Rutherford cleared in political firings lawsuit

Dan Rutherford
A lawsuit against former Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford was struck down Monday in Cook County court. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

CHICAGO – Former State Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa has been cleared of charges that he fired three employees for cooperating in a sexual harassment investigation against him.

Cook County Circuit Judge James Snyder issued the ruling Monday indicating that Patrick Carlson, George Daglas and Ashvin Lad failed to prove their allegations.

A harassment lawsuit filed by a former employee Edmund Michalowksi is still pending in federal court.

Rutherford said he was relieved by the judge’s decision but called it bittersweet, nothing the employees had been his friends.

NBC Chicago reports the state of Illinois has already paid out more than half a million dollars in legal fees for Rutherford.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…