Former Special Prosecutor, McHenry County State's Attorney Settle Suits

WOODSTOCK, Ill. (CBS) -- A former special prosecutor is settling a lawsuit that accused him of trying the McHenry County state's attorney on phony charges.

As WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports, Louis Bianchi and some of his aides were tried on two separate sets of charges brought by former special prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports

Bianchi and his co-defendants were acquitted in both cases because a judge said the charges were without merit.

Now, the Tribune reports that without admitting wrongdoing, Tonigan is paying $157,500 to settle the civil lawsuit Bianchi and his co-defendants filed earlier this year.

The lawsuit against McQueen is still pending.

A legal expert describes it as beyond rare for a prosecutor to agree to this kind of settlement, since normally, they have absolute immunity.

In:
• McHenry County
• Louis Bianchi
• Regine Schlesinger