Ann Maher News
Constitutional challenge may thwart new law banning out of state and anonymous contributions to judicial candidates
A new Illinois law prohibiting judicial candidates from accepting out-of-state and so-called "dark money" anonymous contributions is being called unconstitutional by a First Amendment advocacy group.
Hutsonville school district on 'probation' for not complying with mask mandate wins TRO for student athletes
For the time being, a tiny school district in south central Illinois with a population of approximately 350 K-12 students has prevailed in its challenge to the goliath state.
Judge sides with parents in challenge to Carlyle school district mask mandate
Clinton County Circuit Judge Don Sheafor on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order against Carlyle School District 1 and superintendent Annie Gray over the district's student mask mandate.
Teutopolis parents granted TRO in fight over school mask mandate
Fourth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Judge Douglas Jarman on Wednesday ruled against Teutopolis Unit 50 School District and its superintendent Matthew Sturgeon over the Effingham County school district's mask requirement.
Three running as Republicans for Overstreet's seat at the Fifth District
Greenville attorney Tom DeVore has announced he will seek a seat on the Fifth District Appellate Court in the 2022 general election.
Politicizing courts is 'last thing we should be doing in dark of night,' GOP senator says; Meier says 'very bad bill' intended to pack St. Clair Co
SPRINGFIELD - A bill redrawing judicial circuits in the Metro-East and Chicago suburbs passed the Illinois Senate at 3 a.m. on June 1, without public hearing or input from stakeholders.
Pritzker has days to take action on pre-judgment interest bill opponents say will drive up costs of goods, services
Governor JB Pritzker has a May 31 deadline to take action on a bill that would allow plaintiffs in lawsuits accusing hospitals, health care providers and other businesses and defendants of personal injuries or wrongful death to collect interest calculated from the time the lawsuit was filed, not just from the time judgment was entered.
Illinois House passes bill increasing pre-judgment interest for personal injury plaintiffs
House Bill 3360, sponsored by Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Rep. Marcus Evans, Jr. (D-Chicago), would lengthen the pre-judgment interest accrual period to when an alleged wrongdoer has notice of the injury versus when a plaintiff files suit.
Air monitoring for five Illinois cities to be considered by lawmakers at JCAR hearing
Illinois lawmakers will consider a requirement that ambient air in or around five cities be monitored for ethylene oxide levels during a meeting of the the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) Tuesday morning.
Update: In 7-0 decision, SupCo says Illinois courts lack specific personal jurisdiction over Bayer in non-resident claims
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of Bayer Corp., which challenged Madison County mass action suits involving more than 150 non-Illinoisans.
State rep seeks to vacate TRO against Pritzker; But says new info will strengthen case when he re-files
MT. VERNON - State Rep. Darren Bailey has asked the Fifth District Appellate Court to vacate a restraining order he won earlier this week against Gov. JB Pritzker over his stay-at-home order.
Citing unpredictable legislative and regulatory landscape in Illinois, Sterigenics says it will exit Willowbrook operations
Sterigenics has announced plans to exit its ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization operations in Willowbrook, in spite of approval it received from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on Sept. 20 to install emissions-capture technology at the shuttered plant.
State passes bill lifting 25-year statute of repose for occupational disease lawsuits
The state has passed a bill that lifts restrictions for when workers suffering from occupational disease, such as asbestos, must file suit against an employer.
Hale v. State Farm settles for $250 million
State Farm and plaintiffs have agreed to settle protracted RICO litigation for $250 million on the opening day of what was expected to be a long-running trial at federal court in East St. Louis.
Lisa Madigan won't seek re-election next year
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced on Twitter today that after serving 14 years, she will not seek re-election next year.
Social service agencies seek to replicate state workers' success, sue IL to compel payment
A group of state human and social service agencies and companies filed suit today in St. Clair County against Gov. Bruce Rauner and other state officials to force timely payments for services performed.
Chamber's Donohue urges lawmakers to make economic growth a priority
At a meeting today of Chicago area business owners and leaders, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue said the country needs to "restart the growth engine" with capital and other financial products and services that businesses and consumers need.
IL Atty. Gen. Madigan steps in, asks court to order IL to stop paying state workers til budget deal reached
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan seeks to break a protracted budget stalemate by putting pressure on Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislators in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Karmeier selected to serve as next chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court
Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier will be the next chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.
US Supreme Court refuses to revive overturned $10 billion tobacco verdict vs Philip Morris
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied review of an Illinois Supreme Court decision that cleared tobacco company Philip Morris of a $10 billion judgment. On June 20, the justices rejected a petition from plaintiff Sharon Price, who won the judgment in the court of former Madison County circuit judge Nicholas Byron in 2003. The Supreme Court had denied review of the same case in 2006, after the Illinois Supreme Court reversed Byron.