Chandra Lye News
Changes in employment regulation, permitted litigation practices could hit businesses large and small in Illinois
A labor lawyer says employers should start becoming mindful of the scope of the changes to employment regulations and litigation practices in Illinois in recent months.
Appeals court ends bank examiner's try to sue bank for icy slip-and-fall injuries
A state appeals court has turned aside a bank examiner's attempt to sue a bank and snow removal company over a slip-and-fall in a bank parking lot that knocked her unconcious nearly five years ago.
Decision for Soldier Field lot operator SP Plus in woman's trip-and-fall suit overturned on appeal
A state appeals panel overruled a Cook County judge, finding a woman may be allowed to continue with her personal injurylawsuit against the company that manages a parking lot near Soldier Field, as they said the Cook County judge may have erred in finding the low pole over which the woman allegedly tripped while leaving an event may not have been as open and obvious as the lower court judge believed.
Ex-St. Stanislaus parish music director loses job discrimination case; ministerial exception applies
A federal judge has closed the book on age and nationality discrimination allegations brought against the Catholic Bishop of Chicago by a Polish former parish music director, as the judge said the music director and organist should be considered a "ministerial" employee, and thus exempt from certain anti-discrimination employment rules.
Checkers, Vibes Media can't dismiss text ads class action yet, judge says
A federal judge has denied a request by drive-in fast food restaurant chain Checkers and Vibes Media LLC to throw out a class action lawsuit accusing them of sending text messages to customers without including instructions for how to stop more from coming.
Appeals panel: Slip-and-fall at former Time Chicago nightclub not the owners' fault
The owners of the now-shuttered Time Chicago nightclub has escaped a woman's attempt to sue over a slip-and-fall incident she blamed on a spill that would "reaccumulate" in the packed club.
Lawyer says SCOTUS decision encourages whistleblowers to report to SEC, not to employers internally
A recent Supreme Court ruling may lead to more whistleblowers reporting alleged infractions within their companies to the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), rather than beginning the process first in-house, according to one legal expert
Property tax lawyer questions validity of Cook County tax system review
A review of the Cook County property tax system may be nothing more than a political witch hunt, according to a local property tax attorney.
Summary judgment granted for trucking company YRC Worldwide in racial discrimination case
A federal judge has granted summary judgment in favor of a trucking company in a racial discrimination case brought by former workers.
7th Circuit says Chicago doesn't owe cops OT for off-duty emails; lawyer says shows need for clear policy
A federal appeals court has backed Chicago City Hall in its dispute with a group of police officers who claimed they should be paid overtime for off-duty emailing on their official Blackberrys. And that decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit demonstrates the importance for employers to have a clearly defined policy on overtime work for employees
First District appeals court reinstates woman's wrongful demolition case against Chicago City Hall
A woman has been given another chance to press her claim that the city of Chicago unlawfully demolished a property she co-owned, after a state appeals court reversed a decision by a Cook County judge to dismiss her case.
District court judge grants win to Comcast, other pay TV service providers in channel menu patent case
A Chicago federal judge has granted pay TV services, including Comcast, a reprieve from a patent infringement lawsuit over the companies' use of on-screen channel scrolling guides and menus.
Supreme Court ruling could mean more litigation against religiously affiliated hospitals over pensions, expert says
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow religiously affiliated hospitals to be included in the religious exemption of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) may lead to further litigation against such organizations in the future.
Hospitals could face more litigation, costs from property taxes following IL Supreme Court decision
The Illinois Supreme Court's decision earlier this year to punt on the question of whether hospitals should maintain property tax exemptions could yet prove costly for some hospitals, until the state high court ultimately clears up legal questions surrounding the exemptions for the nonprofit health care organizations.
New York appeals court decision involving Illinois-based Allied could mean changes for out-of-state contracts
A recent decision by an appeals court in New York involving an Illinois-based moving company could have a widespread impact on companies that have out-of-state contracts with franchisees or affiliates. The decision essentially stated that out-of-state companies cannot impose their workplace policies on their affiliates in New York if those policies are counter to state law.
Trade secrets lawsuit highlights need for company computer policies, expert says
A dispute between two companies over trade secrets is a warning to other businesses about a need for strict computer policies, to help prevent lawsuits over the disclosure of trade secrets, one expert lawyer said.
Court dismisses application to require arbitration with consumer in collection case
A creditor's attempt to compel arbitration in a credit card collection case has been dismissed by a Chicago federal judge, after the judge agreed there were questions in whether the borrower had actually agreed to be bound to pursue her claims through arbitration.
Illinois A/G: Education funding complaints rising, lands on 2016 Top 10 consumer complaints list
The Illinois Attorney General’s office the number of education funding complaints by consumers continued to increase in 2016, landing such complaints a top ranking on the Attorney General's annual list of top consumer complaints in 2016.
SCOTUS OKs discrimination lawsuits vs schools, even as administrative proceedings continue
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of a disabled child’s parents in a dispute with the child’s school, saying the family was allowed to sue the school district over its decision to bar her from bringing her service dog to school. And while it could portend more lawsuits vs school districts, school districts shouldn't panic just yet.
IL gay conversion therapy ban doesn't apply to pastors, religious counselors, judge says
A group of Illinois Christian pastors have hailed a Chicago federal judge's decision to dismiss their case challenging an Illinois state law governing so-called gay conversion therapy, saying the judge's ruling establishes legal protections for private religious counselors.