Merry Rhoades
Robert L. JackstadtTueth Keeney shareholders Robert Jackstadt and Merry Rhoades recently successfully defended an Illinois school district in a civil lawsuit and multiple special education due process requests, pending in Madison County, Illinois. Firm attorneys Rob Jackstadt and Merry Rhoades handled the case on behalf of the school district. Plaintiff had originally challenged the school district’s ability to disclose a student’s education records to its legal counsel, asserting violations of state and federal law. Tueth Keeney obtained the dismissal of those counts. Plaintiff also challenged whether the school district improperly provided copies of student records to the developmental pediatrician. These claims were also eventually denied. On January 18, 2005, the Court issued an Order stating that Plaintiff could not support claims based solely upon conclusions and conjecture, and dismissed all of Plaintiff’s claims.
Robert Jackstadt is a founding Shareholder of the Firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. Prior to founding the Firm, Rob was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin in its St. Louis office. Rob serves on the Firm’s Management Committee. Rob is a former member of the Edwardsville School Board, a former trustee and planning commission member for the Village of Glen Carbon and is currently the Mayor of the Village of Glen Carbon- a part time position.
Rob practices in the areas of commercial, construction and education litigation. Rob has tried to a conclusion many jury and non-jury cases in federal and state courts located in Illinois and Missouri. Rob’s trial experience includes litigation involving tax increment financing (“TIF”) districts, equipment leases, condemnation, construction, performance and payment bonds, non-competition agreements, securities and mechanic’s liens. Rob has negotiated many construction contracts, including architect agreements, construction manager agreements, and general contractor agreements.
Merry C. Rhoades focuses her practice on general counsel services with an emphasis on special education law and student-related issues, school district reorganization matters and tax and finance matters. Because of her more than 20 years experience in representing Illinois public school districts, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of the school district. She has extensive experience in special education administrative hearings, civil rights litigation, state and federal court litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and state administrative hearings.
Merry is an active member of several school related organizations. She is a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee and currently serves as its 1st Vice Chairperson and she is a service member to the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). She serves as an Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS advisory committee member. Merry has been asked to speak for such organizations as the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), the Illinois Association of School