PEORIA, Ill. – A lawsuit questioning the validity of the referendum on last November’s election ballot that led to what was supposed to be the closure of the Peoria County Auditor’s office has been tossed out.
A Peoria County judge Wednesday ultimately decided to dismiss Jessica Thiomas’ suit but did so “without prejudice” — leading to the possibility of the suit being re-filed.
Attorneys for Peoria County wanted the suit to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning that there would have been no merit to filing the suit to begin with.
Thomas’ attorney says he might amend the lawsuit to challenge the referendum and its wording more directly, and possibly invalidate the results.
“We can take the same facts and ask for different relief, that’s what amending the complaint is,” Justin Penn, Thomas’ attorney, said to 25 News. “If anyone wants to challenge the language of the referendum as being slanted they can do so now.”
A separate issue in an appellate court questions whether the county could push her out of office before her term expires next year.
