Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
23/08/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 24/08/2024 00:40
Willkie Secures Win for Educators for Excellence
Willkie Secures Win for Educators for Excellence
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August 23, 2024
Willkie secured the dismissal, on the merits, of federal and state law claims brought against Educators for Excellence ("E4E") by the Chicago Teachers Union ("CTU") and a union member. Plaintiffs claimed that E4E, a pro-union non-profit founded by public school teachers focused on addressing educational inequity and supporting teachers, violated the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act ("LMRDA") and Illinois state law by interfering in a recent union election. This was the second litigation filed by the CTU in spring 2022 with election interference allegations that sought to challenge views differing from that of the union. Since the filing of the case against E4E in May 2022, the non-profit has disputed the CTU's allegations, which run contrary to E4E's longstanding beliefs in a democratic discourse in which excellence in the classroom is prioritized over politics.
On August 21, Judge Edmond E. Chang of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice. Judge Chang found that plaintiffs had no private cause of action for the pre-election relief they sought in their complaint nor any implied cause of action under LMRDA. Judge Chang likewise concluded that plaintiffs' state law claims failed because they were not supported by state law authority and ultimately rested on their faulty federal claims. E4E is thrilled with the Court's decision to dismiss the amended complaint with prejudice, which will allow the non-profit to focus on supporting teachers and policies that help students thrive and quash the CTU's attempts to stifle educator voices.
The Willkie litigation team was led by partner Craig C. Martin and included partner Laura Norris, associates Sara Ohlman and Olivia Varnado, paralegal Mia DiSilvestro, and former Willkie associate Mengjie Zou.
On August 21, Judge Edmond E. Chang of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed the amended complaint with prejudice. Judge Chang found that plaintiffs had no private cause of action for the pre-election relief they sought in their complaint nor any implied cause of action under LMRDA. Judge Chang likewise concluded that plaintiffs' state law claims failed because they were not supported by state law authority and ultimately rested on their faulty federal claims. E4E is thrilled with the Court's decision to dismiss the amended complaint with prejudice, which will allow the non-profit to focus on supporting teachers and policies that help students thrive and quash the CTU's attempts to stifle educator voices.
The Willkie litigation team was led by partner Craig C. Martin and included partner Laura Norris, associates Sara Ohlman and Olivia Varnado, paralegal Mia DiSilvestro, and former Willkie associate Mengjie Zou.