Conspiracy Lawsuit Filed Against Former Chicago Public Schools CEO. CPS sues Byrd-Bennett, SUPES figures for $65 million

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Chicago Public Schools today filed suit seeking "damages and civil penalties in excess of $65 million" from former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and others involved with her in the SUPES Academy contract-steering scandal.

In an action filed in Cook County Circuit Court, CPS contends that, in exchange for receiving personal contracts worth more than $865,000, Byrd-Bennett "entered into a conspiracy" with officials of the SUPES principal-training academy and an affiliated company to steer contracts worth more than $23 million to them.

The move has been expected since Byrd-Bennett resigned after the scandal first was disclosed. She since has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in the case.

"In plain terms, defendants have stolen money from (CPS) and the schoolchildren of the city of Chicago, and that money should be returned," the suit contends. "Defendants have used and are continuing to use public funds fraudulently obtained from (CPS) to pay multiple law firms to defend them in their efforts to avoid the consequence of their wrongful conduct."

The lawsuit does not state how the $65 million figure was determined, but in a statement CPS noted that state law allows defrauded public entities to seek triple damages.

Great moments of public education!