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Taxpayers Pay $442,000 in IDOT Lawsuit Settlement
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois taxpayers are paying $442,000 to 16 plaintiffs in a lawsuit that alleged they were unfairly fired from the state Department of Transportation.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported the settlement figure Friday, citing newly released settlement agreements.

The 16 people were fired in 2004 during the administration of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The plaintiffs argued the firings were political and sued former Blagojevich aides. They agreed to the settlements after the state lost a federal wrongful-termination lawsuit but before a court set damages.

The Springfield newspaper reports that the lump-sum payments might be less than what the plaintiffs will get in pension benefits and raises that also are part of the agreements.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
04 29 11 by Newsroom
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