Skip to content

Chicago Park District legal bills cost taxpayers over $300,000 in abuse case, so far

The inspector general's office reported in January that there was evidence supporting 29 of the 49 allegations investigated.

Associated Press
Associated Press
| 2 min read
Chicago Park District legal bills cost taxpayers over $300,000 in abuse case, so far

Embed from Getty Images


CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Park District has paid at least $330,000 to outside law firms investigating the department's response to allegations of sexual harassment or abuse involving lifeguards at pools and beaches.

Legal bills connected to the issue include $259,000 to a law firm charged with investigating the park district's response to the allegations, according to WBEZ in Chicago.[1]



The firm released that report in early November. A former federal prosecutor leading the effort found then-CEO and General Superintendent Michael Kelly failed to investigate the allegations immediately after learning of them.

Kelly later resigned and three other officials were fired.

Another law firm has charged $70,000 to assist the park district inspector general's office in investigating dozens of complaints filed by employees, alleging that current of former employees had assaulted or harassed them.

The inspector general's office reported in January that there was evidence supporting 29 of the 49 allegations investigated.

“At several locations, long-tolerated hazing behavior fostered an environment where bullying, harassing and sexual misconduct flourished and went unchallenged,” the report said.

Representatives for the park district and law firms declined to comment on the legal bills.


Subscribe to the Chicago Journal


The Chicago Journal needs your support.

At just $20/year, your subscription not only helps us grow, it helps maintain our commitment to independent publishing.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE



Notes & References


  1. Mihalopoulos, Dan. “The Chicago Park District's Lifeguard Abuse Scandal Has Cost Taxpayers More than $330,000.” WBEZ Chicago. WBEZ Chicago, February 25, 2022. https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicagos-steep-legal-tab-for-lifeguard-abuse-scandal/193ac2a1-726c-40fe-aaa9-d0789361c72e. ↩︎

LawChicago NewsNews

Associated Press Twitter

News and content from The Associated Press, which has been covering the world's most important stories since 1846.


Related Posts

Shots fired at police as two overnight investigations interrupted, prompting emergency calls

Officers were doing a routine street stop when suddenly offenders fired shots from a nearby alley and, later, officers were investigating a homicide when a group began throwing objects at them.

Shots fired at police as two overnight investigations interrupted, prompting emergency calls

DNA tests identify man found slain in 1980 as Chicago man

The body was found in a wooden crate that had been nailed shut in the summer of 1980, in the water at the Lockport Locks power plant in Will County.

DNA tests identify man found slain in 1980 as Chicago man

Army Corps further delays decision on Great Lakes oil tunnel

A federal review of plans for a Great Lakes oil pipeline tunnel will take more than a year longer than originally planned, officials said Thursday, likely delaying completion of the project — if approved — until 2030 or later.

Army Corps further delays decision on Great Lakes oil tunnel