Tressler Law LLP
Tressler LLP Charge the Village Millions & Donates Heavily to Mayor Claar and His Regime


April 24, 2011


By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter

rhonda@thenumbercrunchers-bolingbrook.com



Over the weekend, we started our investigation of Tressler LLP, and their relationship with the Village of Bolingbrook and the various other taxing bodies within the boundaries of Bolingbrook.


 

We pulled the Village Treasurers Report to determine how much money the Village paid out to Tressler LLP for fiscal years 2002 thru 2010.


 

In addition, we used the internet to visit the Illinois State Board of Election's website.  The site tracks campaign contributions made to Illinois candidates.  We wanted to determine how much money Tressler contributed to the various elected officials in Bolingbrook.


 

The results are stunning.


 

According to the Village of Bolingbrook's Treasurers Report, the total amount expended to Tressler LLP (formerly known as Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess (2005-2010)/ Moss & Bloomberg, LTD (before 2005)) was $6.8 million.


CLICK HERE TO VIEW GRAPH 

 

That's right!  Tressler LLP earned approximately $6.8 million from the Village of Bolingbrook in fiscal years 2002 thru 2010.


 

The next question:  Did Tressler LLP make any campaign contributions to any elected official in Bolingbrook?


 

The answer is YES. 

 

Tressler donated the following-

  • Mayor Claar, Village - $60k
  • First Party, all gvmtl entities - $1k
  • Steven Quigley, VVSD - $750
  • William Mayer, DuPage Township - $3,500


 

As you can see, Tressler not only rake in the big bucks providing legal services to 4 of the 5 taxing bodies in Bolingbrook.  They also donate heavily to the campaigns of several elected officials in Bolingbrook.

 

So who do Tressler really serve?  The politician or the taxpayer?

 

When Tressler sent us that threatening letter, who were they serving?  The politician or the taxpayer?

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Is it possible there's a conflict of interest with Tressler LLP providing legal services to 4 of the 5 taxing bodies in Bolingbrook?

 

For example, how can Tressler negotiate for Valley View Schools if they are also providing legal services to the Village of Bolingbrook? 

 

 

ONGOING INVESTIGATION

We now know how much Tressler earned from the Village (appx. $6.8 million, 2002-2010).  But how much have they earned providing services to the 3 other taxing bodies? 

 

We have submitted a FOIA request to the following taxing bodies in Bolingbrook, requesting the total amount paid to Tressler (as reflected in their Treasurers Report) for fiscal years 2002 thru 2010.

 

  • Valley View School District 365U
  • Fountaindale Public Library
  • Bolingbrook Park District

 

 

We will keep you posted.

 

 

FINAL WORDS

As concerned residents, it's absolutely important that we follow 4 important rules.

 

  1. Pay close attention to what our elected officials are doing.
  2. Monitor how they spend our tax dollars.
  3. Fiercely fight for the freedom of speech.
  4. VOTE

 

If Mayor Claar and his Regime had their wish, they would shut this site down!  I strongly believe Tressler's letter was the first shot in doing just that.  But we will not be intimidated.

 

As long as we have a core group of residents that strongly support our cause,  we will continue our mission.

 

 

Our Mission:  To pull the curtains back.  We want to see what Bolingbrook government is doing up close and personal. 

 

The only way to know if our local leaders are being fiscally responsible is to "follow the money".  It's that simple.

 

Our Oath:  We swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God.

 

 

CLICK TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS

 

Did Mayor Claar's Regime Fire the First Shot in Trying to Intimidate The Number Crunchers?

April 22, 2011


By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter

rhonda@thenumbercrunchers-bolingbrook.com



This afternoon, Tressler Law firm contacted us (via email) to demand that we remove Fountaindale Library's logo from our site, and if we failed to do so, they would seek legal remedies.


 

My first thought upon reading the letter was - what logo?  We are not in the profit making business.  The sole purpose of the site is to shine a light on government finance. 


 

Plus, Fountaindale Library is owned by the taxpayers.


 

It took several minutes to absorb the letter.  After all, who wants to be contacted by an attorney, unless it's for an inheritance of some sort.


 

Immediately, I understood exactly what was happening, and considered the letter to be a form of intimidation.


 

Can you believe, Fountaindale Library hired Tressler Law Firm to send a notice demanding that we never use their logo on the community website, period?


 

Consider Tressler LP and it's relationship with Mayor Claar, the Village, and the various governmental entities (within Bolingbrook) that employ Tressler attorneys.  They are raking in big bucks.  All funded with taxpayer dollars.


 

Is it possible Mayor Claar and his regime have fired the first shot in an attempt to intimidate The Number Crunchers - Bolingbrook?



 

Here's some background information:


 

1.  Tressler LP are the attorneys for -

  • The Village of Bolingbrook
  • Valley View School District
  • Bolingbrook Park District
  • Fountaindale Public Library

 

2.  The Village Attorney, Jim Boan is a partner at Tressler LP.

 

3.  Tressler LP donates heavily to Mayor Claar, and The First Party's campaign.

 

 

 

We will conduct an official investigation into Tressler LP, the amount of money they donate to Mayor Claar's (incl. the First Party) campaign, and the tens of thousands in charges to the various governmental entities within Bolingbrook.

 

Personally, I will never understand what Tressler LP or Fountaindale Public Library was trying to accomplish by sending the letter.  As stated many times, the sole purpose of The Number Crunchers is to shine a bright light on government finances and activity. 

 

We work for the people, not the politicians, and will not be intimidated.

 

 

Please consider 3 important questions.

 

  1. Do you consider the letter to be a form of intimidation?
  2. Can a governmental entity forbid a taxpayer from using it's name, logo or picture (for informational purposes only)?
  3. Does Fountaindale Public Library really have a registered trademark logo?

 

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LETTER

 

CLICK HERE TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS

 

 

Multiple Media Outlets Report - Tressler's Legal Practice Under Scrutiny in The Village of Oak Lawn

 


May 8, 2011


By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter

rhonda@thenumbercrunchers-bolingbrook.com



Tressler LLP provide legal services to 4 of the 5 primary taxing bodies in the Village of Bolingbrook costing taxpayers millions every year.


Shocking news!  Did you know, Tressler also provides legal services to the Village of Oak Lawn?  And major controversy is brewing.


While Oak Lawn Mayor, Dave Heilmann strongly endorse and support Tressler, LLP, Oak Lawn's Village board have some major concerns.


In fact, the board hired an independent attorney by the name of Burt Odelson to investigate Tressler's billing practices. 


Here's some of the shocking claims in Odelson's report:

 

  • Village taxpayers paid $3.5 million in legal fees during the 4 years that Tressler & Chiamanti was handling the Village's legal business, between October 2005 - September 2009.

 

  • Odelson estimates the Village may have sustained economic damages between $8-10 million.

 

  • Attempts to hide legal billings from Village officials.

 

  • Cover ups of legal blunders.

 

 

This explosive story was published by 2 separate media outlets.  Click on to each link below to read more of the story, and view Odelson's actual report.

 

OAKLAWN PATCH

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE


 

 

 


IMPLICATIONS FOR THE VILLAGE OF BOLINGBROOK

 

  • Since Mayor Claar controls all 5 boards (incl. the Village), and Tressler's one of their major campaign donors (over $61k), who's monitoring  Tressler's legal services?  What if Bolingbrook's suffering from the same type of abuse as Oak Lawn?

 

 

  • Is it possible Mayor Claar and his Regime are ratcheting up those legal charges from Tressler to ensure hefty campaign contributions?

 

  • How can this be legal?

 

  • Does any of the 5 primary governmental entites have an independent firm auditing their attorney bills?

 

  • Why did the Bolingbrook Patch fail to report this?  Oak Lawn Patch just recently published an excellent article on this very topic.

 

  • Is it possible there's a media black-out when it comes to the local media reporting on Claar and his Regime?

 

 

 

 

CLICK TO JOIN THE DEBATE

Tressler's Legal Fees Cost Taxpayers a Whopping $37k in Just 3 months

 

"...Mayor Claar has a 5 to 2 advantage on the  Board...Tressler's donated more than $60k to their campaign...will the board do what's right and replace Tressler with a firm that's cheaper and more experienced in the area of school law?"


May 11, 2011


By Rhonda Reed-Slaughter

rhonda@thenumbercrunchers-bolingbrook.com



Tressler, LLP and their massive legal fees have been a "hot button" topic for several weeks now.


Unfortunately, we've become all too familiar with their level of influence in the Village, and the millions of dollars they are raking in from the Village, alone.


It's now time to expand our investigation to include other taxing bodies (in Bolingbrook). This article will focus exclusively on Valley View School district.


Our research indicate, Tressler racked up more than $1.5 million in 9 years.


We closely analyzed Tressler's legal fees for a 3 month period (January 1 - March 31, 2011), and was surprised at what we discovered. 



OUR FINDINGS

Of the $36k in legal fees for the 3 month period, approximately 20% ($7k) of those charges were for FOIA Issues and Board Meetings.



 

Summary:

 

  1. FOIA ISSUES - appx. 12.8 hours @ $200/hr.
  2. BOARD MEETINGS - appx. 22.4 hours @ $200/hr.

 

Now consider both cost on an annual basis - approximately $30k.

 

 

FOIA ISSUES

The District has a FOIA Officer (Larry Randa) trained and in place to handle all FOIA issues.  If the District is truly committed to transparency, and saving taxpayers money, why have the $200/hour attorney?

 

 

BOARD MEETINGS

Valley View holds 2 board meetings per month.  Tressler's attorney (Jeff Alperin) is present at every meeting with a seat on the podium with the 7 school board members, administrators and Superintendent.  

 

According to the summary of charges, it appears, Tressler averages 7 hrs/mth in board meeting activity.  That's appx. $1400 per month. 

 

 

WHAT WILL THE SCHOOL BOARD DO?

The Valley View school board is a 7 member board, controlled by Mayor Claar -5 to 2.  All 5 are members of Claar's First Party, and 4 recently ran on the Friends of Valley View ticket.

 

Claar Operatives:

  • Steve Quigley, President
  • Rick Gougis, Vice President
  • Leo Venegas, Secretary
  • Ron Bull
  • Chrystal Hansen

 

As previously reported, Tressler's donated $60k to Mayor Claar's campaign, and $750 to Board President, Steve Quigley. 

 

With a 5 to 2 advantage on the Board, will the school board ever consider replacing Tressler, LLP with a firm that's cheaper and more experienced in School Law?

 

Not likely.

 

 

CLICK TO JOIN THE DEBATE

 

 

Source:  VVSD Treasurers Report, Copy of Tressler's Attorney bills provided by Valley View School District via FOIA request.