Overview
Michael Jurusik’s practice is concentrated on counseling local governmental entities, special districts, private corporations and individuals in the areas of contract law, economic development matters (annexations, business districts, enterprise zone incentives, tax increment financing, special assessments, special service areas and economic incentives), employment law, intergovernmental agreements and P3s (public – private partnership arrangements), library law, municipal law, utility franchise matters (electric utility systems, solar and wind farms, water and sewer utility systems, garbage collection and disposal) and railroad right-of-way matters and planning and zoning matters.
He represents clients in civil litigation, administrative proceedings and alternative dispute resolution forums in the state and federal court systems as well as before the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Illinois Commerce Commission. He is also a member of the Home Rule Attorneys Committee of the Illinois Municipal League.
Michael also acts as counsel to police and fire pension boards and as special counsel to park districts throughout Illinois and serves as Village Attorney for the Villages of Maywood and Western Springs and as special counsel to other municipalities throughout Illinois. He also serves counsel for the Boards of Fire and Police Commissioners in the Village of Westchester, the Village of Western Springs and the City of Park Ridge.
In addition, he serves as Corporation Counsel for
- the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy
- he Broadview-Westchester Joint Water Agency
- the Lyons Township Communications Center
- the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Center
- the LaSalle County Joint Emergency Telecommunications System Board
- the Vermilion Valley Regional Emergency Communications Authority
- the West Central Consolidated Communications
Michael graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1989 and received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1993.
While in law school, he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for outstanding academic achievement in the area of pre-trial litigation. Michael has been admitted to practice in Illinois as well as before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Supreme Court.
Professional Affiliations
- Michael served as Secretary (2008—2009), Vice Chair (2009—2010) and Chair (2010—2011) of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Local Government Section Council. He is also a member of the Home Rule Attorneys Committee of the Illinois Municipal League, the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the International Municipal Lawyers Association and the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association.
Community Involvement
- Michael volunteers his time to the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services and is Board Member of the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Awards and Recognition
- Michael has been named a Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Media, a peer-recommended distinction awarded to fewer than 5% of attorneys in Illinois.
Publications
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Chapter 4: “Special Assessments, Special Service Areas and Business Districts” – co-author, Illinois Municipal Law, 2006
- Chapter 1: “Finance and Tax” – co-author, Illinois Municipal Law, 2018
- Education What Are Public Bodies and What Are Public Records (Illinois Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act) – co-author, Illinois Municipal Law, 2016
- First Amendment and Land Use: Religious Land Use and Municipal Regulation– co-author, Illinois Land Use Law, 2016[JS1]
- Chapter 2: “Zoning Controls – Regulating Land Use” – co-author, Illinois Land Use Law, 2017
- Chapter 6: “Governmental Financing of Development” (Special Assessments), – co-author, Illinois Land Use Law, 2017
Illinois Municipal League
- Manual on Home Rule vs. Non-Home Rule – co-author, 2014
- Manual on Liquor Licensing and Regulation – co-author, 2017
- Financing Municipal Improvements handbook – co-author, 2016
- Manual on Conflict of Interests and Liability of Illinois Elected Municipal Officials – co-author, 2019
- Municipal Forms of Government handbook – co-author, 2014
- Manual on Illinois “Sunshine Laws” – The Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Act – co-author, 2016
- Handbook on Practice and Procedure in Police and Fire Disciplinary Matters – co-author, 2010
Presentations
- Michael regularly presents on a variety of municipal and zoning law topics at seminars and conferences conducted by the Illinois Municipal League, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Illinois State Bar Association, the International Municipal Lawyer’s Association, the West Central Municipal Conference and other Illinois-based local government associations and council of governments.
Representative Cases
- Ryan v. Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of Village of Oak Lawn, 176 Ill.2d 592(cert. denied cert. 1998); 291 Ill.App.3d 1126 (1997) (upholding voluntary resignation of a police officer)
- Village of Western Springs v. First United Methodist Church of Western Springs, 211 Ill.2d 617 (cert. denied, 2004); 346 Ill. App.3d 1183 (2003) (upholding Village decision to enforce fire and life safety codes in regard to an overnight shelter)