Bakalis v. Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 504
Bakalis v. Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 504
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Defendants Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 504 (Triton College), Jenni Golembeski, Mark R. Stephens, Merrill Becker and James Durkin have moved to dismiss Count IV of plaintiff Michael J. Bakalis’ amended complaint. That count charges that the individual defendants, who at the time of the events complained of, constituted a majority of the Board of Trustees of Triton College, unjustifiably interfered with Dr. Bakalis’ contract with the Board of Trustees of Triton College. Dr. Bakalis was president of Triton College prior to his termination by the named defendants.
The issue before me with respect to this claim for interference with contractual relationship is whether defendants could have interfered with Dr. Bakalis’ contract with any third party since they represented a majority of the Board of Trustees, the governing body of the college with which Dr. Bakalis had a contract. Defendants argue that they were the ones who voted to terminate Dr. Bakalis’ contract and that there was no third party involved. The tort of interference with contract requires that plaintiff have a valid contract with a third party who breaches the contract following a defendant’s intentional and unjustifiable inducement of a breach of contract. E.g., Marc Development, Inc. v. Wolin, 845 F.Supp. 547, 554 (N.D.Ill. 1993). Defendants note two decisions, Eisenbach v. Esformes, 221 Ill.App.3d 440, 582 N.E.2d 196, 199, 163 Ill.Dec. 930, 933 (2d Dist. 1991), and Quist v. Board of Trustees of Community College Dist. No. 525, 258 111. App.3d 814, 629 N.E.2d 807, 811, 196 Ill.Dee.
Defendants in this ease are alleged to have interfered with Dr. Bakalis’ contract in order to provide employment contracts to their political allies.
. In contrast, the plaintiff in Quist apparently did not allege that the individual defendants acted to further their own private interests.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Michael J. BAKALIS v. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT NO. 504, COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS (TRITON COLLEGE) Ms. Jenni Golembeski Mr. Mark R. Stephens Mr. Merrill Becker Mr. James Durkin
- Status
- Published