A Cook County judge on Friday delayed ruling on a motion to toss out a suit that seeks reinstatement of a state health official who says she was removed from her post because she refused to pay a friend of the governor’s wife.
Attorneys with the Illinois attorney general’s office, acting on behalf of Gov. George Ryan and other defendants, filed a motion Friday contending that the suit filed by Julia Dyer, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, was moot because Dyer was suspended on Thursday.
Dyer was placed on administrative leave in October. She continued to receive her $120,000 annual salary until her suspension, a move that could lead to her dismissal.
Circuit Court Judge Lester Foreman said he would hear arguments in the case on March 22.
Meanwhile, Ryan defended public health officials’ decision to remove Dyer. Speaking after a meeting of educators in Rosemont, Ryan said Dyer was fired because of “insubordination and commingling funds,” and he defended the agency’s hiring of Amy Newtson, wife of his chief of staff, Robert Newtson, and a longtime friend of Ryan’s wife, Lura Lynn.
“There’s nothing wrong with a husband-and-wife team working for the state,” Ryan said.
Amy Newtson received a $20,000 contract last year to produce a still-uncompleted Web site on children’s health issues for the agency. Dyer said she refused to pay Newtson because the work was unacceptable, but state officials have said they are satisfied with Newtson’s progress.
After Friday’s court hearing, Dyer’s attorney, Michael McDermott, was asked about health officials’ charges that Dyer was incompetent. “Rubbish,” he replied.
Agency officials, in charges filed against Dyer last December, said she engaged in questionable conduct when she set up an account with Chicago Title and Trust to fund a men’s health fair, but the charges don’t accuse Dyer of misusing the funds.