e-mails indicate that Phelan did want to get the, or some, business for the other firm. When you throw mud it sometimes hits more than the target
Homegrown in OL
11:31 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
QC?? I am certainly not defending Heilmann by any means. In my opinion, the Village of Oak Lawn would be a much better place without the two of them. I wouldn’t trust either one of them as far as I could pick them up and throw them. It seems to me that they are both pointing their fingers at each other for the same thing…at the taxpayer’s expense. However, Dave being an attorney would have the professional knowledge and associations to refer another attorney. It would be likely that he would know them. Is it questionable and unethical? Absolutely. The question is what did he get out of it? However, what Phelan did is criminal. He openly speaks of personal favors done by an attorney at Q&H and then that firm is hired without any negotiations or even looking at another firm. That is not only unethical, but illegal. Also, Phelan is clearly vindictive and seems to enjoy inflicting pain on people although it is unnecessary. This is evident by his insistence on firing Folliard. Why would an employer do that when the employee has already resigned? That would be a huge liability, which knowing Folliard, it will be after he reads this report. Phelan has a need to feel powerful by hurting others. If Phelan wants to micromanage the Village, he should have applied for the position of Village Manager. Clearly, that is not the job of a trustee.
o'toma binlyin
5:53 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
QC??< now we need reports on the hiring of queery and harrow and godfrey and khan and your other lawyer friends...who might you reccomend ?<
vote
3:10 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Once again prove your point, What attorney firm was investigated for alleged overbilling and agreed to pay the village $500,000 dollars ( would have been more if Dave didn't interfere ) that firm was handpicked and hired by The Mayor not Phelan The board and manager knew about Querry and Harrow not with Tressler
QC
9:55 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
QC??/Tommy Boy
And Who was it that "recommended" Queery & Harrow, again???
By David Kidwell, Tribune reporter June 27, 2010
Madigan's allies get slice of village Business Oak Lawn asked House speaker for help; law firms linked to him may rack up hundreds of thousands in legal fees.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, left, and Oak Lawn Trustee Tom Phelan tour the village's emergency center. (Terrence Antonio James/Tribune) -Picture
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-met-oak-lawn-mjm-20100626,0,6319109.story
SmallManBigWoman
10:29 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
QC, we know you can cut and paste. But can you think an original thought?
vote
10:32 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
QC/Dave, When are you going to get a better narrative then republishing old newspaper columns?? I didn't know Madigan was on the village board?? You sure liked him when you asked for his help back in 2009!! You can't stand the fact that despite all your tricks this report has come out, deflect and blame,deflect and blame
Homegrown in OL
11:55 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
QC?? How much did it cost the taxpayer’s to recoup that money? The residents of Oak Lawn have now paid millions because Tommy and Davey can’t play in the sandbox together. What have either one of them really done for the Village of Oak Lawn anyway besides being an embarrassment? When they first ran for office, they had a list of goals. Where are they on the task list now? They sure seem to enjoy hiring lawyers to fight their battles over everything and against everyone. What could all of that money done for the Village besides make these law firms wealthy? Oak Lawn needs representation by our elected officials who behave as adults, not an arrogant spoiled brat and a bully. And by the way Tom, when you sling mud at people, you get your hands dirty.