Joseph Baptist, Richard Brooks, Price Dumas, Willie Hunt, and Lamont Upton v. City of Kankakee and Mike Kinkade

SYKES, Circuit Judge.

The plaintiffs in this Title VII race discrimination case agreed in open court to settle their claims against the defendants in exchange for changes to hiring and promotional policies and $67,000 in attorney’s fees. Shortly thereafter, they had a change of heart and sought to rescind their agreement on the ground that it was more beneficial to their counsel than to themselves. The district court denied their motion to vacate the agreed judgment order. On appeal, the plaintiffs contend their agreement was not knowing and voluntary because their counsel failed to adequately…