Bianchi Suit Against Special Prosecutor McQueen Reinstated by Appellate Court

Your homework for today is to read the 2nd Appellate Court decision reinstating McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s suit against one of the Special Prosecutors who indicted him on criminal charges that were so weak that they were tossed … Continue reading

Emails Belie Andy Zinke’s Claim to No Role in Prosecution of State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi

Is there a new and reformed Andy Zinke? The Northwest Herald does the public service of asking candidates for major office to reply to questionnaires. This question was interesting: “The sheriff’s office in recent years has been beset by acrimony … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Continues His Questioning of Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen

Cross examination of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen started after a lunch break on December 20, 2013, at his trial for indirect contempt of court.  (Sorry for the long delay in getting this written and up.  Find Part 1 … Continue reading

Bianchi on the Attack in Chicago – Part 1

Not only was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s legal team on the attack in Rockford, but papers were filed in Chicago in his Federal suit now against Thomas K. McQueen Daniel Jerger Robert Scigalski James Reilly Patrick Hanretty Richard … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 5

This is the fifth and final installment of Lou Bianchi’s attorney Terry Ekl’s 49-page First Amended Complaint in the Federal Court suit the McHenry County State’s Attorney and his employees who were indicted in case with insufficient evidence brought against … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 4

We are moving on to Part 4–roughly pages 30-40–of Lou Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen, their investigative firm Quest Consultants International and others. From the title above paragraph 124, one … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 3

Here is the third installment of the posting of attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan, his assistant Thomas McQueen, Quest Consultants International, et al.  Here are Part 1 and Part 2. Tonigan settled with Bianchi, … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 2

Please refer to Part 1 for the introduction to this series of posts that contain attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, et al, against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan, Thomas McQueen, Quest International Consultants, … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 1

Yes, I used the word “persecuted” in the headline, rather than “prosecuted.” This case charges, accurately, I believe, that Bianchi and his staff members who were criminally charged were “victims of politically and financially motivated criminal investigations and prosecutions,” as … Continue reading

Tonigan Settles with Bianchi, et al

This non-lawyer thought the recent U.S. Supreme Court case about how prosecutors have immunity would result in the tossing of the case against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan & Thomas McQueen (plus Quest, their investigatory firm). Brought by Terry Ekl on … Continue reading

Special Prosecutor’s Court File Unsealed by Judge Gordon Graham

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi had some interesting news at Congressman Randy Hultgren’s fund raiser in McHenry Friday night. He told me that Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham agree to open the court file in the Special Prosecutor’s criminal … Continue reading

$15 Million Sought from Special Prosecutors, Investigators by McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and Other Plaintiffs

The full report on McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, including a complete timeline, can be found here. Based on the timeline, the following fifteen counts were filed: Suit Counts Fourth Amendment Violation–False Arrest (Conspiracy), Bianchi and Synek’s first arrest … Continue reading

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, et al, Sue Special Prosecutors Tonigan & McQueen, plus Quest Consultants, et al, Plus “Unknown Conspirators”

The suit that had been virtually promised by McHenry County State Lou Bianchi during the two trials brought by Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen has been filed in Federal Court. It outlines fifteen counts, which I’ll wade through … Continue reading

Neither Bianchi Nor Nygren Use Campaign Funds for Legal Expenses

Two local official holders in opposite factions of the McHenry County Republican Party have had legal expenses in the last half year, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren. We know where Bianchi’s legal fees … Continue reading

County Compares Potential Costs to Benefits and Decides to Pay $275,000 to Bianchi’s and Synek’s Attorneys

Without admitting liability, the McHenry County Board voted 18-3 to pay Terry Ekl and Ernest DiBenedetto $275,000 to settle claims of over $600,000 in legal fees and expenses to defend State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his assistant Joyce Synek. That … Continue reading

The Starting Point for the County Board Resolution Dealing with State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Legal Fees

The McHenry County Board won’t allow the public to take an advance look at the resolution it will consider at its Tuesday morning meeting, but last September, McHenry County Blog published an article about its starting point. Here’s what is … Continue reading

An Over Million Dollar Offer the County Board Can’t Refuse

The Northwest Herald’s Kevin Craver had an exclusive yesterday about a deal being considered by the McHenry County Board to dig itself out of the financial hole its unquestioning members have dug. Without demanding detailed bills from Judge Gordon Graham, … Continue reading

Anatomy of the Special Prosecutor’s Lou Bianchi Case for July, 2011

Over the last week or so, McHenry County Blog has laid out the bills submitted by Quest International, the investigative firm hired by Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen in its failed mission to convict McHenry County State’s Attorney … Continue reading