Elections
Pritzker donating big money again in hot Wisconsin state Supreme Court race
Billionaire IL Gov. JB Pritzker has so far donated $500K in the contest, amid a flood of outside money coming in the race to determine control of the key swing state's top court. In 2023, Pritzker also donated more than $1M in Wisconsin, despite also supporting a law prohibiting outside groups from donating in Illinois judicial races
Lawsuits
Appeals court upholds $6M malpractice verdict vs doctor accused of fueling woman's opioid addiction
State Court
IL Supreme Court: Employers can't end class actions over unpaid wages by paying the wages
State Court
IL Treasurer: Chicago City Hall wrongly keeping millions of dollars worth of unclaimed checks, other property
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, through Attorney General Kwame Raoul, sued the city of Chicago, seeking a court order knocking down the city's claim that its home rule power exempts it from having to turn over to the state millions of dollars of unclaimed checks and refunds owed to Illinoisans
Hot Topics
Ex-IL House Speaker, Dem leader Madigan convicted of bribery, wire fraud
Michael J. Madigan, who used his position as state House Speaker and chairman of the state Democrats to amass sweeping influence across all levels in Illinois for decades, was convicted by a federal jury. Reform advocates and GOPers say it should serve as a "wake-up call" for more extensive reforms in the notoriously corruption-plagued state
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was convicted of misusing his public office for his own power and profit. Not only should his public pension be halted, he should repay the nearly $600,000 taxpayers already paid the felon.
Lawdragon names Cozen O’Connor’s Shaw among Top 500 leading U.S. bankruptcy and restructuring lawyers
CHICAGO, July 17, 2023 — Lawdragon has named Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2023 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.
Cozen O’Connor attorney Matt DiCianni honored with Rising Stars Award from the National Immigrant Justice Center
Matt DiCianni, a labor and employment associate at Cozen O’Connor, has been honored with a Rising Stars Award from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).
Federal Court
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Alleges Atelier-NY Website Violates ADA
Erika Randolph has taken legal action against Atelier-NY over allegations that their website is not accessible to visually-impaired users like herself.
Federal Court
Plaintiff Leah Walker alleges PlushBeds' website violates ADA rights
Leah Walker has filed a class-action lawsuit against PlushBeds, Inc., claiming their website is inaccessible to visually-impaired users in violation of ADA laws.
Federal Court
Anesthesiologist Sues Department of Veterans Affairs Over Racial Discrimination
Dr. Nadia Hussain has filed a lawsuit against Todd Hunter from the Department of Veterans Affairs alleging racial discrimination and retaliation during her employment at VA facilities in Chicago.
Federal Court
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Alleges Edgewell Personal Care Brand's Website Violates ADA
A visually-impaired plaintiff has filed a class-action lawsuit against Edgewell Personal Care Brands over alleged violations of web accessibility standards under the ADA.
Federal Court
Plaintiff Alleges Skateboarding Lifestyle Brand Violates ADA Due To Inaccessible Website
Haron Cole has filed a class action lawsuit against High Speed Productions, alleging their website is inaccessible to visually-impaired users in violation of the ADA.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Northwestern Memorial Hospital Violated Disability Laws
A former employee has taken legal action against Northwestern Memorial Hospital alleging violations under both federal and state disability laws.
Federal Court
Plaintiff alleges City of Aurora police officers used excessive force during mental health crisis
An Illinois resident is suing the City of Aurora and its police department after an alleged use of excessive force during a mental health crisis left him severely injured and permanently disfigured.
Federal Court
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Sues Retailer Dillon Davis Over Website Accessibility Violations
A visually-impaired plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against retailer Dillon Davis for failing to make its website accessible under ADA regulations.
Federal Court
Plaintiff alleges online retailer Kitchen Mama LLC violated ADA due to inaccessible website
A legally blind plaintiff has filed a class-action lawsuit against Kitchen Mama LLC for failing to make its website accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
World Trademark Review Recognizes Foley Attorneys and Jurisdictions in the 2025 Edition of WTR 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Practitioners, Firm Receives National Recognition
Appeals court upholds $6M malpractice verdict vs doctor accused of fueling woman's opioid addiction
Panel said jury's conclusions were reasonable based on trial evidence
Professor says UIC fired him for being white, speaking out against anti-white hiring practices
A former professor has sued the University of Illinois Chicago, claiming they discriminated against him as a white male and retaliated against him for voicing concerns over alleged illegal anti-white faculty hiring and promotion policies and programs
City to pay $27M to family of woman who died after being paralyzed by suspects fleeing cops; Lawyers get $9M
Chicago City Council Finance Committee OKs $27 million deal to end lawsuit from family of woman who was struck by a vehicle fleeing police in August 2020 on South Side. The suit accused the city over officers' alleged violations of city policies forbidding such chases. The family will get $17 million from the settlement.
Judge OKs antitrust class actions vs big turkey producers over prices
The class actions will include retailers, restaurants and other commercial and institutional customers who purchased turkeys from large U.S. turkey producers from 2010-2016. The lawsuits, similar to those filed against chicken and beef producers, assert the turkey producers conspired to constrict supply and boost prices
Mistrial ends, for now, first trial vs Isomedix over Lake County EtO emissions
Problems with a juror apparently cut short jury deliberations in the first trial over claims that emissions from medical device sterilization plants in Lake County caused cancers. About 275 similar lawsuits are pending in Cook County court vs Steris Isomedix, the sole remaining unsettled defendant in those lawsuits
Ex-IL House Speaker, Dem leader Madigan convicted of bribery, wire fraud
Michael J. Madigan, who used his position as state House Speaker and chairman of the state Democrats to amass sweeping influence across all levels in Illinois for decades, was convicted by a federal jury. Reform advocates and GOPers say it should serve as a "wake-up call" for more extensive reforms in the notoriously corruption-plagued state
'The offender is the victim now:' City to debate deal to pay Dexter Reed's family $1.25M
The deal, which could be approved by Chicago City Council by Feb. 19, would pay $1.25 million to the family of a man all but his own family and their lawyers conceded fired first at Chicago cops. It has drawn intense criticism from aldermen who assert it sends a terrible message to police and the community
'This ends today:' DOJ asks court to block IL, Chicago from using 'Sanctuary' laws to hinder deportation of criminals
Federal lawsuit from the Trump administration asserts the state of Illinois, city of Chicago and Cook County are unconstitutionally using state laws and local ordinances to shield illegal immigrants - and particularly, illegal immigrants who have been convicted of other, violent crimes - from being removed from the U.S.
Lawsuits: City Hall, Bally's illegally blocking white males from investing in new Chicago casino
The lawsuits, filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights and the Liberty Justice Center, say Chicago City Hall illegally forced Bally's to agree to racial and sex-based ownership and hiring quotas at the planned new Chicago casino, which resulted in white males being denied the opportunity to invest in the project
Pro-immigrant activists demand court shut down Trump immigration raids in Chicago
The activist groups claim the immigration raids violate their First Amendment rights because Chicago was targeted to punish cities and other jurisdictions who have flouted federal immigration laws by enacting so-called "Sanctuary" policies and vowing to protect illegal immigrants
Cook County Dems cruise in five contested races for circuit court judge seats
While votes continue to be counted, Democratic candidates for judge in Cook County scored easy wins over Republican challengers in the handful of contested judicial races presented to voters this fall, including in the first contested general election race for countywide judge in 14 years
Did IL just try again to ban E-Verify? New law could leave employers facing hard choices, big challenges
The new law could leave Illinois employers facing a choice between abiding by competing state and federal immigrant employment laws and requirements, and leave Illinois facing another day in court defending a law which could stand in defiance to federal laws governing immigrant work eligibility
Jury orders Avon to pay $24M to former janitor with mesothelioma
After a month-long trial, a Cook County jury said Avon owes $24.4 million because the man allegedly contracted mesothelioma lung cancer from being exposed to asbestos-contaminated talc products at the company's Morton Grove facility in the 1980s
IL Supreme Court: Employers can't end class actions over unpaid wages by paying the wages
Unanimous ruling holds plaintiffs allowed to pursue damages if they can prove employer broke the law. Business advocates warned the ruling could lead to yet more "ruinous costs" for employers from lawsuits in Illinois courts.
IL appeals court: Ex-Fertility Clinics finance director can't sue over firing, but not because of crimes
The court said the IL Human Rights Commission was OK to dismiss a complaint lodged by a man who claimed Fertility Clinics of Illinois illegally fired him from his post as finance director after finding out he had been indicted for financial crimes. The Commission had ruled the man was unresponsive and abandoned his case
Plaintiff Leah Walker alleges PlushBeds' website violates ADA rights
Leah Walker has filed a class-action lawsuit against PlushBeds, Inc., claiming their website is inaccessible to visually-impaired users in violation of ADA laws.
Cook County checks in at No. 6 on list of worst U.S. 'Judicial Hellholes'
The American Tort Reform Association released its annual list of the country's most notable "Judicial Hellholes." Cook County's courts earned a spot on the list thanks to a host of "abusive" lawsuits and the potential for many more to come, should the Illinois Supreme Court nix a doctrine used to force certain plaintiffs to sue elsewhere
Two scandal-marked Cook County judges to be investigated by state
Cook County's chief judges recommended Judges E. Kenneth Wright and Shannon O'Malley be investigated by the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board. The JIB can recommend further action. The judges have been accused in a press report of living outside of Cook County, which could violate the state constitution