December 6, 2017
A proposed deal that would cost the city of Waukegan $42,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by a local activist remains in limbo.
The
lawsuit filed by Waukegan resident Ralph Peterson — first in federal
court in June and then in Lake County court a week ago — argues that the
city violated his First Amendment rights at three different City
Council meetings.
The incidents include an August 2015 meeting when he was
told not to take photos during the meeting; a December 2015 incident
when he was escorted out of the meeting after bringing up a former
Waukegan police chief in the context of the now-disgraced former Fox
Lake Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz; and a March 2016 meeting when he was
told he couldn't speak during the public-comment portion because
someone else had put his name on a list of those wishing to speak.
Peterson
originally demanded $125,000 to drop the lawsuit but has said since
then he's willing to accept the $42,500, which first came before the
Waukegan City Council a month ago but was tabled and then tabled again
later that month.