Former employee sues Bianchi over termination

A former prosecutor has sued McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi, arguing that he was wrongfully terminated after testifying in Bianchi’s misconduct trial in August 2011.

The Crystal Lake Republican was found not guilty of charges he improperly used his position as state’s attorney to reduce penalties for and to drop charges for distant relatives and those politically connected to him.

Kirk Chrzanowski, who worked in Bianchi’s office from January 2006 to Dec. 1, 2011, filed a federal suit seeking more than $450,000 damages for violation of the Whistle-blower’s Act, freedom of speech and wrongful termination.

In the suit, Chrzanowski argues the Bianchi and Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs retaliated against him and conspired to add negative comments unrelated to his job into to his personnel file. Before that, all his reviews were positive.

“After the disclosure of the plaintiff as a potential witness (in the August trial), defendant Bianchi began retaliation against plaintiff by placing purportedly negative information in the plaintiff’s personnel file,” the suit states.

The lawsuit also states that Chrzanowski was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in February. That grand jury indicted Bianchi with misconduct charges.

Chrzanowski’s lawsuit also stated that two other prosecutors were fired by Bianchi after they testified in criminal cases against him or spoke up against him meddling in criminal cases.

McHenry County also is a defendant in the case.

Bianchi was unavailable for comment; defense attorneys for the county could not immediately be reached.