McTigue v. Personnel Bd. of Chicago

New Chicagoans will forget that morning in April 1992 when a section of the underground freight tunnel gave way and the river flooded into the tunnel, then into basements and sub-levels of numerous “loop” buildings, including City Hall. The flood affected electric service, telephone service, and the sewer system. Workers had to be sent home. The city’s downtown area was crippled.

Inquiries immediately began to determine how and why this tragedy occurred and what could have been done to avoid it. One result of that inquiry was the discharge of city employee James E McTigue. This case is a…