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Singer Lawsuit Dismissed

Credit Courtesy of Friends of Singer Facebook page

A Winnebago County judge has tossed out a legal challenge aimed at getting Rockford's Singer Mental Center re-opened. The Illinois Nurses Association filed a lawsuit last fall as the state closed Singer. The association wanted a judicial review of the process to grant a permit to shutter the facility. It was also seeking an emergency stay of Singer's closure.

But the Register Star reports, the judge ultimately sided with the state in the case and dismissed the lawsuit. The judge said despite the plaintiff's issues with the review process, their argument was moot because Singer was already closed.

Singer was targeted in a state wide cost cutting plan to close several facilities. The governor's office says it was also an opportunity to focus more on community-based care.

Part of Singer's budget is now being used to fund a new network of crisis care in the greater Rockford-area.