Dan Churney News
ARDC accuses Chicago lawyer Mark McNabola of dishonesty, wrongly using jury note to turn trial loss into $25M settlement
State officials are seeking action against Chicago lawyer Mark McNabola, who allegedly engaged in various acts of misconduct, including allegedly wrongfully withholding information in court to clinch a $25 million settlement in a personal injury lawsuit.
Illinois Supreme Court: Lawyers representing themselves vs 'frivolous' suits, entitled to 'fees' for time lost
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that plaintiffs who press frivolous suits against lawyers representing themselves, can be made to pay the lawyer for time lost to his or her practice in defending against the suit.
Melrose Park hospital owners say village and Kim Foxx have no say whether privately run health care facility closes
The owner of Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park said village officials and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx have no skin in the game to keep the financially struggling facility open against the owner’s wishes.
AbbVie to pay $16.8M in fraud suit settlement, attorneys stand to bring in $5M
Plaintiffs’ attorneys stand to make $5 million from the proposed $16.75 million settlement of a class action suit by investors against North Chicago-based drugmaker AbbVie, which alleged the company hid information that led investors to lose money after AbbVie backed out of a merger with a European company.
Judge rules no proof Cook County Recorder's Office layoffs were politically motivated
CHICAGO -- A federal magistrate has tossed out a lawsuit by two former employees of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office, who alleged the office fired them for their perceived political ties to the previous Recorder. The judge found the allegations held little water.
Ex-sewage worker wins chance to argue Metro Water District fired him for being black, with 'alcohol disability'
A Chicago federal appellate court has reversed the dismissal of a suit by a man who claims the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago fired him because he is black and allegedly disabled by alcoholism, saying the man has presented plausible arguments for his case to continue, but not necessarily to prevail.
Appellate panel bars Chicago serial suer from more appeals; lawsuits targeted Northwestern Memorial, many others
An Illinois appeals panel has ruled that a Chicago woman behind repeated allegedly frivolous and improperly drawn lawsuits against Northwestern Memorial Hospital and others should be barred from further appeals unless she first obtains judicial approval.
Appeals panel says Cook County can't deny health insurance to retirees who leave the county to work elsewhere
A divided state appeals court has ruled Cook County cannot turn down health insurance coverage to retirees who left the county payroll to work elsewhere before retiring, saying the county's rules limiting coverage only to workers who retired while employed by Cook County are illegal.
Suit: Electric garbage truck maker says Chicago knew vehicles were 'experimental'
A truck maker being sued by the city of Chicago for allegedly dumping a defective electric garbage truck on the city, is counter suing, claiming the city knew the truck was “experimental” and needed “real-world testing” to achieve perfection.
Judge junks tow company's suit vs politically-connected Cicero town attorney, who is divorcing tow owner's daughter
A Cook County judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a Cicero tow truck operator against Cicero's politically-connected town lawyer, which accused the lawyer of sabotaging the tow operator's contract with the town of Cicero, when the tow company owner's daughter filed for divorce from the lawyer.
DeVry grad wants school to pay $450K to arbitrate his fraud claims; could affect $250M of other claims, too
A Pennsylvania man is asking a federal judge to order DeVry University to pay at least $450,000 in arbitration fees so an arbitrator can hear allegations the school misled graduates into believing their DeVry degree would easily land them well-paying jobs, resulting in an estimated $250 million in claims against the school.
McDonald's: Message sent to law firm's digital marketing agency may fry class action over non-competes
Fast-food giant McDonald's is trying to fry a lawsuit, which alleges the restaurant chain improperly restricts hiring among competing franchises, by demanding to know the contents of a message the plaintiff sent to a digital marketing firm attempting to drum up business for her eventual attorneys - a message which McDonald's contends might show the attorneys knew their lawsuit was filed too late.
Judge tosses suit against Chicago Options Exchange, says plaintiffs didn't show VIX exchange allowed manipulation
A Chicago federal judge has knocked down a putative class action against the Chicago Board Options Exchange, which alleged the exchange allowed anonymous traders to manipulate the market, saying plaintiffs failed to show the exchange knew of, much less encouraged any manipulation.
Ex-Democratic staffer: Chicago Teachers Union documents will show Madigan forces blackballed her for harassment complaint
A woman claiming Illinois Democrats, led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, have denied her jobs after she complained a Madigan operative sexually harassed her, is trying to force a reluctant Chicago Teachers Union to turn over documents to aid her lawsuit.
Disbarred Chicago lawyer accuses Illinois ARDC of fraud in having his law license pulled
A disbarred Chicago lawyer is alleging the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission acted fraudulently, in recommending the Illinois Supreme Court yank his law license for allegedly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in unwarranted fees from the estate of an elderly woman he represented, claiming the ARDC knew he deserved the money.
Dundee church could have spotted youth minister's alleged pedophilia, on hook for lawsuit
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled a church in suburban Dundee and its pastor can be liable for a youth minister's sexual assault of a teenage church member, finding the girl and her parents made a plausible case the church and its pastor could have headed off the assault by acting on signs the minister was allegedly a pedophile.
IL Sup Ct: Chicago can favor restaurants over food trucks; Decision written by Justice Anne Burke, wife of Chicago Ald. Ed Burke
The Illinois Supreme Court says the city of Chicago has the constitutional power to regulate where food trucks can park and how long they can stay in certain spots, as well as to track truck whereabouts with GPS devices.
Northwestern Hospital says law doesn't support 'nonsensical' privacy suit over fingerprint scans to dispense meds
A group of Northwestern Memorial Hospital have sued the hospital for requiring workers to scan fingerprints when entering a secured area in which medication was stored. Northwestern Hospital and the vendors who supplied the technology for the entrance security system are asking a federal judge to dismiss the workers' lawsuit, because state biometric privacy law does not cover the healthcare field.
Appeals panel says corporation can be sued as a 'person' for violence under IL Gender Violence Act
A divided Illinois appellate panel has ruled a corporation can, under limited circumstances, be liable as a "person" under the Illinois Gender Violence Act, should one of its employees violate that law.
Appeals court says Elgin didn't 'chill' religious rights of men accused of gang involvement
An Illinois appeals court has upheld a Kane County judge’s judgment the religious freedom of four self-avowed Christian men from Elgin, whom Elgin police accused of gang membership, was not hindered by an injunction the city tried to apply that would have barred them from associating with gang members.