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March 28, 2024

Confirmed, James Kelly has a real problem, as does his client Bob Miller – Private practice billing to Public Road District

By Kirk Allen & John Kraft

On June 27, 2018

McHenry Co. (ECWd) –

We have seen a lot of shady stuff in our time but I think this one may well make the bucket list as an all-time stupid move.

We exposed Bob Miller’s position as President of the Northern Illinois Township Highway Commissioners Association (NITHCA) in this article. That same article outlined that James Kelly’s law firm was the agent of record, as confirmed with this document.

This article exposed billing for a PowerPoint presentation that was believed to be used for a meeting with the NITHCA.  To date, no one can produce the presentation, even though Kelly charged for its drafting and preview.

Stupid is as Stupid Does (Forest Gump)

  • Bob Miller operated this private business from the Township Road District office.
  • Bob Miller had membership dues being sent to the Township Road District office for this private business.
  • James Kelly, Road District attorney at the time, his law firm was agent of record for this private business operating out of a public facility.
  • James Kelly billed the Township Road District 5.5 hours for attending a meeting with highway Commissioners.

About now the defenders are trying to justify why none of this is a big deal, all while ignoring the fact it is illegal for an elected official to run a private business out of his elected office and use public funds to pay for his private business attorney.

Let’s continue:

That billing was dated June 5, 2015.  The articles of incorporation records reflect an incorporation date of June 17, 2015.  It would appear, based on the timeline, Kelly may well have been preparing the corporate records for Miller.  The problem comes with the fact he billed a public body for services that had nothing to do with Algonquin Township Road District Business.  Submitting invoices to public bodies for services performed on behalf of a private business is neither legal or ethical.  In fact, most would say it’s downright dishonest and probably a crime.  How would you feel to get a legal bill for another business’s legal work?

Miller didn’t seem to mind! 

Miller submitted the bill for payment even though he knew it was for his private business.  Kelly knew as well that this was not a Road District bill as he specifically identified that it was for the private business.  Never mind the fact he knew his firm was the agent of record for this private business. The bill was paid with taxpayer funds on June 6, 2015.

This is an abuse of the taxpayer that cannot be ignored. 

Again, I am sure we still have people that are going to try to make excuses and insinuate that it was just an honest mistake.

Once was not enough! 

This billing came the following month and it too was submitted by Bob Miller for payment from the taxpayer’s treasury.  Miller knew this was not a Road District expenditure but rather an expense for legal work for his own business.  The bill was paid with taxpayer funds on July 8, 2015.

James Kelly knows this is not a proper expense for the Road District as it too clearly identified that it was for matters related to the private business of which his firm was the agent of record for NITHCA.

Options?

  • Criminal Prosecution – Will require a State’s Attorney that operates on the offensive instead of searching for defenses. 
  • Civil Suit to recover false claims presented by the Attorney.  
  • ARDC Complaint – Billing one client for another clients work is unethical and violates the canons the attorney is bound by. 
  • Attend the Township meetings and demand this attorney be fired. 

We don’t believe the operation of a private business out of a public office and then charging the taxpayers for legal services for this private business is something that can be justified away.  We believe Bob Miller must be held accountable for this outrageous violation of our laws.

We also don’t believe an attorney can legally charge one client for the work performed on behalf of another client.  In this case, the matter is even worse as the attorney knows such a bill should have never been charged to a public body. This is an abuse to the taxpayers that must not be ignored by the State’s Attorney as well as the ARDC.

June 5- 2015 Kelly bill (002)
July 2, 2015 Kelly bill

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4 Comments
  • A. Lincoln
    Posted at 09:23h, 27 June

    RULE 8.4: MISCONDUCT
    It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to:
          (a) violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so, or do so through the acts of another.
          (b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.
          (c) engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
          (d) engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
          (e) state or imply an ability to influence improperly a government agency or official or to achieve results by means that violate the Rules of Professional Conduct or other law.

    http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VIII/default_NEW.asp

    The McHenry County States Attorney appears disinclined to commence a civil and/or criminal prosecution involving these various actors in all these Watchdog articles. All it takes is for one taxpaying resident of the district (who will have standing) to file a written complaint with the ARDC alleging the facts contained in this article. I suspect The Watchdogs would supply any other needed and necessary information to aid that resident taxpayer.

  • Dave
    Posted at 10:38h, 27 June

    I am from down state so I have no ties to this injustice. I my not be the smartest guy in the world but there is no way that any one could spin anything that has been revealed on these guys.. This is what is wrong with federal,state and local government. This guy and all involved should be investigated. Come on State Attorney DO YOUR JOB!!!!

  • Jbw
    Posted at 17:57h, 27 June

    All illinois townships should be eliminated. Most are cess pools of corruption

  • Watching Townships
    Posted at 19:36h, 27 June

    As a downstate Township official I’m disgusted that some unethical township officials give the rest of us a bad name. Our township runs nothing like this. These guys need to be locked up in the same cell with Hillary & Bill and placed in the swamp with the rats, alligators, and pythons. Someone please make the call to the ARDC! It will never stop until you do.

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