“Eat Shit And Die”

The Illinois Administrator has filed a complaint alleging inappropriate words and actions in a county courthouse

On March 30, 2021, the Will County Courthouse’s Trial Court Administrator, Roger Holland, and Deputy Trial Court Administrator, Thaddeus Zito, received a written complaint from an employee at the Will County Courthouse which detailed allegations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior by Respondent towards women employees of the Courthouse dating back to 2016. This included, among other things, Respondent telling women who worked at the courthouse that they “smell really good,” “look good enough to eat,” as well as asking employees out on dates and offering to show women employees “a good time.”

Mr. Zito investigated the complaint and received information

In 2020 and 2021, Respondent frequently would spend time in the Will County Courthouse’s law library, often doing work for long periods of time. Respondent also regularly would speak to the employees of the law library, often in a social manner and asking them for assistance in matters such as e-filing of documents. With one employee, H.M., in addition to seeking her assistance with technological matters, Respondent would speak to her about his personal life and would leave candy at her workstation.

On one occasion, in March 2021, while H.M was walking through the Courthouse security entrance at the beginning of the day, she began talking briefly to Sheriff’s Deputy James O’Halloran. At that time, Respondent came up behind H.M. and patted her head and place his hand in her hair. When Deputy O’Halloran observed Respondent touch H.M., he immediately told Respondent, “Don’t ever let me see you do anything like that again!” Respondent then walked away.

Holland and Zito met with Respondent

During the April 26, 2021, meeting Mr. Holland and Mr. Zito asked Respondent about other allegations of inappropriate behavior, some of which Respondent admitted, though he could not recall specific dates or individuals involved. For example, Mr. Holland and Mr. Zito asked Respondent if he had ever told female opposing counsel something similar to, “Will I get a better deal for my client if I argue or flirt with you?” Respondent replied that he sometimes asked female opposing counsel, “Will begging or flirting be more effective?”

During the April 26, 2021, meeting, Respondent was asked if he had ever told female staff or attorneys at the Will County Courthouse, “Nice dress, but it would look better on my floor.” Respondent replied, “I’ve told them they have a nice dress, but it would better if it was off.”

Respondent received a warning letter

Respondent received Mr. Zito’s letter concerning his behavior in or about May 2021, and was on notice that he was prohibited from harassing, propositioning, or making personal advances towards Courthouse employees.

But, as alleged,

On or about August 25, 2021, while in the Clerk’s office of the Will County Courthouse, Respondent approached an employee, R.B., to ask for assistance in filing the appropriate documents to schedule a court appearance. When R.B. told Respondent that he needed to fill out additional forms in order to have a court date scheduled, Respondent became agitated and asked R.B. if he “has ever heard the phrase ‘eat shit and die.’” In response, R.B. again explained to Respondent that he would have to fill out additional forms and file them electronically. Respondent then stated to R.B., “Eat shit and die,” and walked away.

On or about November 9, 2021, while in the Clerk’s office of the Will County Courthouse, Respondent approached an employee, A.S., and began talking to her about his personal life. In the course of that conversation, Respondent asked A.S. if she would have dinner with him. A.S. told Respondent that she would not. Respondent asked A.S. to have dinner with him after receiving instructions from the Courthouse administrators not to do so.

On June 22, 2022, Respondent was in the Courthouse law library and approached a female law student who was serving as a judicial extern, C.S., at the Will County Courthouse. Respondent spoke to C.S. while she and other law students were working in an office connected to the law library. Respondent asked C.S. where she attended law school and she informed him she went to Loyola University Chicago School of Law. During the conversation, Respondent offered to pay C.S. to do research for him. C.S. thanked Respondent for the offer, and the conversation ended by Respondent leaving.

Later that afternoon, on June 22, 2022, Respondent returned to the office while C.S. was not there. Respondent spoke to the four other judicial externs who were present and asked about “the Loyola Law Student,” indicating C.S., and if they would pass her his business card. Respondent then made a comment to the four judicial externs to the effect of: “If I were 55 years younger, I would get with her.” One of the externs who was present at the time Respondent made this remark reported the matter to the Office of the Chief Judge.

The Chief Judge ordered that he be limited to appearing in courtrooms with clients and to do official business in the clerk’s office

As of the date of this complaint, the restrictions on Respondent’s movement within the Will County Courthouse remain in effect and he is not permitted to enter the law library, cafeteria, or other areas of the Will County Courthouse.

(Mike Frisch)