Following the November 9, 2015 Court decision agreeing that the City of Monroe violated the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, Hawks Quindel successfully negotiated a settlement of Alan Eckstein’s case with all Defendants, including the City of Monroe and four individual alderpersons. Under that agreement, the Defendants will pay Mr. Eckstein $160,000. In addition, the individual alders will plead no contest to the alleged violations of the statute, and each will pay fines and court costs of $200.00. In September 2013, the City voted to terminate Mr. Eckstein, its former Utilities Director, at a Salary and Personnel Committee meeting, but failed to give proper notice to the public or the media that it might discuss possible discipline of Eckstein. The November 12, 2015 blog posting: "Court Grants Summary Judgment to Hawks Quindel Client in Wisconsin Open Meetings Case" provides additional detail. The Court’s order approving the settlement can be found here: Stipulation, Findings and Order. Attorneys Aaron Halstead and Amanda Kuklinski represent Mr. Eckstein. Read more in the Wisconsin State Journal article “Fired Monroe Utilities Director to be Paid $160,000 to Settle Meetings Case”
Hawks Quindel Client to be Paid $160,000 to Settle Open Meetings Case