Former Judge Posner Wins $170K Wage Suit Defeat

Retired Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner successfully defended against a $170,000 breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Brian Vukadinovich, the former director of Posner's now-defunct legal assistance program for self-represented litigants. The Indiana federal court ruled that the alleged oral employment agreement promising $120,000 annually was unenforceable under Indiana’s statute of frauds, as it involved a promise not intended to be fulfilled within one year and was not in writing. Additionally, the court found that Vukadinovich’s unjust enrichment claim was filed too late to proceed. Posner's legal team also noted his confirmed Alzheimer's diagnosis, suggesting he lacked capacity to enter such an agreement. Vukadinovich, a retired schoolteacher who previously won a $204,000 verdict against a former employer, stated he planned to appeal the decision. The ruling was seen as a victory for Posner, who retired from the bench in 2017 and founded the Posner Center for Justice for Pro Se’s in 2018.