A resident of Oak Lawn, Illinois, has filed a lawsuit alleging a conspiracy involving a state-court judge, private attorneys, and court personnel to violate her constitutional rights. Mary Lee Maglaya submitted the complaint on December 2, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Judge Debra A. Seaton and others.
The case stems from Maglaya’s foreclosure action, which she lawfully removed to federal court on September 11, 2025. Despite this removal, Judge Seaton allegedly continued to act without jurisdiction by manipulating court proceedings and issuing orders that were drafted by attorneys from Manley Deas Kochalski (MDK). These actions included fabricating a hearing that never occurred and falsely stating that Maglaya had defaulted by not appearing. “The hearing existed only on paper,” Maglaya claims in her complaint, accusing the defendants of fraud on the court and violations of her Fourteenth Amendment rights.
Maglaya further alleges that an unidentified clerk called her in a threatening manner after these events, suggesting retaliation for exercising her federal rights. She accuses Cook County of failing to supervise its officials adequately and allowing this misconduct to occur. The plaintiff seeks redress under several federal statutes for deprivation of due process, defamation by implication, conspiracy to violate civil rights, and more.
In addition to seeking $8 million in compensatory and punitive damages, Maglaya requests declaratory relief to void all actions taken after the removal notice was filed. She also seeks injunctive relief to prevent further violations and harassment by the defendants. The complaint highlights a pattern of alleged misconduct requiring federal oversight as identified in Executive Order 13773.
Representing herself pro se, Mary Lee Maglaya is pursuing justice against what she describes as an organized scheme involving public corruption. The case is being overseen by Judge John J. Tharp Jr., with Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz assisting. The case ID is 1:25-cv-14672.
Source: 125cv14672_Mary_Lee_v_Judge_Debra_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
