Illinois Judge Imposes $1M Sanction Over ‘Frivolous’ Claims (1)

A lawyer and his client didn’t pay by May 1 more than $1 million in sanctions imposed by an Illinois judge for filing a “frivolous” lawsuit they’re appealing, prompting the judge to approve a bond to pay the sanctions that must be posted no later than May 9.

Cook County, Ill. Judge Margaret Ann Brennan used Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 to impose sanctions totaling $1,061,623 against Marshall Spiegel and his lawyer, John Xydakis, in a case involving a condominium association. Brennan also said in her orders that Spiegel and Xydakis engaged in harassing behavior. If the bond is not ...