March 2005, Peoria, IL: City Obtains a Restraining Order against Disbarred Attorney

City officials in Peoria obtained a temporary restraining order against a disbarred attorney, Chase Ingersoll, whom they say sent e-mails threatening the city manager and two employees. Ingersoll states that is just a diversion from the city’s attempt to obstruct homeowners' rights. The restraining order prohibits Ingersoll from going to City Hall without having official business there. It also bars from him from being within 500 feet of Sonni Williams, a city attorney, City Manager Randy Oliver and Thomas Higgins, a local attorney who presides over the city's housing court, unless he has official business. All three city employees felt threatened by the tone of Ingersoll's e-mails. One of which reportedly stated, "I hope you took my previous warning about Williams and Higgins seriously. I've seen bigger scamers (sic) than these two, but not everyone is so jaded. They play their little game with the wrong person and there is no telling whatcould happen to them or anyone around them." In response to the order, Ingersoll referred to the officials “as being little crybabies”.