O'Dekirk's Lawsuit Has No Merit, Should Have Never Been Filed: Lawyer

JOLIET, IL — Plainfield attorney John Schrock issued a statement on Thursday, one day after the ousted two-term mayor of Joliet filed a federal lawsuit accusing former Joliet Councilman Jim McFarland, now-retired Police Chief Al Roechner, former Herald-News editor Joseph Hosey and a host of others of orchestrating a conspiracy to bring false criminal charges of intimidation against Bob O'Dekirk to destroy his reputation and get him ousted from elected office.

In March, Schrock filed a civil lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse against O'Dekirk and Joliet's inspector general, attorney Sean Connolly, in connection with an investigation the city of Joliet conducted in regard to the Don Dickinson scandal that came to light in November 2020.

"The Complaint filed in Federal Court by Robert O'Dekirk is another failure in a long line of failures by the former mayor to accept responsibility for his own controversial, divisive, and ultimately unpopular actions as the Mayor of Joliet," Schrock informed Joliet Patch on Thursday in a statement he released on behalf of McFarland.

"Terry D'Arcy was a better choice for Mayor as determined by the citizens of Joliet and Mr. O'Dekirk should move on," Schrock pointed out. "The Complaint filed in Federal Court is legally and factually flawed in many respects, especially with respect to the claim being made against Mr. McFarland. Being politically opposed to Mr. O'Dekirk may be a crime in the former Mayor's eyes, but it is not a crime under the law nor can it be the subject matter of a Federal RICO action."

Schrock also emphasized that "James McFarland was no longer involved with the City of Joliet when the acts alleged in the Complaint occurred. The complaint alleges, and the former Mayor has also repeatedly asserted, that the culprit in the opposition to the former mayor's administration was Don Dickinson. Don Dickinson is not named as a Defendant in the complaint which raises many questions. The Complaint has no merit and it should have never been filed."

Meanwhile, Wednesday's Joliet Patch exclusive drew a ton of reader comments. Here's a small sampling of them:

"Bob you have a lot of support. No one likes a corrupt police chief or deputy chief. When people like Dennis attack you knowing all of his baggage he has especially his special friends JJC and the traffic unit. This is a man that shouldn't throw stones."

"This is so ridiculous. He thinks he lost his race (by a landslide) over a story that most people never read? They did see him on national news slamming a young person against a trailer. They might remember the rotating door of police chiefs and city managers. This is a waste of the Patch's time to even cover, Move on, sore loser."

"What a dirt bag and what a slap in the face to the taxpayers who put this chicago thug in. I knew this guy was coming back in vengeance after losing that election that bad. Why cant he just ride out into the sunset."

"Glad to see this lawsuit…those insidious so-called public servants sat around and came up with this sickening plan!! They should have to pay!!"

"Federal RICO lawsuit, these guys can all plan on a 50k bill for Federal attorney. In RICO you cannot plead the 5th, RICO is considered [Mob action'"

"I can already smell the money… As always , the true winners are the lawyers. What are the current rates for billable hours from this fine profession - ? that’s why they call it’s the practice of law.. The world would be a better place without them .."

"There is one weak link in this group that is going to flip on the others in return for immunity."

Related Joliet Patch story:

Ex-Joliet Mayor Files Federal Suit: Roechner, Reid Among 8 Defendants