Trustees hire law firms to defend Thornton Township, Tiffany Henyard in lawsuits over meeting brawl
Share and Follow

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) — Thornton Township trustees say the two law firms they hired will represent the township and other named defendants in two lawsuits over January’s meeting brawl.

Those defendants include Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, but only in her official role.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

And with less than a month left in her tumultuous tenure, Henyard was a no-show at Tuesday night’s meeting. Many residents have already moved on.

“It’s a pivotal moment, in my opinion. I’m excited, personally. Out with the old. In with the new,” said Thornton Township resident Alicia Nichole.

The Thornton Township Board of Trustees approved the appointment of legal counsel to represent the township in federal lawsuits filed by two men who say their free speech rights were violated during January’s meeting brawl.

Henyard, who was seen racing into the melee, is also named in the lawsuits as a defendant.

“We will not be representing anybody in their personal capacity, just their official,” said Thornton Township Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman.

In the waning days of Henyard’s administration, trustees said they are still assessing the township’s finances.

“We’re still looking at everything. I don’t think we’re in really bad shape, but we don’t know exactly where we’re at,” said Thornton Township Trustee Chris Gonzalez.

Three weeks ago, State Senator Napoleon Harris was elected the new township supervisor.

Henyard had mounted a write-in campaign. She also lost last February’s Dolton mayoral primary to Dolton Trustee Jason House, who begins that job next month.

An attorney for Henyard did not immediately return ABC7’s message. She has one final meeting as township supervisor before a new board is sworn in on May 19.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Dodgers, Blue Jays benches clear in heated Game 7 World Series moment

World Series Drama: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays Sparks Explosive Game 7 Bench-Clearing Altercation

The atmosphere reached a boiling point in Game 7 of the World…
'Intentional' explosion on Harvard medical school campus probed by FBI, 2 people seen fleeing building: police

FBI Investigates Deliberate Explosion at Harvard Medical School: Suspects Flee Crime Scene

In the early hours of Saturday, an explosive incident at Harvard University’s…
Fake Yale student scandal raises alarms over academic fraud, foreign influence risks

Yale Student Impersonation Unveils Academic Fraud and International Influence Concerns

An Ivy League student has been expelled for allegedly fabricating her entire…
Chaplain reflects on 35-years of Navy service

Veteran Chaplain Shares Insights from 35 Years in the Navy

JOPLIN, Mo. (NEXSTAR) – Driven by the legacy of his father, a…
Rubio slams Hamas after video shows suspected operatives looting Gaza aid truck: ‘They’re the impediment'

Senator Rubio Condemns Hamas: Calls Out Looting of Gaza Aid Trucks as Major Obstacle

On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Hamas following the release…
Rapper Meek Mill handcuffed while cops searched for gun outside NYC club: police sources

Rapper Meek Mill Detained by Police During NYC Club Incident: Sources Report

Early Saturday morning, rapper Meek Mill found himself in handcuffs after the…
FBI agents gather outside a home in a Dearborn, Mich., neighborhood on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

Michigan Attorney Challenges FBI’s Alleged Halloween Terror Plot Claims

In Michigan, a defense attorney is challenging claims made by FBI Director…
Desperate homeowners spend $400K to save properties from the sea

Homeowners Invest $400K to Protect Coastal Homes from Rising Seas

In Buxton, North Carolina, the relentless Atlantic Ocean claimed five more oceanfront…