To keep its legal expenses down, a park district should learn about the failures and the successes of other local governments. You can learn through participating in the activities and reading the publications of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Municipal League. You can develop a network of park and local officials in your immediate area. You can also encourage your attorney to participate in similar activities and networks. Every battle can be fought, but someone must pay the soldiers, buy the weapons, and clean up the battlefield.
Legal battles exact their price in staff time and commissioners' angst as well as attorney's fees.
Park districts need to know the potential costs of a legal battle before they decide to take on the flight. Should the district decide to pursue combat, the park district should require frequent reports of casualties and damage. What may have seemed to be a minor legal skirmish may escalate beyond the district's expected commitment. The district should be consciously aware of the costs and benefits of continuing litigation and be prepared to adjust its battle plan when circumstances require it. One of the saddest moments in government is when legal fees are paid to fight cases where no one can remember the point of the law suit.