Hinsdale D86 Official Breaks Silence On Spiking Legal Bills

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member on Thursday broke the long silence at meetings on the district's skyrocketing legal costs.

The board had planned to vote on the $63,000 in May legal bills as part of a package of items that are seen as non-controversial.

But member Terri Walker pulled the item to allow for a discussion. She said she was concerned about the dramatically rising bills.

"While I recognize that we have had a number of issues to be dealt with, perhaps there is a way that we can be a little more prudent in our approach because this is money that can be used directly at improving student outcomes," she said.

Member Heather Kartsounes, a lawyer, said she agreed with Walker about being mindful of legal bills. But she said the board should also take into account what's causing the increases.

Board President Catherine Greenspon said she, too, agreed with Walker. At the same time, she said it was important to note the board had one law firm, Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz, handling all the district's legal business, rather than multiple firms.

In January, the board hired Robbins Schwartz to replace Itasca-based Hodges Loizzi. Other law firms have also gotten small fractions of the district's legal business.

Over the last four months, Robbins Schwartz's bills have averaged $68,885 a month. That is twice the monthly average of legal bills in the budget year that ended in June 2023.

District 86's legal bills are far higher than those in neighboring districts.

For the budget year ending June 30, Elmhurst School District 205, which has more than twice District 86's enrollment, paid $174,471 in legal bills.

At Thursday's meeting, District 86's board unanimously approved the $63,000 in legal bills.