Jaffe Commercial Finance Co. v. Harris

The Attorney General filed a complaint in the circuit court on December 2, 1983, naming the Illinois Commerce Commission (Commission) and its commissioners as defendants. The complaint alleged that the Commission convened a meeting closed to the public on October 18, 1983, and discussed issues relating to economic reasonableness of completing a nuclear power station at Clinton. After the meeting, the Commission announced that it decided against conducting formal proceedings regarding the completion of the power station. The complaint further alleged that the October 18 meeting violated the Open Meetings Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 102, par. 41 et seq.) and sought the following relief: (a) a mandamus commanding the defendants to "receive and consider publicly the information upon which the Commission based its decision not to conduct a formal proceeding regarding the Clinton cancellation issue"; (b) an injunction enjoining defendants from holding future meetings in violation of the Open Meetings Act; and (c) other relief as the court deemed appropriate.