Bethany Krajelis News
Seventh Circuit finds ConAgra not liable for grain bin explosion; tosses its share of $180M jury award
EasterbrookOverturning its share of a nearly $180 million jury award, a federal appeals panel on Tuesday found ConAgra Foods Inc. not liable for a 2010 explosion in a southern Illinois grain elevator because it had hired a self-proclaimed expert to deal with smoldering bin before it blew up and injured three men.In its 10-page opinion, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals said U.S. District Judge Michael
Judge to Prenda attorney: "Mr. Duffy, this is not a game"
DuffyAfter issuing two warnings and reminding attorney Paul Duffy why he and Prenda Law were sanctioned in the first place, a Chicago federal judge today denied the embattled firm’s motion to stay payment of the $11,000-plus sanctions award in the defamation case the duo brought last year.“Mr. Duffy, this is not a game,” U.S. District Judge John Darrah said. “Do you understand that?”Duffy, who attended
Drug companies seek dismissal of city's opioid lawsuit; claim issues fall within FDA's jurisdiction
..Competing drug makers have joined forces to ask a federal judge to toss a lawsuit the City of Chicago brought earlier this summer over accusations they deceptively marketed opioid painkillers.In a 56-page memo filed late Friday, the defendant drug companies claim the primary jurisdiction doctrine warrants a dismissal or stay of the city’s complaint as it jumps the gun by trying to make Chicago’s
Supreme Court building reopens following restoration; Justices offer rare tour of living quarters
Illinois Supreme Court Courtroom
Updated: Supreme Court denies term limit appeal
The Illinois Supreme Court today denied a petition seeking review of a recent appellate court ruling rejecting a term limit ballot initiative as unconstitutional.
R. Kelly files breach of contract suit in Chicago against promoters over "One Love Order at the Border" festival
Performer R. Kelly is suing the promoters of a music festival that took place last month in Canada, claiming they used his name to promote the event before he even signed an agreement and then continued to do so after they told him they didn’t plan to honor the $200,000 deal.
Split appeals panel: Chicago Bears owe county $4M in delinquent amusement taxes
The Chicago Bears owe slightly more than $4 million to the county in amusement taxes that the team didn’t properly pay on club-level seats and luxury suites, a split appeals panel held Wednesday.
Judge gives preliminary OK to $75.5M proposed settlement in TCPA class action; believed to be largest of its kind
HoldermanA federal judge late last month gave a preliminary thumbs-up to what is being dubbed the largest settlement in the two decade-plus history of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.If the agreement receives the judge’s final stamp of approval in December, Capital One and a trio of collection agencies will have to put nearly $75.5 million into a fund to settle a combined class action suit over
Woman blames Mexican restaurant for leg burns, claims its chili con queso was "unreasonably hot"
A Mexican restaurant is facing a lawsuit from a Lansing woman who claims she burned her legs on a carry-out order of chili con queso.
Seventh Circuit rejects Prenda trio's Lightspeed appeal, upholds sanctions award and contempt finding
WoodThe Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals late last week upheld a quarter of a million dollar sanctions award and a contempt finding against a trio of attorneys believed to be behind the now-dissolved Prenda Law firm.In its 24-page ruling in Lightspeed Media Corp. v. Anthony Smith, et al., the federal appeals panel rejected every argument Paul Duffy, Paul Hansmeier and John Steele presented, saying
Illinois Supreme Court denies motion for direct appeal over rejected term limit proposal
Backers of a ballot initiative seeking to impose term limits on state lawmakers will not be able to appeal a ruling that deemed their proposal unconstitutional directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.The high court today issued a one-sentence order, denying a motion for a direct appeal filed last month by the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits, an intervenor in Frank Clark et. al, v. Illinois
ARDC lodges complaint against former Cook County prosecutor accused of biting a man in 2012
A former Cook County prosecutor who was accused of biting a man’s leg during a scuffle at a lingerie store on the city’s North Side is now facing potential attorney discipline over the 2012 incident that led to a handful of criminal charges she was later acquitted of.
Blackhawks' fan hit by puck at playoffs game prepping for potential shot at lawsuit
A Chicago Blackhawks’ fan who claims he sustained neurological injuries after a puck hit him in the head at a Stanley Cup Playoff game appears to be looking into filing a lawsuit, but wants some more information so he can aim it in the right direction.
Seventh Circuit OKs Chicago's ward map for 2015 aldermanic elections
A federal appeals panel today upheld the City of Chicago’s new ward map as constitutional.
Supreme Court set to rule on constitutional challenge over state retiree health insurance law
The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday is expected to decide whether a law requiring state retirees to start paying premiums for their health insurance is constitutional.The anticipated ruling in Roger Kanerva et al., etc. v. Malcolm Weems, etc., et al. will not only resolve the constitutional question for thousands of retirees affected by the new law, but will likely provide court watchers and state
Judge issues emergency order blocking bond sales in City of Harvey
A federal judge has temporarily barred the City of Harvey from selling municipal bonds.
SEC accuses City of Harvey, comptroller of diverting bond proceeds; seeks restraining order to prevent future sales
The City of Harvey and its comptroller have diverted at least $1.7 million of bond proceeds earmarked for a hotel redevelopment project, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.