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March 28, 2024

Algonquin Township – “We did Investigate” says Board Member Melissa Victor

By Kirk Allen & John Kraft

On June 18, 2018

McHenry Co. (ECWd)-

The local media covered, once again, that the attorney for the Algonquin Township Road District did not have malpractice insurance.  According to that reporting, the attorney said the board acted without investigating, however, Board Member Melissa Victor was quoted as saying “We did investigate”.

We received numerous “demands” that we, too, jump on board and investigate the malpractice insurance matter.

Let that investigation begin!

It would appear this entire malpractice storyline is nothing more than a headline grabber in hopes of disparaging a local attorney or at a minimum, click bait. We say that because of the fact pattern of the exposure, starting with the media and then the very agenda item listed for the meeting where they told the public they were going to adopt a resolution to require attorneys doing business with the Township to carry malpractice insurance.

The local paper reported: “The township board voted, 4-1, Wednesday to require all lawyers representing township officials to carry malpractice insurance.” 

Unless we missed something, the board has not voted 4-1 to require all lawyers representing township official to carry malpractice insurance.

Such reporting is completely false when compared to the actual documents. 

Our first question to those trying to make a case that this is an issue would do well to first start with the law…Oh, wait, sorry, there is no law that requires attorney’s to have malpractice insurance.

In fact, the Illinois Supreme Court just last year addressed this issue.

“In accordance with the January 2017 amendment to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(e), beginning in 2018, a lawyer who does not maintain malpractice insurance must complete a four-hour online self-assessment course regarding the operations of their law firm or obtain malpractice insurance in order to register to practice law for the following year. “

Interesting perspective from the high court of Illinois. They were so concerned about malpractice insurance that instead of mandating it, they implemented a mandatory four-hour online self-assessment course.  LOL!  Sorry, can’t help but laugh when the uninformed Township Board members once again get out in front of their skis.

Who knew 41% of the sole proprietor attorney’s in Illinois did not maintain malpractice insurance?

“In 2016, approximately 68,000 Illinois lawyers were engaged in the active practice of law; 13,500 of which were sole proprietors. Astonishingly, 41% of these sole proprietors did not maintain malpractice insurance“. –Illinois Supreme Court

It appears the high court was so concerned with this malpractice matter that they implemented a quiz in these new rules.

“Lawyers will also receive an individualized self-assessment printout documenting the results of each module’s self-assessment quiz. No minimum score is required for the quiz.” – Illinois Supreme Court

I wonder how Melissa Victor and any other Board Member who participated in this “investigation” missed these important facts from the High Court in Illinois?

The agenda was a fraud on the public. 

A fraud for several reasons. 

  • The agenda item was “Resolution requesting all attorney’s doing business with the Algonquin Township & Hwy. Dept. must carry malpractice insurance”, however, no such resolution was ever presented to the Board. 
  • The file name of the resolution was: “Resolution on malpractice Insurance”, which it was not, so board members who received the resolution by email were misled on what the actual file was. 
  • The actual resolution title is; “Resolution Recognizing Board’s Authorities Regarding the Audit and Payment of Bills”, which clearly is not a resolution on malpractice insurance.
  • There was no notice provided to the public regarding a resolution pertaining to the board’s adoption of a resolution recognizing the Board’s authorities regarding audit and payment of bills. That is an Open Meetings act violation in our opinion, which if confirmed, is a crime. 

Further investigation has confirmed the resolution adopted in violation of the Open Meetings Act does not even contain the words “Malpractice Insurance”.

I wonder why the local paper reported a malpractice insurance resolution was passed when no such resolution was presented?

The fact there has been so much misinformation, misrepresentations, and failure to disclose key points, like the fact the law does not require malpractice insurance, it becomes clear certain board members and media is more focused on disparagement than the rule of law and reporting facts. I say that because the very resolution they did pass did not even contain the words Malpractice Insurance.  If that was the “real” issue they were so concerned about then why not have an actual resolution with those words?

The resolution simply says it won’t approve the bills of any attorney that does not have proof of Professional Liability Insurance.  It does not say that an attorney cannot represent the Township, Township Road District, Clerk, and/or Assessor without malpractice insurance, thus this whole media frenzy appears to be a case of “fake news”.

We have confirmed the attorney representing the Algonquin Township Road District does, in fact, have the very insurance this bogus resolution points to for board approval on their bills, Professional Liability Insurance.

I wonder how Melissa Victor and any other Board Member who participated in this “investigation” missed these important facts found in their own documents?

We thank those that urged us to “investigate” this matter!

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5 Comments
  • Jannie
    Posted at 12:53h, 18 June

    Confused – this professional liability insurance is NOT paying for the lawyers malpratice insurance, correct. What was referred to in bills was more on the order of (in some circles called Board & Directors insurance)?

    Very interesting

  • Cindy
    Posted at 15:09h, 18 June

    The more I read about this swirling vortex, the more I am inclined to say that they are good at lies and subterfuge; but then I would be wrong. These misfits are good at nothing.

  • Crusty
    Posted at 15:54h, 18 June

    Kirk, I think you will find that “malpractice insurance” is an informal term for what insurance companies call “professional liability insurance.” Also, can you think of any lawyers that are going to work for a client if they can’t get their bills paid? (Excluding pro bono organizations?)

    • 1mmf27
      Posted at 19:53h, 18 June

      Words matter, but maybe not to you

  • Matt Hoelter (@matthoelter)
    Posted at 11:09h, 22 June

    The Northwest Herald is a disgrace.

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