Lawsuit against Nygren goes forward

In a case that had fallen off the radar screen of many watchers, Judge Michael T. Caldwell held a hearing today in the case of Robert Schlenkert v. Sheriff Keith Nygren et al. Schlenkert is a deputy with the McHenry County Sheriff's Department who was forced to jump through a lot of hoops to get his job back. He did finally get his job back after beating Nygren in the Appellate Court in Elgin in a lightning-fast decision by the three judges. Then he had to fight and fight to get Nygren to cut the check for his back wages.

This case was filed on February 23, 2009. That's - let's see - 2 1/2 years ago. The defendant's in the case are Sheriff Keith Nygren, the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, the County of McHenry, and the five members of the Sheriff's Department Merit Commission: Janelle Crowley, Gloria Urch, William Mack, Brian Goode, Patrick J. McAndrews. The Merit Commission, as a public body, was apparently discharged as a defendant. The law firm for the defendants is Ottesen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert & DiNolfo, Ltd., of Naperville. (The Sheriff's Department sure likes mailing legal fees out of the County.)

Today was the 17th court date in this case. The next court date is September 22, 9:00AM in Courtroom 204.

If you'd like to know more about the five appointed members of the Merit Commission, go to www.mchenrysheriff.org and scroll down to Merit Commission. There you can read a long bio about Janelle Crowley, who is the HR Director for the City of Woodstock and chairperson of the Merit Commission. You can also read bios for Gloria Urch and Patrick McAndrews.

Like to know all about Brian Goode and William Mack? Nothing is disclosed about them, except that they were appointed to the Merit Commission on August 20, 2002. Now what could be the reason that Sheriff Nygren doesn't want voters or residents to know anything about Goode or Mack?

Who are Mr. Goode and Mr. Mack?