Animal Welfare League defends annual six-figure payments for legal services
The nonprofit, led by President Chris Higens, reported on its most recent tax form from 2023 that bills to Nixon Peabody law firm made up about 15% all its expenses that year. Animal Welfare League paid Nixon Peabody about $212,000 in 2020, $348,000 in 2021 and $489,000 in 2022.
It is unclear whether Animal Welfare League contracted exclusively with Nixon Peabody before 2020, as tax forms did not require the organization to write in the name of their contractor.
Higens on Friday defended the nonprofit's spending on legal services, saying in an emailed statement to the Daily Southtown that 'every cent received is being spent wisely.'
'It saddens me to see that Animal Welfare League is again being wrongfully attacked,' Higens said, saying it is among the largest shelters in Illinois.
'Of course, legal fees will be incurred. It is part of operating a business,' Higens said. 'Legal fees include various trusts, wills and legacies issues as well as defending its integrity over the years.'
Records show a sharp increase in legal fees from about $6,900 in 2016 to about $109,000 in 2017. From there on out, annual legal fees were consistently in the six figures.
Around the same time, Animal Welfare League began facing criticism from protesters alleging animal abuse, unsanitary conditions and bully tactics. After a February 2018 investigation by the lllinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, the nonprofit was reprimanded for improper euthanasia procedures and poor record keeping.
Since then, Higens has worked to improve the shelter's image and win back public trust, instituting a by-the-books protocol for euthanasia, purchasing an expensive oxygen treatment unit and pouring thousands of dollars into building repairs.
Higens said Friday the Animal Welfare League brought litigation against several parties, with settlements recovering $1.4 million that the organization previously paid in fees as well as an additional $500,000.
She did not provide names of the defendants or when the lawsuits were filed but said the organization filed one lawsuit 'to recover funds taken wrongly in an estate' and another for 'funds improperly claimed by the co-beneficiaries of a trust.'
'The monies are being reinvested back into the shelter,' Higens said.
The annual legal fees are unusual when compared to those incurred by nearby animal care nonprofits, including South Suburban Humane Society in Matteson and the smaller Will County Humane Society in Shorewood.
While South Suburban Humane Society's expenses for 2023 totaled $5.4 million, only about $17,400 went toward legal services. On tax forms from 2022, 2021 and 2020, the shelter did not report any legal expenses.
Will County Humane Society's total expenses of $483,000 in 2023 were less than those incurred by Animal Welfare League for legal services alone. Total revenue for that year was $523,000 while Animal Welfare League's revenue was $4.2 million.
Will County Humane Society did not report any legal expenses in 2023.
stevens@chicagotribune.com
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