Walsh's ex-campaign manager files revised lawsuit

Republican 8th District Congressional candidate Joe Walsh's ex-campaign manager has filed an amended version of a previously dismissed lawsuit against his former client for nonpayment of $20,000.

The original version of Keith Liscio's suit against Walsh was dismissed in part because it did not include a copy of any written agreement between the two, Liscio said. But the amended version specifies that the agreement was oral.

The Cook County Circuit Court judge handling the case also criticized the original suit's lack of description of Liscio's duties as campaign manager, so the amended version details the role he played, Liscio said.

Among these duties was driving Walsh to campaign events because Walsh's driver's license was temporarily suspended for driving without insurance, the amended suit states.

Liscio also contends that his advice influenced Walsh's decisions to run in the 8th District rather than the 10th where he then lived, as well as to seek support among tea party activists.

Walsh, who now lives in McHenry, did not return calls Wednesday but his communications director, Whitney Schlosser, responded on his behalf.

"This case was already dismissed once," Schlosser said. "It is a matter to be resolved in court - and the Walsh campaign fully expects it will be in our favor again."

Liscio said he first met Walsh when he signed Walsh's petition to run in the 9th District in 1995. Liscio said he became a worker in that campaign and has been a friend and informal adviser to Walsh ever since.

His advisory role became more formal last Aug. 15 when Walsh decided to run for Congress and offered Liscio the job of campaign manager for $10,000 a month, Liscio said.

Liscio said he was to be paid twice a month, but received payment only three of the seven times he was supposed to before he stepped down in early December.

He said his resignation was not based on animosity, but to help Walsh's cash flow problems after Walsh hired several other consultants as well.

Liscio said he expected to be paid for his work already done - the equivalent of two months - but filed suit in January after he hadn't been.

Liscio denied any political motive for his lawsuit.

"This is an attempt to collect a debt," he said.

Also running in the 8th District are Democratic incumbent Melissa Bean of Barrington and Green Party candidate Bill Scheurer of Lindenhurst. The 8th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.