Jonathan Bilyk News
Race for Cook County State's Attorney dead heat, new poll says
A poll from survey firm M3 Strategies says retired judge Eileen O'Neill Burke, who has pledged to undo many of the perceived soft on crime policies of current Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, is tied at 21% with attorney Clayton Harris III, who is endorsed by allies of Foxx and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Supreme Court boots ballot challenges to Trump, says states can't block presidential candidates under 14th Amend
The unanimous ruling strikes down rulings from Democratic judges in Colorado and Cook County, which had declared individual states have the power under the Fourteenth Amendment to block "insurrectionists" from seeking federal office
Judge OKs Cook County 'assault weapons' ban, agrees that bans only apply to guns not protected by 2nd Amend
A Chicago federal judge became the latest to uphold a ban on so-called "assault weapons," saying she was bound by a 2023 appellate ruling which declared weapons labeled by lawmakers as "dangerous," "military-grade" weapons aren't protected by the Second Amendment and can be banned
BNSF to pay $75M to settle truckers' fingerprint scan class action; Lawyers could get $27M
The settlement would end the court fight in the first class action under the Illinois Biometrics Information Privacy Act to go to trial. A federal judge last summer tossed out a $228 million jury award secured by plaintiffs.
Cook County judge says Colorado got it right, says Trump should be kicked off IL ballot
Cook County Judge Tracie Porter, a Democrat, said she agreed that Trump engaged in "insurrection" and should be removed from the Illinois ballot. She placed her decision on hold, however, leaving it appeals courts, and perhaps the U.S. Supreme Court, to have the final say
IL's federal chief judge declines to answer senators' questions about S. IL judges' alleged discriminatory orders
Senators Cruz and Kennedy had sought answers from Seventh Circuit Chief Judge Diane Sykes about the courts' response to a complaint over orders issued by three southern Illinois federal judges which establish a preference to hear oral arguments from "newer, female and minority" lawyers
Cook County State's Attorney race offers voters stark choice in approach to prosecuting crime
Retired Appellate Justice Eileen O'Burke says she will restore strong prosecution of gun crimes and retail theft in Chicago and elsewhere. Clayton Harris III, who is endorsed by Chicago political bosses, says he believes current State's Attorney Foxx has earned top grades and he will continue many of her policies and goals
Chicago Board of Elections, City Hall each seek to appeal ruling invalidating Chicago tax hike referendum
Both the Chicago Board of Elections and city of Chicago will argue a Cook County judge was wrong to block the city from intervening in the court fight over the so-called Bring Chicago Home referendum. The judge ruled the ballot question is illegally drafted, and votes should not be counted.
Counties say Supreme Court decision chastising forced home sales over unpaid property tax bills shouldn't apply in IL
A group of Illinois counties, including DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will, argued that a class action lawsuit over "equity theft" should be tossed, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that appears to declare sales of entire homes to satisfy delinquent property tax bills to be unconstitutional takings
Judge invalidates 'Bring Chicago Home' real estate sales tax hike referendum
The judge said the referendum supported by Mayor Brandon Johnson in the name of fighting homelessness was illegally placed on the ballot. Supporters said the decision was racist 'voter suppression' and vowed appeal. Opponents say the referendum is a backdoor property tax increase with no safeguards on how the funds would be spent
Judge shuts down ex-Palatine HS teacher's First Amendment suit vs D211 over anti-BLM Facebook posts
A federal judge said the speech rights of teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth are trumped by student's feelings and the school district's need to minimize disruption that may be caused by unpopular opinions expressed by teachers.
Lawsuit claims Henyard smeared ex-Dolton building chief, falsely accusing her of fraud, forgery, theft
The lawsuit against Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard becomes latest to accuse the scandal-plagued official of misconduct, this time for allegedly sending campaign mailers that included known false accusations against former Dolton building department director Samysha Williams.
Court fight erupts over ownership of Mr. Beef, restaurant that inspired 'The Bear'
The brother of longtime Mr. Beef proprietor, Joseph Zucchero, has filed suit against his niece and nephew, claiming they have wrongly devalued his ownership interest in the iconic Italian beef food stand following the death of their father last year. One of the defendants, Lauren Zucchero, said the lawsuit was "sad and unjust."
Chicago sues oil companies over climate 'disinformation'; Lawsuit 'set up for failure,' industry warns
The lawsuit is backed by some of the same organizations and law firms behind dozens of other similar lawsuits across the U.S., which critics say are politically motivated and designed to bankrupt the industry that fuels the U.S.
Parents' lawsuit says Chicago Teachers Union should pay $250M for Jan. '22 work stoppage
The lawsuit says CTU and its leaders should pay for calling an 'illegal strike,' which caused a public nuisance and cost CPS students and their families time and money, while causing irreversible learning loss, over fear of Covid
Appeals court upholds $15M fees for lawyers in 20-year-old case, including $1M+ for Cook County judge
A state appeals panel said a Cook County judge didn't make a mistake in awarding the fees to the lawyers, despite defendants' claims that the lawyers will benefit the most. The panel also said the lawyers can potentially go after the defendants' lawyers to collect on the judgment and fees
Lawsuit accuses Enbridge of scuttling deal to allow barge oil shipping on Sanitary & Ship Canal
The lawsuit asserts Enbridge violated antitrust laws in allegedly directing board of Mustang pipeline to pull plug on deal for terminal with Ducere
Appeals panel upholds record $42M verdict vs Advocate for quadriplegic who died awaiting surgery
Illinois state appeals panel says Advocate Health bore direct responsibility to ensure supplies and medications were on hand at the right time for surgery in 2017 to replace implant needed to keep man alive
'Once and for all': SCOTUS asked to strike down IL 'assault weapons' ban, end 'defiance' from states, courts
Three petitions were filed on behalf of Illinois gun owners, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to send a message to defiant courts and state lawmakers, who have all but thumbed their noses at SCOTUS' Second Amendment rulings in passing and upholding new gun restrictions in Illinois and elsewhere
Tubi can't unplug class action for allegedly sharing user info with advertisers
A federal judge denied Tubi's attempt to use an arbitration clause in its user agreement and other legal arguments to quickly defeat a class action lawsuit accusing the streaming service of violating a federal video privacy law