Village V. Pekau: Judge Grants Restraining Order Over Ousted Mayor's Sharing Of Confidential Info

ORLAND PARK, IL — Amid an emergency lawsuit filed by the Village of Orland Park, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order against former mayor Keith Pekau, the Village said Thursday.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland issued the order against Pekau, ordering him to "immediately remove his publication of the Village’s confidential information he received access to while in office, and to cease publishing or disseminating any additional non-public confidential information related to the Village of Orland Park."

The suit was filed in response, the Village said, to Pekau's use of a blog and social media posts to disclose "sensitive internal documents and details concerning ongoing litigation" involving the Village, and "non-public information related to Village employees," the Village said.

Pekau uses a Facebook page and his "Straight Down the Fairway" email newsletter to share his takes on the Village's current administration. The former was used as Pekau's campaign page, and was reactivated following his failed bid for re-election in April 2025, to "keep you informed about what’s happening in Orland Park."

Pekau's actions, the Village said, "violated certain privacy laws and threatens to undermine the Village’s position in active federal lawsuits and could ultimately expose taxpayers to greater liability and financial harm when these cases are resolved."

Prior to filing the lawsuit, the Village said it requested that Pekau voluntarily remove the confidential information, "but he refused, instead posting on social media, 'I will not be silenced.'"

“This reckless and irresponsible behavior is not just disappointing, it is potentially damaging to every taxpayer in Orland Park,” said Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge. “We are working to protect the public interest, not just in terms of transparency, but also in safeguarding the legal and financial integrity of the Village.”

Mayor Jim Dodge said that "protecting the Village’s legal position must remain a top priority.

“The court’s ruling confirms what we already knew: sensitive legal matters should be handled responsibly, not politicized online,” Dodge said. “We will always uphold transparency, but not at the expense of putting the community at legal and financial risk.”

Read the full text of the order below.

“The Temporary Restraining Order is an important step in preventing further harm," said Village Attorney Michael Stillman. "Mr. Pekau’s disclosure of confidential information may have jeopardized the Village in pending litigation. We are actively assessing the potential consequences and will take all necessary legal measures to limit the damage created by Mr. Pekau."

During the court hearing, the Village said that Ancel Glink attorneys Keri-Lyn Krafthefer and Tom DiCianni argued that Pekau’s publication of the Village’s confidential information "violated his oath of office, the Village Code’s requirement that current and former officials cannot divulge the Village’s confidential information, and the Illinois Municipal Code’s requirement that outgoing officials turn over all records to their successors."

Read the lawsuit below.

Krafthefer reiterated that the Village was committed to transparency, but that transparency laws still permit municipalities to keep limited information confidential for a number of reasons permitted by the Illinois General Assembly.

"It’s hard to fathom why Mr. Pekau would intentionally publicize confidential information to harm the Village, unless he is simply doing so to be vindictive," Krafthefer said.

The order, the Village said, prohibits Pekau from "posting, sharing, or discussing any confidential Village communications, including legal memoranda, settlement discussions, personnel matters, and internal emails protected under attorney-client privilege."

The motion also originally requested the judge to compel Pekau to list where he published the remarks, but the Village’s attorneys were able to identify those locations on their own. That element was denied, because it was no longer needed by the Village.

The Village also requested that Pekau return any confidential Village records in his possession; that was deferred for an evidentiary hearing, according to court documents, which will be considered with the Village’s request for a permanent injunction Pekau. That court date is scheduled for Oct. 17.

"The Village of Orland Park remains committed to open, transparent and responsible governance and will continue to take legal action when necessary to protect its interests and those of its residents," the Village said in a release.