Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 210]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

200

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 21

University employment and also requesting reinstatement. T h e defendants are the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and the "University of Illinois Civil Service Merit Board." The plaintiff is a former University employee who was discharged pursuant to the decision and order of the University Civil Service Merit Board as of November 8, 1978, for failure to return to work after expiration of a leave of absence on May 3 1 , 1977. T h e complaint alleges that in the Merit Board proceedings the plaintiff was prevented from presenting a complete and accurate defense because her attorney's request for a continuance was denied, that the decision was based on improper evidence, that the Merit Board committed an arbitrary and capricious abuse of discretion, that the Merit Board's decision was unsupported by substantial evidence, and that the plaintiff's constitutional guarantee of due process was infringed. Pursuant to previous delegations by the Board of Trustees, the university counsel has been given interim authorization to take such steps as are necessary or appropriate, including the employment of special counsel, to protect the interests of the University in this matter and to defend the action. T h e university counsel has recommended that such authorization be ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects. I concur.

The student advisory vote was: Aye, Miss Kooper, Mr. Sobotka, Mr. Watson; no, none. On motion of Mr. Neal, this recommendation was approved by the following vote: Aye, Dr. Donoghue, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Lenz, Mr. Neal, Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Stone, Mr. Velasquez; no, none; absent, Governor Thompson.

Litigation Initiated by Allen Ellis

(40) A complaint has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook C o u n t y ( C a s e No. 79L 534) by Allen Ellis, a minor, by his mother and next friend in which the "University of Illinois Hospital, a not-for-profit corporation" is named as the defendant. The complaint seeks damages in the amount of $100,000 for injuries to the plaintiff's leg which are alleged to have been incurred in December of 1976 or January of 1977 when the plaintiff was an incubator baby at the University of Illinois Hospital. Pursuant to previous delegations by the Board of Trustees, the university counsel has been given interim authorization to take such steps as are necessary or appropriate, including the employment of special counsel, to protect the interests of the University and defend this matter. T h e university counsel has recommended that such authorization be ratified, approved, and confirmed in all respects. I concur. T h e student advisory vote w a s : Aye, Miss Kooper, M r . Sobotka, M r . Watson; no, none.

On motion of Mr. Stone, this recommendation was approved by the following vote: Aye, Dr. Donoghue, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Lenz, Mr. Neal, Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Stone, Mr. Velasquez; no, none; absent, Governor Thompson.

Litigation Initiated by Desiree McTeer

(41) A complaint has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County (Case No. 79L 1164) by Desiree McTeer based on alleged negligence which occurred in connection with a blood transfusion on or about January 25, 1977, in the emergency