Hinsdale D86 Blasts Ex-Law Firm Over Bill

DARIEN, IL – One Hinsdale High School District 86 board member said Thursday that "there is no excuse" for the latest legal bill. Another member called the amount "appalling."

At a meeting, the board voted against paying for the $131,770 bill from Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz, the district's former law firm.

In a statement late Friday morning, Joseph Perkoski, Robbins Schwartz's managing partner, said the district authorized the firm's work and that the firm has ensured a smooth transition to protect the district's interests

He also said the board gave no warning beforehand of its intent to vote against the invoice.

"As always, our focus is to serve school districts to the highest standard, working directly at the Board’s direction in collaboration with administration for the benefit of students," Perkoski said. "The level of legal work is determined by the client, not the law firm, and in this case, Robbins Schwartz acted in full alignment with the District’s needs and directives. Although we terminated representation, we have been committed to addressing pending matters as quickly as possible throughout the transition."

Perkoski said the firm would reach out to the district to address the matter further.

At the board meeting, member Abed Rahman wanted to discuss the bill. It was the highest since the board hired Robbins Schwartz as its main firm in January.

"This is just too much," he said. "There really is no excuse for this."

Member Heather Kartsounes, a lawyer, agreed.

"I find this bill to be appalling," she said. "I have reviewed the bills from August in great detail. I struggle to understand how the invoice got this high."

She said she wanted to go back to Robbins Schwartz to have a "very serious discussion" and seek more details.

Board President Catherine Greenspon said she asked the firm in June to divide its invoices by matter and substance because the information was confusing.

"It has not happened," she said.

In some cases, Greenspon said the firm was involving three, four or five attorneys on calls, driving up costs.

"The previous firm did not bill this way," Greenspon said.

In early September, Robbins Schwartz terminated its relationship, saying District 86 was "unreasonably difficult" to serve. Over the last year, the district's legal bills have been far higher than neighboring school systems.

Kartsounes said the narrative in the community was that board members were driving up legal costs. But she said that was not the case.

Kartsounes said she has only called the firm once and that was to get an explanation on the bills, never for legal advice.

Members Rahman and Asma Akhras said they never had called Robbins Schwartz. Member Jeff Waters, for his part, said he spoke with the firm for an hour for an explanation on a proposed tax district in Clarendon Hills that District 86 opposes.

Greenspon and member Peggy James did not say how often they had spoken with the firm. Member Terri Walker was absent. In July, she was the first member to publicly express concerns with the rising legal bills.

The board voted unanimously to not pay August's bill. Members asked administrators to get more information about the costs.

Days before Robbins Schwartz terminated the relationship, the district held a special meeting to hire Oak Brook-based Engler, Callaway, Baasten & Sraga to handle "select students, special education and other matters." Those matters had been handled by Robbins Schwartz.

Recently, the district sought proposals from law firms to compare their offerings and prices.

Robbins Schwartz's relationship with the district began with a secret meeting before a new board majority took office on May 3, 2023. The firm met with a few current and incoming members.

Upon taking office, the board hired the firm as a special counsel to handle the legalities of ousting then-Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

Before the board chose Robbins Schwartz as the main law firm, members talked for months about issuing a request for proposals, comparing firms' prices and offerings.

In January, though, the board changed course and appointed Robbins Schwartz, bypassing competition. It did not explain the change.