Lawsuits
Judge: Speedway will need settlement or trial to end class action over worker fingerprint scans
A federal judge rejected attempts by Speedway to avoid paying out millions of dollars or more to as many as 7,200 workers at its Illinois stores for allegedly wrongly requiring them to scan their fingerprints when punching the clock at work, as part of a class action under Illinois' biometrics privacy law
Hot Topics
Lawsuit against Gotion not done yet, plaintiffs say, after judge calls first version 'unanswerable'
Lawsuits
Judge: Revlon can't yet use bankruptcy court orders to pare down hair relaxer lawsuits
Elections
Niles voters can't decide if village ethics board members should be elected: Appeals panel
Members of ethics board aren't 'officers' along lines of trustees or mayor
Lawsuits
$60M deal makes insurer new target in Jason Cloth movie financing Ponzi scheme suit
The settlement ends the claims against financial advisor Schmidt Advisory Services, who allegedly acted as the Chicago area middleman used by Canadian movie financier to allegedly raise $100M+ to finance an alleged Ponzi scheme from investors who were promised big returns from film projects
Ronald Andermann, a candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives District 53 in northwest Cook County, offers his thoughts on a new Illinois state law that Republicans and others say was designed to keep Andermann and others off the ballot this fall. Andermann is one of the co-plaintiffs challenging the law in court.
From Madison Record
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
Tenant Sues Property Management Company Over Hidden Fees
A new class-action lawsuit accuses a major property management company of inflating rental costs through hidden fees for basic services like pest control and trash removal. Filed by Stephany Williams in Illinois federal court on behalf of affected tenants, the suit seeks damages and an end to these deceptive practices.
Federal Court
Father Sues Charter School Principal for Interference with Parental Rights
Raul Vasquez has filed a lawsuit against CICS Bucktown principal Kory T. Kliebert alleging interference with his parental rights through fraudulent enrollment practices and retaliatory actions aimed at manipulating custody determinations in favor of his soon-to-be ex-wife. The case was filed in the Northern District of Illinois on September 16th.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Discrimination Against Housing Association
Beatrice Aponte has filed a lawsuit against The Oak Brook Club Association alleging racial discrimination and harassment during her employment as an administrative assistant. The suit details multiple incidents involving derogatory remarks about her race and national origin as well as retaliation for speaking out against such behavior.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Disability Discrimination Against New Choice Intervention
Brianna Jackson has filed a lawsuit against New Choice Intervention Inc., alleging multiple violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The complaint includes accusations of discrimination based on disability, failure to accommodate said disability, harassment related to disability status, and retaliatory actions following requests for reasonable accommodations.
Federal Court
Truck Driver Alleges Disability Discrimination Against Logistics Companies
A truck driver has filed a lawsuit against two logistics companies alleging disability discrimination after being terminated due to his hearing aid. The suit claims violations under the ADA including failure to accommodate and retaliation.
Federal Court
Patient Alleges Major Healthcare Provider Failed to Protect Sensitive Data
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Illinois Bone and Joint Institute (IBJI) by Alexandra Phelps in response to a significant data breach affecting nearly 183,000 patients' sensitive personal information. The suit claims that IBJI failed to implement adequate cybersecurity measures leading to unauthorized access by hackers who remained undetected for over a month.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Staffing Agency and Manufacturer
Ricky Nelson has filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against Aerotek Inc., a staffing agency, and Atkore Management Inc., a manufacturer specializing in electrical products. The suit claims violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act following Nelson's termination in January 2024.
State Court
Professor Sues DePaul University Over Alleged Contract Breach Following Controversial Article
A tenured philosophy professor at DePaul University has filed a lawsuit against his employer alleging breach of contract after facing criticism for an article he wrote supporting Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories. The court dismissed most claims due to insufficient evidence while highlighting key legal principles regarding academic freedom and defamation.
Federal Court
Plaintiff Alleges Trucking Company Misclassified Drivers as Independent Contractors
Alex Theodore has filed a class-action lawsuit against Bravo Express Transportation Co., alleging misclassification of truck drivers as independent contractors rather than employees and numerous wage violations under state and federal laws.
Judge: Speedway will need settlement or trial to end class action over worker fingerprint scans
A federal judge rejected attempts by Speedway to avoid paying out millions of dollars or more to as many as 7,200 workers at its Illinois stores for allegedly wrongly requiring them to scan their fingerprints when punching the clock at work, as part of a class action under Illinois' biometrics privacy law
Judge: Revlon can't yet use bankruptcy court orders to pare down hair relaxer lawsuits
A Chicago federal judge rejected Revlon's attempt to pull the plug on what Revlon said was an attempt by plaintiffs to use class action litigation to pull an "end-run around" orders from a New York bankruptcy court limiting the number of lawsuits Revlon must face claiming its hair relaxer products caused cancer
$60M deal makes insurer new target in Jason Cloth movie financing Ponzi scheme suit
The settlement ends the claims against financial advisor Schmidt Advisory Services, who allegedly acted as the Chicago area middleman used by Canadian movie financier to allegedly raise $100M+ to finance an alleged Ponzi scheme from investors who were promised big returns from film projects
Judge: Airline pilots can't sue union, United over airline's Covid vax mandate
Though Florida residents, neither plaintiff allowed to sue under that state's laws
Jury awards $50M to man who said was wrongly imprisoned as accomplice to murder
Marcel Brown had been sentenced to 35 years as an accomplice in a 2008 murder, after he drove an accused gunman to a city park to take part in a feud among rival groups. Cook County prosecutors dropped charges 10 years later, saying Brown was denied a lawyer during questioning that led to a confession
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
Illinois ban on carrying concealed weapons on transit unconstitutional, judge says
A Rockford federal judge particularly called a legal theory advanced by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx that government can ban guns on all public property "breathtaking, jawdropping, and eyepopping" for the harm it could deliver to constitutional rights everywhere
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
Professor Sues DePaul University Over Alleged Contract Breach Following Controversial Article
A tenured philosophy professor at DePaul University has filed a lawsuit against his employer alleging breach of contract after facing criticism for an article he wrote supporting Israel's annexation of Palestinian territories. The court dismissed most claims due to insufficient evidence while highlighting key legal principles regarding academic freedom and defamation.
Insurance Company Not Obligated To Defend Grocery Chain In Biometric Data Lawsuit
In a recent ruling by the Appellate Court of Illinois dated September 10th, Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London were found not obligated to defend Tony’s Finer Foods Enterprises in a class action lawsuit alleging violations of biometric privacy laws. The decision overturns an earlier ruling by the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Father Sues Charter School Principal for Interference with Parental Rights
Raul Vasquez has filed a lawsuit against CICS Bucktown principal Kory T. Kliebert alleging interference with his parental rights through fraudulent enrollment practices and retaliatory actions aimed at manipulating custody determinations in favor of his soon-to-be ex-wife. The case was filed in the Northern District of Illinois on September 16th.
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