Hinsdale D86 May Oust Law Firm

HINSDALE, IL – The Itasca-based Hodges Loizzi law firm became the law firm for the Lyons Township High School board last month.

Now, it could lose another client.

On Thursday, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board plans to discuss its legal representation. Officials are considering issuing a request for proposals from law firms.

In May, the new board majority hired Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz to handle the ouster of then-Superintendent Tammy Prentiss. It charged $56,187 to get that job done.

Meanwhile, Hodges Loizzi has continued to provide services on other issues. But the firm may be seen as too close to Prentiss.

In 2022, the law firm was one of the sponsors of a trip to the Dominican Republic for a statewide group that represents school administrators. A name partner of the firm took the trip, as did Prentiss and pro-Prentiss board member Terri Walker.

In 2021, members Debbie Levinthal and Peggy James clashed with Hodges Loizzi after the district relied on the firm's advice to deny their public records request for board members' emails about a 2021 contract with "antiracist" consultants.

The two later filed a complaint with the attorney general, as did Patch. The district prevailed.

At a meeting last month, member Debbie Levinthal revived her year-old request for the board to review its options for law firms.