Metro East Sun

Lawsuits against Gov. J.B. Pritzker's executive orders that have kept businesses closed could cost Illinois taxpayers billions, attorney Thomas DeVore said. 

Center Square reports DeVore, who is representing people in the state challenging the executive orders, would like to see Pritzker "on the stand and ask him some questions," but doing so could result in decisions that would cost taxpayers. 

If lawsuits continue to be brought forward, many people and business owners could demand damages be paid. 

“That in and of itself should be a deterrent in the future, saying, ‘Wait a second, we’re going to start shutting down businesses. We need to keep in mind we’re going to have to write a big check for that,’ yeah, that’s coming and it’s coming soon,” DeVore told the Center Square. “I’m working on that.”

If lawsuit verdicts result in paying damages to those affected by executive orders, it's possible that taxpayers would be paying for these damages directly. 

“Hopefully that means the taxpayers will remember next time an executive officer tries to do something like this they say ‘Uh-uh, we’re not playing that game,’” DeVore said.

While lawsuits could cost taxpayers billions of dollars, DeVore said they are still important since there has been a lack of clarity from the legislature. 

“They’re very important, but ultimately the people know and I believe in my heart that the people, regardless of what court cases are going say, they already know that this was wrong. They already know that this went too far,” he said. “You can’t strip property rights and liberty rights away from people without due process under any circumstance."