Hinsdale D86 Fight With Law Firm Escalates

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 is stepping up the legal battle with its former law firm.

On Monday night, the school board voted unanimously to countersue Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz, a law firm with many school clients, including Hinsdale District 181.

The board authorized attorney Gary Grasso, Burr Ridge's mayor, to file the paperwork.

Board members did not indicate the basis for their lawsuit.

A month ago, Grasso warned Robbins Schwartz's lawyer in an email that he would soon file a legal malpractice lawsuit on behalf of the district.

In a statement to Patch on Tuesday, Joseph Perkoski, the firm's managing partner, said Robbins Schwartz has tried for more than a year and a half to resolve the board's refusal to pay invoices for legal services that were rendered at the board's direction.

"Despite our multiple requests that the Board identify any improper billing, the Board has repeatedly failed to identify any specific problems with our invoices or our work and continues to delay a resolution," Perkoski said. "In a sad attempt to further delay a resolution and disparage our firm, the Board has now voted to file a baseless malpractice claim."

"We remain confident in our legal position and will continue to pursue a just resolution of our claim," he said.

In September 2024, Robbins Schwartz terminated its relationship with the school board, saying the district was "unreasonably difficult" to serve. The firm did so while it was on track to make $1 million in a year, an unusually large amount from one district.

Last year, the firm sued the district, saying it failed to pay $228,000 in legal bills.

Two weeks ago, the Robbins Schwartz issue was listed on the board agenda as "Possible Action on RS Matter." Officials shelved the item while declining to spell out the acronym for the public.

On Monday's agenda, "RS" was defined. It was unclear why the board initially wanted to keep the acronym secret.

Robbins Schwartz served the district for about a year and a half, starting with the ouster of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss in 2023.