As you may recall, the Friends of Meigs' first successful battle to save Meigs field resulted in a TRO that gives all parties until May 16th to cool off while what's left of Meigs remains undisturbed. An attempt (by Chicago) to defeat the TRO has failed, and we have learned that Daley's political bully machine was expected to file a motion Monday to stay all attempts at Discovery until after the next hearing. The purpose of this effort, by a so-called government agency, is to keep the public from having access to information behind the dealings associated with Daley's Midnight sneak-attack on the airport last month.

The effort to 'stay' discovery is expected to try to restrain the Friends of Meigs' lawyers (and a number of other interested parties) from fully investigating the details that led up to the March 31st destruction of the Meigs runway... in seeming violation of FAA and other government regs. If unsuccessful, Daley's efforts to bar discovery would mean that interested parties could not force depositions of key PUBLIC officials, who are alleged to have been involved, in various secret (non-public) meetings in which the method and manner of Meigs' demolition was decided. Mind you, this is a GOVERNMENT agency asking for permission of the court to NOT answer questions about their PUBLIC actions... an interesting and potentially-devastating legal tactic that seems pretty Un-American.

Welcome to Chicago, 'D.C. of the Midwest,' Where 'Hometown' Has Extra Meaning

If the judge consents, the city and its park district could avoid critical disclosures, considered "pertinent to the facts of the case" -- until after May 16--and despite the fact that Friends of Meigs attorneys have already requested documents and depositions from Chicago officials. The Friends of Meigs' legal team will have until today (Tuesday) to file a rebuttal, and a hearing will be held before Judge Maki at 1100, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16.

A decision on the motion is expected to come fairly quickly. [ANN Thanks the Friends of Meigs and the EAA for the heads-up on this one...]

FMI: www.friendsofmeigs.org