Madigan sides with family in service dog case

MOUNT VERNON -- Illinois' attorney general is siding with a family suing their southwestern Illinois school district in hopes of allowing their autistic son to bring his service dog to school.

Lisa Madigan has filed papers with the Mount Vernon-based 5th District Appellate Court in support of Chris and Melissa Kalbfleisch.

The Columbia family claims that state law entitles their 5-year-old son, Carter, to bring the service dog to their home school district.

A Monroe County judge in August entered a preliminary injunction to let the boy bring his dog into his elementary school — something the district says would harm at least one other student allergic to animals.