News from October 2022
Skokie school district seeks dismissal of parents' lawsuit alleging hostile environment for minority students
Pritzker, Ayala also say complaint against the state has fatal flaws
Judge: District 45 didn't comply with Open Meetings Act, illegally refused to read parents' written comments during school board meetings
Woman wins court fight over Villa Park school board's refusal to read parents' comments verbatim into the record during online "Zoom meetings," even after the school board blocked parents from voicing their concerns live at meetings, and required them to submit written comments
5 news outlets say voters should reject Amendment 1
Amendment 1 is a 'Trojan horse' for union control of Illinois taxes, laws; 'An intentional attempt to mislead voters,' the op-eds declare
IL Supreme Court cites SAFE-T Act, throws out sentence that took into account prior juvy burglary conviction
The Illinois Supreme Court's Democratic majority said they believe the passage of the SAFE-T Act's criminal justice reforms reinforce conclusion that Democratic lawmakers meant to block courts from using prior juvenile convictions when sentencing people for crimes committed as adults
Sheppard Mullin Wins Flex Impact Award for Unplug & Recharge Program
Sheppard Mullin Wins Flex Impact Award for Unplug & Recharge Program.
White ex-city worker, passed over for promotion, can resume racial discrimination suit vs city of Springfield
An appeals panel says conflicting explanations from Springfield city officials raise many questions over whether they only wanted to promote a Black person to reflect the city's commitment to "reflect the city's demographics."
Ex-Chicago mayor candidate, who received controversial settlement over alleged police brutality, charged in public housing scheme
Catherine Brown, a 2019 candidate for Chicago mayor, has been charged by the Attorney General’s office with allegedly defrauding the CHA of $136,000 over 10 years. Brown was the recipient of a controversial $800,000 settlement from the city for alleged police brutality stemming from an incident in which police said she dragged an officer under her car
Top IL Dems rake in campaign cash; Trial lawyers chip in big bucks to help Dems
According to campaign finance reports, trial lawyers in Illinois donated almost $1.85 million to campaign funds run by powerful Democratic leaders, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and State Sen. President Don Harmon
Costumes & Cocktails, Sponsored by Women in Probate on October 19, 2022
Costumes & Cocktails, Sponsored by Women in Probate on October 19, 2022.
Federal judge nixes bid to put medmal lawsuit 'on ice,' over concerns IL's prejudgment interest law is unconstitutional
A Cook County judge has declared Illinois' so-called "prejudgment interest" law unconstitutional. But a federal judge says, until the Illinois Supreme Court weights in, he won't block plaintiffs from using the law in a medical malpractice case to "nudge" Swedish Hospital and other defendants to settle
Locke Lord Named LCLD 2022 Top Performer and Compass Award Winner
Locke Lord Named LCLD 2022 Top Performer and Compass Award Winner.
Building an Inclusive and Diverse Workplace While Avoiding Legal Challenges on October 19, 2022
Building an Inclusive and Diverse Workplace While Avoiding Legal Challenges on October 19, 2022.
Judge blocks IL Dems' law to block out-of-state donations to judge campaigns
Democrats said the law was needed to maintain judicial integrity. A federal judge said he feared the law was actually motivated by a desire for the Democrats who dominate Springfield to "maintain the status quo" of Democratic control of the courts, not to fight corruption
Cook Assessor asks fed judge to end anti-corruption supervision of hiring, promotions
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi says all parties agree his office complies with guidelines to keep politics out of hiring and promotion decisions
Holland & Knight Welcomes Leading Finance Attorney Wade Kennedy in Chicago
Holland & Knight Welcomes Leading Finance Attorney Wade Kennedy in Chicago,
Judge tosses lawsuit from parents' who say Pritzker's Covid school closures violated IEP terms
A federal judge determined plaintiffs can't continue with their lawsuit because they didn't first exhaust remedies under Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
Feds charge Madigan in new bribery conspiracy with AT&T, widening criminal case vs ex-Speaker, Democratic chairman
Under a newly unsealed indictment, former Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Chairman Michael Madigan allegedly solicited bribes to benefit a former state lawmaker loyalist in exchange for helping AT&T rid itself of obligations to provide landline service in Illinois
Attorney General Raoul Disappointed With Illinois Commerce Commission’s Decision to Deny Request for Rehearing to Order Commonwealth Edison to Pay Customers Larger Refunds
Attorney General Raoul Disappointed With Illinois Commerce Commission’s Decision to Deny Request for Rehearing to Order Commonwealth Edison to Pay Customers Larger Refunds.
Judge, who formerly served on IL State Police board, recused from case vs woman accused of using Pritzker-ties to oust ex-ISP Board director
According to a court order, new U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado recused herself from the court fight over claims that former ISP Merit Board executive Jenny Thornley called on Gov. JB Pritzker to remove her ex-boss because he was investigating fraud allegations against her. Maldonado had served on the Merit Board, appointed by Pritzker in 2019
Latin School says it can't be held liable for student's death by suicide, allegedly egged on bullying
Family's lawsuit alleges the Latin School of Chicago, a selective private school filled with students from upper class Chicago families, failed to intervene in online bullying that allegedly led their son, who was a sophomore at the school, to commit suicide