As Illinois News Network reports, "it’s Illinois taxpayers who keep footing the bill" for "the case that just won’t go away for U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth."
Defendant Duckworth’s taxpayer-funded settlement turned out to be far more costly than her taxpayer-funded legal team previously disclosed. On top of attorney fees for both parties, the people of Illinois will be forced to pay $9,000 to each plaintiff.
It’s telling that wasting tens of thousands in taxpayer dollars turned out to be the more appealing option for Duckworth in her VA whistleblower retaliation trial.
- The Original Settlement Offer Was Reported To Be Around $26,000, But Plaintiffs Butler And Goins Said It Was Closer To $40,000. “The original settlement offer was reported to be around $26,000, with the attorney general’s office paying for the employees’ attorney fees and other court costs. But Butler and Goins said the offer in actuality was more like $40,000, with $21,000 of that sum paying for attorney’s fees and another $9,000 provided to each plaintiff.” (Kerry Lester, “Women Reject Settlement In Duckworth Workplace Retaliation Lawsuit,” The Daily Herald, 7/27/16)
The only thing worse for the people of Illinois than learning more about Defendant Duckworth’s reckless behavior as Rod Blagojevich’s hand-picked appointee is having to subsidize it.
Lawsuit against Rep. Duckworth costs taxpayers
Illinois News Network
August 5, 2016
It’s the case that just won’t go away for U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, and it’s Illinois taxpayers who keep footing the bill.
The cost to defend Duckworth in a recent worker retaliation case goes beyond the $26,000 settlement.
Duckworth was sued by two women who said she retaliated against them when she was the head of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Last week the women said they would try to have the settlement voided because they claimed Duckworth broke the agreement by disparaging them publicly…
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Jared Labell, executive director of Chicago-based Taxpayers United of America, said whatever the final outcome, it will be state taxpayers who will be the ones paying for Duckworth’s legal defense.
“In this case, in particular, it cost taxpayers $26,000 to settle with the two employees that had brought the case against Mrs. Duckworth,” he said. “Only government institutions can pay out (settlements); therefore, they’re paying with taxpayer dollars.”
He said there are other costs involved, too — like the cost of Madigan’s office defending the case.
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