2017–2025 (Context)

• May 2017 – May 2025: Mr. Pekau served as the Village’s mayor.
• April 2025 - Mr. Pekau lost reelection; the Village later alleged he continued to retain and publish non‑public, confidential records obtained while in office.

Initial Demand and Filing (Summer 2025)

• July 23, 2025: The Village formally demanded that Mr. Pekau return Village records in his possession.
• July 29, 2025: Because Mr. Pekau refused, the Village filed its complaint initiating Case No. 2025 CH 07785 in the Cook County Chancery Division.

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Early Proceedings (August–October 2025)

• August 7, 2025: The Court granted the Village’s Emergency TRO in part - ordering Mr. Pekau to retract/remove publications of the Village’s attorney‑client privileged communications and non‑public personnel information. The Court declined, at that stage, to order return/destruction of records.
• Village Statement - 8.14.25
• September 4, 2025: Mr. Pekau filed a Section 2‑615 motion to dismiss the Complaint.

Motion‑to‑Dismiss Ruling (December 2025)

• Village Statement - 12.2.25
• December 12, 2025: The Court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order on Mr. Pekau’s Section 2‑615 motion. Among other points, the order addressed pleading sufficiency, references to retention/return of records, and elements of requested restraints.
• Village Statement - 12.17.25

Motion to Dissolve TRO and Village Update (January 2026)

• January 20, 2026: Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied Mr. Pekau’s motion to dissolve the existing TRO, allowing the lawsuit to proceed; the Village reiterated the TRO’s protection of attorney‑client privileged communications and confidential personnel data.
• Village Statement - 1.21.26

Amended Complaint & Defense Filings (January 2026)

• January 23, 2026: Mr. Pekau filed a Section 2‑619 motion to dismiss (and strike portions) of the amended complaint to Judge Moreland.

Appellate/Ancillary Motions (Spring 2026)

• April 2, 2026: Mr. Pekau filed an appeal before the Illinois First District Appellate Court challenging a March 4, 2026, order enjoining Mr. Pekau from publicly filing certain judicial records and instead requires filing under seal.
• Village Statement - 4.6.26
• April 8, 2026: Village filed a motion to dismiss Mr. Pekau’s appeal and sought sanctions.

FOIA Lawsuit

• June 8, 2026: Mr. Pekau filed a suit alleging FOIA violations related to requests for information. The Village is requesting to consolidate this new FOIA lawsuit with the Village’s existing case against Pekau before Judge Moreland, on the basis that the requested information had already been subject to a confidentiality order and injunction, preventing Pekau from using FOIA to circumvent discovery limits.

Motion‑to‑Dismiss (Amended Complaint) Hearing & Transcript (Summer 2026)

• July 1, 2026: The Village reviewed transcript excerpts from the motion‑to‑dismiss hearing.During the hearing, Mr. Pekau’s attorney appears to be advocating criminal prosecution of Mr. Pekau instead of the civil process.The Village is reviewing the transcript and will evaluate any implications within the bounds of applicable law.
• July 6, 2026: The Court issued a decision on Mr. Pekau’s motion to dismiss the Village’s amended complaint.The Court rejected Mr. Pekau’s claim that a declaratory judgment barring future disclosure of Village Confidential Information would be protected by the First Amendment; the Court further struck the then‑pled injunctive request linked to harm pleading, indicating it can be repleaded with specifics.
• Village Statement - 7/16/26