Illinois Horsemen's Lawsuit Gets Settled

A voluntary settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by 22 members of the Illinois Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association against the organization's leadership. 

The Circuit Court of Madison County granted final approval to the settlement April 22. A letter sent to IHPBA executives from attorney Wayne Skigen noted there was no determination by the court of any mismanagement, conflict of interest, misuse of funds, or any other form of wrongdoing, breach of fiduciary responsibility, or mismanagement by association executives.

Lanny Brooks, executive director of the IHBPA and president John Wainwright were named in a lawsuit filed last Aug. 11 that alleged Brooks has been operating the Southern Illinois horsemen's group largely in secret and has ignored multiple requests by members to review IHBPA financial records. 

"In fact, the IHBPA was in no way forced to settle; rather, after good faith negotiations between the parties, which culminated in the plaintiffs agreeing to dismiss and release their claims against the defendants in exchange for the IHBPA agreeing to advance the timing of the 2016 elections," Skigen said.

Andrew Calloway, one of the horsemen who filed the lawsuit, said no determination of inappropriate management was found because the court never actually heard testimony or deliberated on the allegations.

"Plantiffs agreed to an early election monitored by an independent third party monitor only to avoid a lengthy and costly court battle that would have possibly bankrupted the organization," he said. "Brooks, it seems, would spend every penny to save himself and keep the members from seeing the truth."

Skigen agreed the court never ruled on the allegations because the case never progressed to that point.

"Anybody can file a lawsuit, but it doesn't mean any of the allegations were true," he said May 6. "And as my clients know, there was no foundation to any of them. As far as we are concerned, the lawsuit has been resolved. The election will happen as scheduled and after the neutral monitor counts the votes then the lawsuit is dismissed per the terms of the agreement."

The IHPA will hold its election June 11.