Firm Secures Reinstatement of Client into Cook County’s Housing Choice Voucher Program

Additional Author: Jordan A. Galvin

Mayer Brown has successfully reinstated a mother of two into the Cook County (Illinois) Housing Choice Voucher Program after her participation was improperly terminated by the Housing Authority of Cook County. Jordan Galvin, a lawyer on the Firm’s Knowledge Management team, partnered with pro bono advisor Marc Kadish and Chicago Volunteer Legal Services to represent the woman, who has been homeless for two years. The Housing Authority tried twice to terminate the client based upon allegations of delinquent rent and nearly $10,000 in unsupported damages claims. Each time, the housing authority failed to specify the allegations against the client, knowingly sent the notice to an incorrect address, relied solely on hearsay evidence at the hearings and failed to provide a complete record on appeal. After a virtual hearing conducted via Zoom, a chancery court judge delivered a rare outright reversal and reinstatement into the program, holding that the housing authority’s actions violated the common principles of res judicata, due process, equity and double jeopardy.