Hinsdale D86 Spiking Legal Bills Continue

HINSDALE, IL – The law firm that ended its relationship with Hinsdale High School District 86 in early September has issued its highest monthly bill yet.

For August, Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz charged the district $131,770 for its services.

In late January, the district hired Robbins Schwartz as its main law firm. Since February, the firm's bills have totaled $551,547, averaging $78,792 a month.

At the current rate, the district's legal bills would reach $945,000 over a year. That works out to $245 per student.

August's legal bill was comparable to Elmhurst School District 205's legal costs for the last budget year – $174,471, or $21 per student. District 205 has double the Hinsdale district's enrollment.

Last budget year, Lyons Township High School's legal bills totaled $76 per student. Hinsdale School District 181, which also uses Robbins Schwartz, paid legal bills totaling $53 per student.

At a July school board meeting, member Terri Walker raised the red flag over legal bills, but her colleagues defended the costs.

However, on Sept. 9, Robbins Schwartz notified that it was terminating its relationship, saying District 86 was "unreasonably difficult" to serve.

That was days after 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.

Now, the district is seeking proposals from law firms to compare their offerings and prices. The board plans to discuss the issue at its meeting Thursday.

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.