State Sen. Michael Hastings could end up paying the legal fees of political opponents he alleges led a smear campaign against him ahead of his Nov. 8, 2022 election.
The judge considering Hastings’ lawsuit will hear an appeal for sanctions against the Frankfort Democrat, who alleged Republican political officials including Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz sent out obscene text messages to voters to influence the results of the election.
Hastings filed the lawsuit beyond the statute of limitations for claims including defamation and civil conspiracy, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carrie Hamilton found. She dismissed the original complaint but allowed Hastings to amend certain claims, according to her motion filed Oct. 22.
The court will only be able to find Glotz, and other defendants Big Tent Coalition and Timothy Pawula, liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy as it relates to claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Big Tent Coalition was founded by Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, who was state representative in the 37th House District before abruptly resigning in April 2024. Pawula served as Ozinga’s chief of staff and was treasurer of his election committee.
Pawula was investigated after Hastings lodged a complaint with state police, but charges of harassment through electronic communication and transmitting obscene messages were dropped.
The lawsuit, filed Feb. 28, alleged the defendants were part of a conspiracy to “execute a malicious text-message campaign designed to defame, humiliate and harass” Hastings ahead of the 2022 election.
In that race, Hastings faced Republican Patrick Sheehan, Hastings’ first challenger in a general election in a decade. Sheehan, who is not a defendant in the lawsuit, is a former Lockport alderman and former Lockport Township Park Board member.
The outcome wasn’t decided until several days after the election, with Sheehan conceding to Hastings and results showing Hastings with an edge of fewer than 1,000 votes out of more than 82,000 ballots cast.
Glotz’s attorney, Patrick Walsh, said the lawsuit was politically motivated and represents an effort by Hastings to harass Republican opponents.
“As attorneys, and Hastings is an attorney, we have a duty to ensure that lawsuits are filed in good faith and that they have a good faith basis in law and fact,” Walsh said. “Not all political disputes should be litigated.”
Walsh said he will present evidence that Hastings should face sanctions, including paying Glotz’s legal fees, at the next scheduled hearing in the case at the Markham courthouse at 11 a.m. Dec. 10.
In his original complaint, Hastings sought damages exceeding $750,000 against each defendant. The lawsuit alleges that, for several months in 2022 and 2023, more than 200,000 text messages were sent out.
Hastings’ attorney Ryan Jacobson in an emailed statement defended the timeliness of the lawsuit, saying that the defendants used an encrypted messaging system that “concealed their involvement and delayed discovery of a coordinated campaign of harassment and intimidation.”
“The justice system has a way of exposing the truth and humbling those who believe they are above the law,” Jacobson said. “We look forward to discovery, to vindicating my client’s good name and to hearing how these defendants try to justify their behavior under oath and on the record.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com