Lisa Madigan Wins a Victory

By Kevin Robinson in News on Mar 27, 2008 1:00PM

A Cook County judge removed a private law firm that has been representing the Department of Children and Family Services in a criminal case involving a friend of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan had asked the court to remove the firm of Meckler, Bulger and Tilson in the case of Anita Mahajan, who is accused of billing the state for $2 million worth of drug testing that was never performed. Mahajan and her husband were personal friends of Blagojevich and his wife. Besides being political supporters of the governor, they also did $113,000 worth of real estate business in 2006 with Patti Blagojevich, who is also a real estate agent.

Madigan argued that only her office has the authority to represent the state in court, or to hire those services out. "This order ensures that the interests of the people of the state of Illinois are protected," Madigan spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler told the Tribune. Bruce Meckler, head of the law firm, said that they didn't fight Madigan's efforts. "We’re fine with the judge's ruling," he said, adding that they had no plans to continue representing the state.

Image via Lisa Madigan