Jonathan Bilyk News
Chuy Garcia takes down ex-alderman candidate's defamation claims over domestic violence rumor
A state appeals panel says one time 14th Ward aldermanic candidate Jaime Guzman can't revive defamation suit accusing U.S. Rep Jesus "Chuy" Garcia of launching a false rumor accusing Guzman of domestic violence to take him out of 2019 campaign for Ed Burke's seat
Co-pay kickback Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit revived vs Walgreens after 10 years in court
The lawsuit, filed by two pharmacy techs at a small specialty store in Glenview, accuses Walgreens of intentionally ignoring pharmacists' decisions to waive copays to steer business from a West Side clinic, and then improperly auto-refill prescriptions at higher rates, billed to the government aid programs
Judge: Litigation financier Burford can seize control of Sysco's claims in chicken prices lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin rejected poultry producers' attempts to shut down Burford Capital's move to step into court in place of Sysco, saying poultry producers need to accept that third party lawsuit funders can take control of lawsuits to protect their investments and maximize profits
Finally: O'Neill Burke declared victor in tight Cook County State's Attorney's race
After 10 days of counting ballots, ex-judge Eileen O'Neill Burke claimed victory and promised to follow through on her pledges to reverse controversial prosecutorial policies of current State's Attorney Kim Foxx. She defeated Clayton Harris III, who had the backing of Chicago Democratic Party bosses and left-wing activists
Judges challenge IL Tier 2 pension reforms, say law was approved and applied unconstitutionally
If successful, the lawsuit could undo a key pension reform law, which many have credited with helping the state better balance its financially troubled pension systems. It also joins a growing list of challenges claiming lawmakers routinely approve controversial laws unconstitutionally
S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination
'De facto invisible': High costs, court rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts
Spyropoulos wins circuit court clerk race, becomes latest to pledge to modernize, restore trust in embattled office
Mariyana Spyropoulos rode big support from Cook County Democratic Party to defeat incumbent one-term incumbent Iris Martinez
Foxx's No. 2 Lanier loses bid for bench; Cook voters select nominees for 40 open county judgeships
Only 13 of the 40 open Cook County judgeships produced contested races in the March Democratic primary election. Republicans field candidates for only four judgeships in two suburban subcircuits.
Bring Chicago Home headed to defeat, in big loss for Mayor, political allies
Votes were still being counted, but as of Wednesday morning, nearly 54% of Chicago voters had voted to reject the controversial Bring Chicago Home referendum, strongly backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and his political allies at the Chicago Teachers Union, among others
Cunningham cruises to win in Cook Dem IL Supreme Court race; GOPer Holder White unopposed in 4th District
Illinois Supreme Court justices Joy V. Cunningham and Lisa Holder White - the state's first two black female high court justices - are expected to secure 10-year terms on the court. Cunningham was appointed to replace ex-Chief Justice Anne Burke; Holder White appointed to replace retired Justice Garman
Chicago City Hall sues Glock, says gunmaker to blame for exacerbating city's 'epidemic' of gun violence
The administration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has partnered with anti-gun activists to sue firearms manufacturer Glock under Illinois' new consumer fraud law specifically allowing gunmakers to get sued. Glock becomes latest company to be blamed in lawsuits for Chicago's societal woes
IL courts hit with avalanche of pre-trial jail appeals under SAFE-T Act; Rules rewritten to ease 'staggering' burden
The Illinois Supreme Court has rewritten rules governing how criminal defendants can appeal judges' decisions to keep them locked up while they await trial, after such appeals rose from 171 in the past 10 years to more than 1,900 in the past five months under Illinois Democrats' SAFE-T Act
Judge blocks big piece of IL Dems' temp worker regulation law
A Chicago federal judge ruled that major changes to Illinois' law regulating temp workers and day laborers can't take effect because they are preempted by federal law
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Lawsuits claim Henyard mistreated, fired workers in Dolton, Thornton Township for refusing illegal schemes
Three ex-Dolton village and Thornton Township workers claim Dolton Mayor and Thorntown Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard demanded they perform illegal acts, then allegedly harassed them, and ultimately fired them for refusing.
Bring Chicago Home votes will be counted after IL Supreme Court nixes challengers' bid for appeal
The decision lets stand an appellate court's ruling that Illinois residents cannot ask courts to review before the election any referendum questions placed on the ballot by the Chicago City Council or other elected "legislative" bodies, "regardless of how blatantly unconstitutional"
Bears sued for discriminating vs white males in 'Diversity' job post limited to 'people of color,' women
The lawsuit was filed in Chicago federal court, and accused the Chicago Bears of violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws by listing non-white race and 'female' as required job qualifications for a "Diversity Legal Fellow" job opening with the organization
Opponents to Chicago property sales tax hike referendum ask IL Supreme Court to step in
Business groups argued an appellate court's decision reinstating the referendum on the ballot would effectively allow the Chicago City Council and other lawmaking bodies across the state to place any referendum questions on any ballot they wish, regardless if the questions are constitutional
Foxx's No. 2 Risa Lanier seeks judgeship; Lands on list of judicial candidates rated 'Not Qualified' by state bar association
According to an evaluation published by the Illinois State Bar Association, Risa Lanier, First Assistant to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, was rated "Not Qualified" in part because of other lawyers' concerns over her "honesty" and "poor decision making"