Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1980 [PAGE 271]

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1979]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

261

T h e university counsel has recommended that he be authorized 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. I concur.

Litigation Initiated by Leo A. Bishop

(33) A complaint has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County (Case No. 79 C H 414) by Leo A. Bishop, a disappointed applicant for employment as an electrician at the Chicago Circle campus. In addition to the University the named defendants include two University employees, Don Ward who is alleged to be "director of the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle campus" and Frank W. Houck who is alleged to be "director of the Physical Plant Department, Chicago Circle campus." T h e complaint alleges that in June of 1976 the plaintiff passed the civil service examination for electrician and was certified as one of the three top candidates to fill an existing vacancy at the University. It is alleged that the plaintiff was denied employment as an electrician on the grounds that his brother was an electrician foreman at a different campus of the University. T h e plaintiff claims that these actions violated the University's own "Policy and Rules — Nonacademic" and the Civil Service law and rules. T h e complaint seeks an order directing the University to hire the plaintiff as an electrician, to restore his seniority to the position to the time when his employment was denied, and to pay plaintiff the earnings he has lost to date due to the failure to hire him. T h e university counsel has recommended that he be authorized 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, to defend the action and to provide representations for Messrs. Ward and Houck if they so request. I concur.

Litigation Initiated by Bertha Clouse

(34) A complaint has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (Case No. 79 L 6004), by Bertha Clouse, a former patient at the University of Illinois Hospital. The defendants are three doctors on the staff of the University. The complaint alleges that on April 21, 1977, the defendants were negligent in performing a surgical procedure on the plaintiff and seeks money damages by reason thereof. T h e university counsel has recommended that he be authorized 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, to defend the action and to provide representation for the University staff doctors who are named as defendants, all in accordance with the University's risk management and self-insurance program. I concur.

Litigation Initiated by Suspended Students

(35) A complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 79 C 1147) by certain individuals who were suspended as students for two quarters for disciplinary reasons by the Student Judiciary Committee of the Chicago Circle campus Senate. T h e named defendants include the University, Dean of Students Oscar Miller, Assistant Dean of Students Weyman Edwards, Vice Chancellor Richard Ward, and Professor Maryann Albrecht, all of whom are University employees. T h e complaint alleges that the plaintiffs were deprived of civil and constitutional rights because of the disciplinary action taken against them growing out of a May 11, 1978, incident at the Chicago Circle campus involving differences be-