Friday, November 20, 2009 East Central Illinois

Some defendants tentatively agree to settle with White case victim

By: Amy F. Reiter

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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

URBANA – The Urbana school district and several of its current and former employees have "tentatively agreed to settle their claims" with one of the victims of Jon White, the former Urbana teacher convicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to a motion for extension filed in federal court Thursday.

The suit was filed by Champaign attorney Ellyn Bullock on July 25 on behalf of an Urbana child referred to as Jane Doe-2 and her mother, Julie Doe-2. Among the suit's allegations was that several then-staff knew of or suspected White's improprieties and failed to report them to the Department of Children and Family Services.

The suit named former Superintendent Gene Amberg, former Principal Janice Bradley, former Human Resources Director Carmelita Thomas, former after-school supervisor Rhiannon Ross, after-school worker and lunchroom supervisor Lamar Walker and teacher Kay Grabow.

Bullock said Monday that her clients and the Urbana schools and employees had reached a tentative agreement – she would not provide any numbers – but that the "settlement is still kind of up in the air."

Since Jane Doe-2 is a minor, Bullock said the court is establishing that Doe's mother can negotiate in her place.

The motion to extend was filed Thursday by Bullock and Rachel Lutner, a Chicago attorney representing the Urbana schools and employees. It stated that the then-Urbana schools employees – as well as the district itself – had "entered into settlement negotiations" and wanted to extend the deadline by 60 days. The Urbana defendants now have until Nov. 29 to file responses.

Bullock said Monday that "because we're working on something, I've agreed they don't have to answer as of today."

Lutner could not be reached for comment on Monday afternoon. Urbana spokesman Mark Schultz referred questions to Lutner's colleague, Collinsville attorney Dennis Weedman, who has also worked on White-related matters on behalf of Urbana schools.

Weedman and Champaign lawyer Sheryl Fitzjarrald, who represents Bradley, did not return messages left Monday afternoon.

Defendants in the civil suit also include several current and former administrators from McLean County Unit No. 5, where White taught prior to his position in Urbana.

On Monday, all of the Normal-related defendants filed motions to dismiss the suit. A memorandum filed Monday afternoon on behalf of the Normal school district stated that parts of the suit were not valid because the Normal district did not have any authority over what happens in an Urbana district building while White was an Urbana employee.

White is also named in the civil suit, but is not due to respond until Oct. 8.

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