News from February 2023
Illinois responds to state's attorneys attempt to throw out provision to end cash bail
(The Center Square) – Saying the plaintiffs’ “grab-bag of constitutional theories” should be rejected, the state of Illinois has responded to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of ending cash bail.
Indiana insurance coverage counsel announce new law firm, website
Attorneys C. Anthony Ashford and Guy S. DiMartino are pleased to announce the formation of the law firm Ashford DiMartino, P.C.
BNSF: IL Supreme Court ruling means courts can choose not to order 'annihilative' payouts in fingerprint scan class actions
Lawyers for BNSF Railway are pushing to undo a $238 million verdict in favor of 45,000 truckers, who claim BNSF violated Illinois' biometrics privacy law by making them scan fingerprints to access rail yards. Plaintiffs, though, say the verdict should've been $807M
Judge says franchisors also liable in suits claiming biomertric scan violations; Ruling could make businesses more vulnerable to suits
A federal judge has ruled fast food franchise holder, McAlister's Deli, can't escape a class action lawsuit brought by workers who claim they were improperly required to scan fingerprints when punching the clock. The judge said the law isn't limited only to 'direct employers'
Benesch Names New Executive Committee Members
Benesch is pleased to announce that partners Michael Barrie, Manish Mehta and Stephanie Sheridan have been newly elected to the law firm’s Executive Committee.
Appeals court: Rockford nurse can only get $2,500 from her lawsuit win, even though county health department violated her abortion conscience rights
An Illinois appeals panel has ruled a nurse, who left her Winnebago County job because she would not refer females for abortions, did not deserve a larger award in her lawsuit against the county, because judges said she could have accepted a similar county post that did not involve abortion referrals
Appeals panel OKs sanctions vs Gurnee school board member who sued parents over false claims of racist Facebook posts, threats
The judges said Renea Amen, a school board member who also 'labels herself a civil rights attorney' 'used her status as a public official to intimidate ordinary citizens' who merely wished to do 'the most encouraged of American activities: getting involved in their communities'
Locke Lord’s Mia Lorick Selected as 2023 LCLD Fellow; Sky Emison and Nasar Khan Named to Pathfinder Program
Locke Lord Houston Partner Mia Lorick has been selected as a member of the 2023 Fellows Program for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), and Chicago's Sky Emisonand Los Angeles' Nasar Khan have been named to LCLD’s Pathfinder Program. Both programs aim to identify, train and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
Pritzker, Raoul: No 'fundamental right' to own, sell 'assault weapons' in IL, ask IL high court to toss TRO
Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to immediately vacate a temporary restraining order upheld by a state appeals court, which had ruled the state ban on "assault weapons" trampled the state constitution
IL courts, reform advocates agree: Time is now for IL Supreme Court to rein in lawmakers' constitutional 'lapses'
A flurry of lawsuits ask the Illinois Supreme Court to follow through on its longstanding threat to stop allowing lawmakers to police themselves in deciding whether they have followed the Illinois state constitution when passing sweeping new laws, like the so-called "assault weapons" ban
Five Tressler Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Illinois Rising Stars
We are pleased to announce that Tressler attorneys Rachel V. Bassett, Kathleen Hart, Matthew J. O'Malley, Anita St. Pierre and Stacey L. Wilkins have been selected as 2023 Illinois Rising Stars. Less than 2.5 percent of attorneys in Illinois receive this prestigious honor each year.
4th Ward Chicago Ald. candidate seeks $12M from Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Dems for alleged defamatory mailers
The campaign mailers allegedly falsely claim 4th Ward Chicago alderman candidate Ebony Lucas faces substantial IRS tax liens, contractor liens and court fines; All fictional claims, Lucas says
Judge OKs antitrust lawsuit to continue as class action vs NorthShore over merger, price hikes
Judge asks both sides to give him an update in mid-March on whether the two sides want to continue the court fight or move toward settlement in legal battle dating back nearly two decades.
Neal Gerber Eisenberg Attains Chambers Global Band 1 Ranking in Mining & Metals Transactions
Neal Gerber Eisenberg is pleased to share that for a sixth consecutive year the firm has earned recognition in the category “Energy: Mining & Metals (Transactional)” in the 2023 Chambers Global guide. Partners David S. Stone and John J. Koenigsknecht, co-chairs of the firm’s Cross-Border & International practice group, lead the effort. Koenigsknecht is also the chair of the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice group.
UIC law prof can continue part of lawsuit regarding reaction to his allegedly racially insensitive test question
Jason Kilborn will be allowed to press his claims that university officials defamed him in a report they issued concerning their investigation into complaints brought by some of Kilborn's Black students, and then forced him into sensitivity training, which he said violated his speech rights
Class action accuses Barilla of falsely promoting its products as Italy's top pasta
The lawsuit in Cook County court asserts Barilla has intentionally mislabeled its products to allegedly mislead consumers
Fox Rothschild Names Four New Office Managing Partners
Fox Rothschild LLP is pleased to announce that it has appointed new leadership in four of the firm’s offices.
Illinois forward 2024: A sustainable state budget plan
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois’ financial health was the worst in the nation. An unprecedented influx of federal stimulus and bailouts, combined with stronger-than-expected rebounds in tax revenues, saved Illinois from financial ruin. If state lawmakers do not take advantage of this incredibly rare opportunity and pursue structural financial reforms, then state finances will return to their pre-pandemic status quo.
Federal judge ends biometrics class action vs Christian Dior over 'virtual try-on' software for sunglasses
Christian Dior wins dismissal amid Illinois Supreme Court rulings cementing plaintiffs' abilities to demand massive damages from retailers and other businesses using biometric scanning tech
Biometrics privacy class actions over worker fingerprint scans continue to mount in Cook County court
Beaumont Costales firm filed 10 class actions alone against employers from Feb. 3- Feb. 14