Lawsuits
Northwestern, Notre Dame among top U.S. colleges hit with class action over financial aid practices
A new class action lawsuit says some of America's top colleges and universities have for nearly two decades violated U.S. antitrust law by collectively making it harder for students to obtain need-based financial aid by forcing them to include non-custodial parent income on applications
State Court
IL Supreme Court: Lawyers still can claim fees, even though incomplete agreements didn't comply with court rules
Lawsuits
Jury orders ex-Acadia owner McCaskey to pay former server $4.5M over alleged online harassment
Hot Topics
Lawsuit: CTU has wrongly refused for years to release financial audits, show how spending members' dues
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four Chicago Teachers Union members, who say the union has violated its own rules in hiding spending reviews from its own members since 2020.
State Court
Man jailed for contempt for two years by Cook divorce judge over stock dispute with ex-wife, seeks release
A man has been in the Cook County jail for more than two years because Cook County divorce court Judge Michael Forti ruled he should be able to pay his ex-wife millions of dollars that the man says he doesn't have. An appeals court has been asked to determine if the extended jailing has violated the man's due process rights
Illinois should follow the example set by Michigan in dealing with dysfunction in schools in Detroit and establish a new school district in Chicago to entirely replace CPS
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
Plaintiff Alleges Airline Violated Religious Accommodation Laws Over Vaccine Mandate
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines alleging wrongful termination due to religious discrimination related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The plaintiff claims violations under Title VII and Florida's Civil Rights Act after being denied a religious exemption request considered untimely by the airline without clear communication or legal basis.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Connex One Inc.'s Discrimination Under Civil Rights Act
Erica Franzen has filed a lawsuit against Connex One Inc., accusing them of sex-based discrimination and retaliation following her dismissal after reporting inappropriate conduct at work. The case highlights allegations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and seeks various forms of relief including compensation for lost wages and emotional distress damages.
Federal Court
Plaintiff alleges oil service company violated ADA through discrimination
Orlando Maldonado has filed a lawsuit against D and S Oil Service Enterprises alleging violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The case claims discrimination based on disability following termination despite successful job performance with documented medical restrictions.
Federal Court
Produce Manager Sues Major Midwest Grocer Alleging Unpaid Overtime Violations
Kristin Gower has filed a class action lawsuit against Roundy's Supermarkets Inc., alleging failure to pay proper overtime wages under federal and state laws. The case highlights claims of systematic misclassification of employees as exempt from overtime provisions by Mariano's stores across Illinois and beyond. The suit seeks back pay for unpaid wages along with additional damages for willful violations.
Federal Court
Plaintiff FCA US LLC alleges breach of contract against UAW over unauthorized strikes
In a significant legal battle unfolding in Illinois' federal court system, FCA US LLC has accused a major labor union of breaching their collective bargaining agreement through unauthorized strikes aimed at forcing premature investments without company approval. This case underscores ongoing tensions between corporate management and labor unions over contractual obligations and strategic business decisions.
Federal Court
Better Mouse Company Accuses Online Retailers of Patent Infringement
In a bold legal move, Better Mouse Company has filed a lawsuit against various online retailers operating through Amazon and Shein for alleged patent infringement related to their computer mouse technology. Filed in Illinois federal court on October 4th, this case underscores serious accusations about unauthorized sales tactics originating from China-based entities targeting U.S consumers with counterfeit goods.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Workplace Misconduct Against Staffing Agency
Brittany Huntoon has filed a lawsuit accusing Staff Management Inc and Carpenter’s Place of sexual harassment and discrimination based on sex and disability in violation of federal laws. Filed in September 2024 in Illinois' Northern District Court, she seeks compensation for wrongful termination following alleged failures by employers to address reported misconduct adequately.
Federal Court
Behavioral Therapist Alleges Non-Profit Falsified Hours Leading to Retaliation
Christopher Hendrix has filed a lawsuit against non-profit organizations New Star Inc., and its successor Sertoma Star Services Inc., alleging they falsified work hours for government reimbursements and retaliated when he exposed it. Filed in an Illinois district court on October 2nd; the suit seeks back pay plus damages under federal/state false claims acts.
Federal Court
Plaintiff alleges retailer Menard Inc.'s manager engaged in sexual harassment and racial discrimination
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against Menard Inc., claiming severe workplace misconduct including sexual harassment and racial discrimination by a manager named Ahmad Guise. Filed on September 30th in Illinois federal court by Brittany Farmby with representation from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd., the suit seeks damages under multiple civil rights laws due to alleged persistent harassment despite internal complaints.
Biometrics class action tags timeclock maker EPay and one of its clients over worker face scans
A class action lawsuit has accused timeclock maker EPay Systems and a facilities maintenance company, All 1 Service, which uses EPay's timeclocks, of allegedly wrongly scanning workers' faces when they punch the clock, allegedly in violation of Illinois' biometrics privacy law.
Sargent Logistics accused in class action for scanning truck drivers' faces on the job
A class action lawsuit has accused trucking company Sargent Logistics of allegedly improperly scanning the faces of workers in the company's delivery vehicles, allegedly in violation of Illinois' biometrics privacy law.
Northwestern, Notre Dame among top U.S. colleges hit with class action over financial aid practices
A new class action lawsuit says some of America's top colleges and universities have for nearly two decades violated U.S. antitrust law by collectively making it harder for students to obtain need-based financial aid by forcing them to include non-custodial parent income on applications
Class action accuses Lakeshore Recycling of wrongly scanning trash collectors' faces while in their trucks
A class action lawsuit has accused waste collection company Lakeshore Recycling of allegedly wrongly scanning its trash truck drivers' faces while they are on the job, allegedly in violation of Illinois' biometrics privacy law.
Jury orders ex-Acadia owner McCaskey to pay former server $4.5M over alleged online harassment
A Cook County jury agreed chef Ryan McCaskey, former owner of the Acadia restaurant in Chicago, allegedly used internet aliases to try to mask a campaign of online harassment against ex-Acadia server Cody Nason in retaliation for sharing embarrassing stories about McCaskey to an Instagram account
Lawsuit: CTU has wrongly refused for years to release financial audits, show how spending members' dues
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four Chicago Teachers Union members, who say the union has violated its own rules in hiding spending reviews from its own members since 2020.
Lawsuit against Gotion not done yet, plaintiffs say, after judge calls first version 'unanswerable'
A Kankakee County judge said a group of Manteno residents trying to pull the plug on a huge lithium battery plant whose owners have ties to the Chinese Communist Party and which is backed by Gov. Pritzker have more work to do to back their claims officials rammed through an illegal project
IL Supreme Court questions if Smollett special prosecution wrongly undermined Foxx, set bad precedent
The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments concerning actor Jussie Smollett's bid to reverse his conviction for staging an infamous fake racially-motivated attack in 2019, that spurred a politically-motivated outcry of sympathy and demands for justice from Kamala Harris and other left-wing politicians and celebrities
Lawsuit: Anti-cop bias, politics at COPA producing 'tainted' investigations into Chicago police conduct
A deputy administrator at Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability says he was fired after shining light on alleged bias and political motives at the office under its current top administrator
IL Baptists plan to appeal ruling that IL abortion coverage mandate doesn't violate religious rights
A Springfield judge agreed with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul that the state's abortion health insurance coverage mandate doesn't violate religious objectors' rights because they can still buy health insurance from other states
Unions can defend vs attempts to force IL to clean up voter rolls, judge says
A federal judge in Chicago has given two powerful labor unions the right to fight in court against a lawsuit brought conservative activist groups seeking to force the state of Illinois more stringently comply with federal law requiring the state and local election authorities to purge voter rolls of dead and otherwise ineligible voters
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: Lawyers still can claim fees, even though incomplete agreements didn't comply with court rules
Clients fired attorneys shortly before settling dispute of multimillion-dollar estate
Plaintiff alleges Defendants committed Fraudulent Property Misrepresentation
A plaintiff has taken legal action against his estranged wife and her son over alleged fraudulent activities related to property ownership in Chicago. Filed in Cook County Circuit Court on September 25th by Hassan A. Muhammad against Maria Bailey and Kevin Bailey; this case highlights disputes involving marital separation complexities intertwined with real estate interests.
Former Employee Alleges Connex One Inc.'s Discrimination Under Civil Rights Act
Erica Franzen has filed a lawsuit against Connex One Inc., accusing them of sex-based discrimination and retaliation following her dismissal after reporting inappropriate conduct at work. The case highlights allegations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and seeks various forms of relief including compensation for lost wages and emotional distress damages.
Cook Courts clerk casts doubts on official numbers touting success of IL criminal justice reforms
Cook County Circuit Clerk Iris Martinez is calling for an independent analysis of court data being used to trumpet the success of Dems' criminal justice reform measures, saying an analysis by her office shows far more people are skipping court dates than are being acknowledged by official numbers
Cook County Judge Carl Boyd suspended from hearing cases after charged with domestic battery
Cook County Circuit Judge Carl Boyd was charged with domestic battery in an incident Chicago Police say left a woman with a cut on her cheek from broken glass. Boyd has served on the Cook County bench since 2012