Dan Churney News
Appeals panel: Land owner can keep suing Cook County Forest Preserve to undo land sale forced under faulty ordinance
An appellate court has ruled it is irrelevant if a land owner knew an eminent domain ordinance was void to continue suing to undo the forced sale of his property to the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
IL High Court says plaintiff can switch doctor from 'expert witness' to 'consultant' before medmal trial
In a suit involving Chicago's Mercy Hospital, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled a witness may be first designated as an expert then be renamed a consultant, which shields the consultant from the discovery process.
Judge says paroled IL sex offenders can press class action vs state over restricted access to their own kids
A federal judge has said three sex offenders can press a class action against the Illinois Department of Corrections, which claims the Department wrongly makes offenders get state permission before having contact with their own minor children.
Pritzker keeps push to lift feds oversight of state hiring, says law only blocks forced political work
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is arguing federal oversight of state employment practices is limited to stopping political coercion of workers, but federal watchdogs say that reading of the law and related court orders is "crabbed" and a "sleight of hand" to skirt needed oversight.
IL Supreme Court: Employees who work from home in Cook County not enough to keep lawsuit in Cook County court vs out-of-county biz
The Illinois High Court has dealt a blow to lawyers, who lodge personal injury suits in Cook County because of the county's reputation for favoring plaintiffs.
Judge tosses RICO suit accusing Loop high rise manager of conspiring to force tenants to hire union contractors
A federal judge has brought down a suit against the manager of a Loop building, which alleged the manager conspired with unions to force tenants to use union labor, saying there isn't enough evidence to support illegal "hot cargo" conspiracy claims.
Judge won't budge, lets defamation suit by Osundairo brothers proceed against Smollet attorney
A Chicago federal judge has again refused to kill off a defamation suit against one of Jussie Smollet's attorneys, filed by the Nigerian brothers who police said helped Smollet fake a racist attack, saying the attorney simply "rehashed" failed arguments.
IL High Court says workers' comp can apply to everyday acts done on boss' behalf, in support of coworkers on the job
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission was wrong to deny benefits to a man, who tore his knee on the job, saying that kneeling, although a common movement, was required by his job.
IL Supreme Court: Nursing home didn't change hands to avoid tab in discrimination suit, not on hook for worker's pay
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled the operator of a defunct suburban nursing home, not the current owner, is liable in a discrimination case.
Appeals panel: Engineer allegedly acted intentionally in Crestwood water coverup, so no insurance coverage for $18M settlement
A divided state appeals court has ruled an insurance company doesn't have to pay a Lockport engineering firm's $18 million settlement with Crestwood residents, who alleged the firm kept knowledge of the village's contaminated water supply secret.
U.S. appeals panel tells judge he can't put hold on lawsuit vs Cook County over property tax assessments
A federal appeals court has told a judge to proceed with a taxpayer suit against Cook County, which claims the county unfairly assesses certain properties, saying the judge overstepped his bounds in halting the case, while the county asks the nation's high court to hear the matter.
Appeals court: Swami's web marketing work for Hindu temple still 'spiritual,' doesn't put temple on line for OT pay
A split Illinois appeals panel has ruled a swami, who claimed her Hindu temple in Chicago did not pay her overtime for marketing work, was not entitled to such pay, because she was an exempt religious worker.
Cook Co. loses bid for sanctions against Bank of America attorneys in reverse redlining suit
A federal judge has refused Cook County's request to sanction Bank of America attorneys in suit alleging the bank made discriminatory loans
Appeals court says suit seeking to stop Obama Center doesn't belong in federal court
U.S. appeals panel tosses suit seeking to block Obama center in Jackson Park, says case belongs in state court
Appeals panel: Three Wisconsin power providers have skin in the game to fight environmental suit to stop transmission lines project
A Chicago federal appeals court says Wisconsin power companies have too much at stake to block them from fighting environmental activists' lawsuit to block a transmission lines project.
Appeals court: Grubhub drivers can't sue for OT pay; Drivers not the same as truckers, RR workers
Chicago appeals panel says Grubhub drivers don't engage in interstate commerce, so must arbitrate wage disputes over OT pay, can't sue
Oakbrook Terrace, ex-mayor Ragucci, other defendants seek to toss class action alleging red light camera bribes
Oakbrook Terrace village and its ex-mayor Tony Ragucci, who was found with $60,000 in cash in his home by the FBI, wants suit tossed, which alleges Oakbrook Terrace officials schemed to install red light cameras for fines, not safety.
Appeals panel: Temp worker may have 'waived' workers' comp eligibility, potentially letting him sue over on-job injuries
A split Illinois appeals panel has ruled a temporary worker, injured while working at a suburban candy plant, can sidestep the state's worker's comp system and sue his temporary employer because the temp worker may have believed he waived his eligibility for workers' compensation, even though he cannot do so under Illinois law.
Pritzker says federal court-appointed hiring monitor no longer needed, state government has 'reformed' itself
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is saying the state has cleaned up its employment practices, so a federal court-appointed hiring monitor can close up shop
Appeals court: Bankruptcy judges must have strong reason to let scofflaws skip parking tickets, other car fines
A Chicago federal appeals panel has confirmed for the third time that debtors can't use bankruptcy court to avoid paying traffic and parking fines.