Dan Churney News
Federal judge nixes plaintiffs' bid to downplay damages, send BIPA class action back to Cook County court
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.
Appeals court: Disbarred McHenry County lawyer has no basis for malicious-prosecution suit against ex-wife
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 judge: Strip club's use of images may have jeopardized models' 'brands'
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.
Judge says football helmet lawsuit vs Riddell too complex to make a class action
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.”
Judge lets suburban doc continue lawsuit vs doctor with same name imprisoned over opioid 'pill mill'
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.
Chicago tries to put brakes on red light camera suit, says plaintiffs waited too long; plaintiffs say there's no time limit
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."
Appeals panel: Underinsured motorist coverage doesn't require State Farm, other insurers to pay more than policy
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.
Lawsuit: Highland Park marijuana dispensary sale goes to pot over Illinois’ 5-license limit
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.
Two Chicago lawyers accused of pushing alleged phony defamation suit for 'entertainment,' coercion
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.
Split appeals panel: Worker waited too long to sue contractor that installed switch for machine that injured his hand
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.
Gonzales alleges Madigan, allies ‘betrayed democracy’ with sham candidates in primary
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.
Loop lawyer, condo owner alleges condo association's attorneys defamed him
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.
GSK: Widow's request to restore $3M verdict in suicide suit would destabilize legal system
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.
Madigan forces claim nothing wrong with placing 'sham' candidates on ballot to defeat Hispanic opponent
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.
Appeals court won't turn off ICC approval of Peoples Gas plan that is jacking up monthly bills
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.
Appeals panel: Male Purdue student suspended, kicked out of ROTC in 'fundamentally unfair' sex assault investigation
A federal appeals court has ruled a former Purdue University student has made a plausible case that the school wrongly suspended him, on the basis of his gender, for alleged sexual misdeeds against a female student, which he said ruined his ambition to become a naval officer, based on a process judges said "fell short" of what is required to suspend a high school student for misbehavior.
Widow asks federal judge to reinstate $3M verdict vs GSK in suicide suit, despite SCOTUS appeal rejection
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent refusal to hear her case, the widow of a Chicago man, who killed himself after allegedly taking the generic form of the antidepressant Paxil, is trying to have a federal district judge restore her $3 million verdict against drugmaker GSK, because the company allegedly didn’t push federal regulators to revise the drug’s warning label.
IL appeals court lets insurer off hook for Chicago lawyer McNabola's effort to collect fees in $25M settlement
An Illinois appeals panel has reversed a Cook County judge who ruled an insurer had to cover Chicago lawyer Mark McNabola's fight to collect fees from a clouded $25 million settlement.
Cook County official argues lawsuit against Facebook should remain in Illinois
Lawyers for Cook County are arguing the county can continue its lawsuit in Cook County court against Facebook, which alleges the company let user data be mined to aid President Donald Trump’s election campaign, because Facebook drew a bull's-eye on Illinois residents.
Blue Island police officer alleges higher-ups, state reps tried to stymie probe into boy's death
A police sergeant in suburban Blue Island is suing city officials and two state representatives, alleging they engineered his suspension on trumped-up grounds, because his investigation into a boy’s hit-and-run death led to a suspect with Democratic Party ties whom they wished to protect.