Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc. | Edgar County Watchdogs site
Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc. | Edgar County Watchdogs site
Yesterday, the Village of Dolton, Illinois was ordered by a court to pay attorney fees totaling $41,029.45, costs amounting to $1,494.02, and a civil penalty of $5,000.00 in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit brought by Edgar County Watchdogs.
The total amount Dolton must pay is $47,523.47.
According to Edgar County Watchdogs, the case stemmed from actions taken by former Mayor Tiffany Henyard. The organization stated: "This was all the result of former and disgrace Mayor Tiffany Henyard’s actions refusing to provide the public records we requested under the Freedom of Information Act."
The case was filed in Cook County under number 2024CH00791 and is separate from another ongoing matter involving the village.
Edgar County Watchdogs commented on the broader implications for local governments: "It is almost always cheaper on local governments to provide the requested records, than to risk it in a court battle."
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