Lawsuits
Allstate accused of secretly tracking 45M customers' driving, selling info to other insurers
A class action lawsuit has accused insurance giant Allstate of allegedly secretly tracking customers' movements using their smartphones and then allegedly using that information to allow Allstate and other insurers to justify raising some customers' car insurance rates.
Lawsuits
New Jersey company can't use federal law to end accusations of violating Illinois genetic information privacy law
Hot Topics
IL biometrics claims multiplied again in '24, helping to fuel big class action payouts nationwide
Discipline
Cook Sheriff's Office investigator says was demoted for uncovering Covid fraud, ghost payrolling, other misconduct
A female investigator in the Cook County Sheriff's Office has sued Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and the Sheriff's Office for allegedly retaliating against her for persisting in an investigation, aided by the FBI, allegedly revealing Covid relief funds fraud, ghost payrolling, nepotism and other alleged misconduct within the Sheriff's Office
State Court
Cook County gun, ammo tax unconstitutional still, judge says
The Illinois Supreme Court struck the law down in 2021, saying Cook County's taxes and fees don't hold up under the state constitution. Cook County had argued changes it made in the way it distributes the funds should address those concerns. A Cook County judge said the changes don't undo the earlier ruling
Illinoisans should watch out for the next try at a progressive income tax on the November ballot in the name of property tax relief, says reform advocacy group Wirepoints
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
Healthcare Provider Accused of Racial Discrimination by Former Director
Rhonda Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Humboldt Park Health, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation during her tenure as Director for Supply Chain.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Telecommunications Company
Mitchell Hernandez has filed a lawsuit against RCN Telecom Services alleging racial discrimination and retaliation following his return from paternity leave.
Federal Court
Plaintiff Alleges Hair Product Manufacturer Caused Cancer Through Negligence
Dorothy Ayers has filed a lawsuit against Strength of Nature LLC and Godrej SON Holdings Inc., claiming their hair relaxer products caused her uterine cancer due to negligence and inadequate warnings about health risks.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Interior Design Firm
A former interior designer has filed a lawsuit against Oetee LLC alleging racial discrimination and sexual harassment during her employment from August 2022 until August 2024.
Federal Court
Plaintiffs accuse vocational school of fraudulent misrepresentation over cosmetic laser technician certifications
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against National Laser Institute alleging fraudulent practices related to unrecognized cosmetic laser technician certifications.
Federal Court
Visually Impaired Plaintiff Sues Online Retailer Over ADA Violations
Holger Fiallo has filed a lawsuit against Western Ranch Supply Co., alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act due to inaccessible digital properties for visually impaired users like himself.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Golden State Foods Corp. Engaged in Sex-Based Harassment
A former truck driver has filed a lawsuit against Golden State Foods Corp., claiming sex-based harassment and retaliation during her employment.
Federal Court
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Alleges Pharmaceutical Company Website Violates ADA
A legally blind woman has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Reddy's Laboratories over its inaccessible website, claiming it violates her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Federal Court
Plaintiff Alleges Major Railway Company Engaged in Discrimination Based on Race, Gender
Rhonda J. Thompson has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad Company alleging discrimination based on race, color, gender, and age.
Allstate accused of secretly tracking 45M customers' driving, selling info to other insurers
A class action lawsuit has accused insurance giant Allstate of allegedly secretly tracking customers' movements using their smartphones and then allegedly using that information to allow Allstate and other insurers to justify raising some customers' car insurance rates.
New Jersey company can't use federal law to end accusations of violating Illinois genetic information privacy law
Chang rules ex-worker's complaint doesn't involve benefit plan falling under ERISA guidelines, so the federal law can't be used to defeat the potentially costly class action brought under Illinois' Genetic Information Privacy Act.
Appeals court upholds $7M verdict vs ConAgra in cooking spray explosion case
A panel of Illinois state appeals court judges said the verdict came to a reasonable conclusion on product liability and the judge and jury didn't overstep during the trial or in ordering ConAgra to pay millions of dollars to a woman who was injured when the spray oil can exploded while she was cooking in a restaurant kitchen
Cushman & Wakefield, LivCor, other landlords added to feds', states' rent collusion lawsuit
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul signed onto the legal action first brought by the Justice Department vs real estate property management software vendor RealPage last summer. It now accuses six large corporate landlords of allegedly using RealPage software to set apartment rents artificially high
Jury orders plastic surgeon to pay $66M to family of woman who bled to death after procedure
The verdict was entered against Dr. Abou Sayeg, who practices plastic surgery in Chicago and Detroit, according to his online bio. Plaintiffs' lawyers estimated the verdict is the largest of its kind in Illinois history.
IL biometrics claims multiplied again in '24, helping to fuel big class action payouts nationwide
A new report from defense law firm Duane Morris said class action settlements again totaled more than $40B in 2024, with attorneys raking in many of those billions for themselves in fees. In Illinois, much of the action was driven by hundreds of new claims under the Illinois biometrics privacy law, despite reforms
Drury, Proft reach deal to end 10-year-long defamation suit over campaign ads
Political commentator Dan Proft called the confidential settlement a "victory" against a defamation lawsuit launched a decade ago by former Democratic State Rep. Scott Drury to punish political critics and enabled by a permissive court system and rulings that have "gutted" key legal protections for political speech
Appeals court: Cook divorce judges can't hold ex-husbands 'hostage' to force families to pay divorce bills
An Illinois appeals panel has become the first to push back against a continued practice by Cook County divorce court judges who have jailed ex-husbands to force them to pay 'obligations,' even if they may not have the money. The justices said Judge Scannicchio, who oversees the county's divorce courts, improperly jailed a man without first determining he could pay $248K
'Assault weapons' ban to continue in IL, for now, while courts handle appeal
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Illinois Atty Gen Kwame Raoul to keep a decision on hold from a southern Illinois federal judge, who declared Illinois' ban on so-called "assault weapons" an "unconstitutional affront" to the Second Amendment
Family of Dexter Reed poised to get paid by city taxpayers, under possible lawsuit deal announced in court
A judge tentatively dismissed the legal action vs the city of Chicago by the family of Dexter Reed, a black man shot and killed by police in March after he reportedly opened fire on them from inside his vehicle during a stop. Terms of the settlement, which must be approved by City Council, have not been disclosed.
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
Cook County gun, ammo tax unconstitutional still, judge says
The Illinois Supreme Court struck the law down in 2021, saying Cook County's taxes and fees don't hold up under the state constitution. Cook County had argued changes it made in the way it distributes the funds should address those concerns. A Cook County judge said the changes don't undo the earlier ruling
Retailers can be sued in IL state court under fed law for printing too many card digits on receipts, even if no real harm done
2-1 state appellate court ruling advances allegations of violating Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act
Former Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Telecommunications Company
Mitchell Hernandez has filed a lawsuit against RCN Telecom Services alleging racial discrimination and retaliation following his return from paternity leave.
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