Cook County Record

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Dan Churney News

Campaigns & Elections

Appeals court says IL Auditor Mautino subject to fines for alleged campaign finance violations

By Dan Churney | Aug 21, 2019

An Illinois appeals court ruled the Illinois Board of Elections should consider fining Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino for alleged campaign finance irregularities, committed while Mautino was a state representative.

Federal Court

Kraft Foods: Feds breached $16M deal by ‘touting’ victory in wheat price manipulation action

By Dan Churney | Aug 19, 2019

Kraft Foods alleges federal trade regulators quickly spoiled a settlement agreement in which Kraft agreed to pay $16 million to end a suit alleging it had manipulated wheat prices, by braying to the public about their purported triumph over Kraft in the case.

State Court

Appeals court: State of IL can sue community colleges accused of boosting student success numbers to boost state money

By Dan Churney | Aug 16, 2019

An Illinois appeals panel has ruled the Illinois state government can sue another Illinois state entity under the Illinois False Claims Act, in a suit alleging a downstate community college district gave the state the shaft by inflating credit hours of mining students to extract extra grant money from Springfield.

Federal Court

Realtor group asks judge to slam door on class action antitrust lawsuit over MLS, agent compensation rules

By Dan Churney | Aug 14, 2019

The Chicago-based National Association of Realtors is asking a federal judge to toss a class action suit by a group of home sellers, which alleges real estate agents across the country breached antitrust law by scheming to lock in high commission rates, because brokers are free to negotiate compensation.

Hot Topics

Taxpayer suit says state constitution drafters would be 'horrified' to see long-term debt issued to fund Illinois’ structural budget deficits

By Dan Churney | Aug 14, 2019

Plaintiffs suing to bar Illinois' government from treating borrowing like tax revenue are asking a state judge for the chance to make the case that two state bond issues are illegal and prohibited by the Illinois State Constitution.

Hot Topics

Federal judge nixes plaintiffs' bid to downplay damages, send BIPA class action back to Cook County court

By Dan Churney | Aug 13, 2019

A Chicago federal judge has ruled a putative class action suit by a former worker at a Cicero bakery, who alleged her employer breached biometric privacy law, should stay in federal court, as the judge took a dim view of an attempt by the plaintiffs to downplay their own potential damages demands in a bid to get the case kicked back to a Cook County courtroom.

Lawsuits

Appeals court: Disbarred McHenry County lawyer has no basis for malicious-prosecution suit against ex-wife

By Dan Churney | Aug 8, 2019

An Illinois appeals panel rejected a lawsuit by a disbarred McHenry County lawyer who claimed his former wife defamed him and had him falsely charged with harassment, finding his allegations "unreasonable" and lacking "precision."

Federal Court

Federal judge: Strip club's use of images may have jeopardized models' 'brands'

By Dan Churney | Aug 7, 2019

A federal judge is allowing a suit by two models to proceed against a downstate Illinois strip club, which alleges the club used the models’ photos to advertise the establishment without permission, saying the two women may enjoy enough fame for their images to be protected as brands.

Lawsuits

Judge says football helmet lawsuit vs Riddell too complex to make a class action

By Dan Churney | Aug 6, 2019

A Chicago federal judge has sidelined an effort by a group of former football players to pursue a suit as a class action against the maker of allegedly unsafe helmets, finding a class action would present “enormous manageability problems.”

Lawsuits

Judge lets suburban doc continue lawsuit vs doctor with same name imprisoned over opioid 'pill mill'

By Dan Churney | Aug 5, 2019

A Chicago federal judge has ruled a suburban doctor's lawsuit against another doctor for allegedly taking advantage of the coincidence of having the same name as the first doctor to abet criminal opioid distribution may advance.

Hot Topics

Chicago tries to put brakes on red light camera suit, says plaintiffs waited too long; plaintiffs say there's no time limit

By Dan Churney | Aug 3, 2019

Chicago city attorneys are asking a Cook County judge to toss another class action vs the city over red light camera tickets, contending the suit was lodged too late and second notices were not required anyway. Plaintiffs say the city is asking the court to rescue it from a "quagmire of its own making."

State Court

Appeals panel: Underinsured motorist coverage doesn't require State Farm, other insurers to pay more than policy

By Dan Churney | Jul 30, 2019

A state appeals court has sided with Illinois-based insurance giant State Farm, ruling underinsured motorist coverage is meant to make up the difference between what an injured party deserves and the coverage carried by an underinsured driver who is at fault.

Federal Court

Lawsuit: Highland Park marijuana dispensary sale goes to pot over Illinois’ 5-license limit

By Dan Churney | Jul 29, 2019

A suburban Chicago marijuana dispensary is in court against an Arizona-based chain of marijuana outlets, alleging the chain agreed to buy the dispensary but invalidated the deal by looking to obtain more dispensary licenses than it can legally hold in Illinois.

State Court

Two Chicago lawyers accused of pushing alleged phony defamation suit for 'entertainment,' coercion

By Dan Churney | Jul 25, 2019

A Cook County man is suing two Chicago lawyers, alleging they pressed a bogus defamation suit to coerce and “financially ruin” the man with legal fees, while costing the lawyers, because they are lawyers, next to nothing.

State Court

Split appeals panel: Worker waited too long to sue contractor that installed switch for machine that injured his hand

By Dan Churney | Jul 22, 2019

A divided Illinois appeals court has ruled a man injured in a Chicago area workplace accident dawdled too long before suing the contractor who installed allegedly faulty machinery. However, the dissenting justice said the majority "penalized" the worker by unreasonably expecting him to have immediately known the contractor had done the installation.

Campaigns & Elections

Gonzales alleges Madigan, allies ‘betrayed democracy’ with sham candidates in primary

By Dan Churney | Jul 22, 2019

An unsuccessful election opponent of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is suing the speaker and his “minions” for allegedly running “sham” candidates to draw votes from him, is arguing that Madigan’s motion to toss the suit should be rejected because Madigan forces “debased” the voting process.

State Court

Loop lawyer, condo owner alleges condo association's attorneys defamed him

By Dan Churney | Jul 16, 2019

A lawyer who owns a Loop condominium and has been embroiled in legal spat with his condo association for years is now suing three fellow condo owners and the condo association's attorneys, alleging they impugned his integrity by telling condo residents he was allegedly delaying a suit by the association against him through “frivolous” and "dilatory" motions.

Federal Court

GSK: Widow's request to restore $3M verdict in suicide suit would destabilize legal system

By Dan Churney | Jul 15, 2019

A drug company sued by the widow of a Chicago man, who killed himself after taking the generic form of the antidepressant Paxil, argues that the widow has launched a “frivolous," “topsy-turvy” and "unprecedented" effort to have a Chicago federal district judge override the U.S. Supreme Court and restore a $3 million verdict.

Elections

Madigan forces claim nothing wrong with placing 'sham' candidates on ballot to defeat Hispanic opponent

By Dan Churney | Jul 11, 2019

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and some of his allies are arguing they were exercising free speech when they allegedly ran two Hispanic "sham candidates" to lure votes from a Hispanic primary challenger to Madigan, who is now suing Madigan and others on grounds such alleged tactics were unlawful.

State Court

Appeals court won't turn off ICC approval of Peoples Gas plan that is jacking up monthly bills

By Dan Churney | Jul 9, 2019

A state appeals panel has refused to shut off an order by the Illinois Commerce Commission that allows Peoples Gas to implement a modernization program that is driving up natural gas costs for most of Chicago.