Dan Churney News
Split IL high court says doctors can face wrongful death suits for certain abortions; Dissent: Legal abortion can't be wrongful death
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled two suburban doctors can be sued for performing a surgery on a woman, who they did not know was pregnant at the time, resulting in injuries to the fetus in her womb, which she claims led her to have an abortion.
Appeals panel: Calif-based maker of medical device component can't use lack of direct sales in IL to escape suit in Cook County
An state appeals panel has ruled Cook County Circuit Court has jurisdiction, in a medical malpractice suit, over an out-of-state medical device manufacturer, because the company and its distributor both sell the device in Illinois
IL Supreme Court: Jury instructions don't trigger new medmal trial for family of woman who died at Mercy Hospital
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled a jury in a Cook County medical malpractice case, did not need proposed instructions on plaintiff's loss of chance, saying the instruction the judge did give on proximate cause was sufficient.
IL High Court says juror's tie to Advocate Medical no reason for removal from medical negligence trial
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled it was proper for a Cook County judge to keep a juror seated in a malpractice suit trial against Advocate Medical Group, saying even though the juror had a business tie to Advocate, the link was too distant to influence the juror.
Judge says Chicago city workers have no constitutional right to spurn vaccinations
A federal judge has explained he recently refused to block the governor and Chicago mayor from forcing COVID-19 vaccinations upon city workers, saying the workers' evidence against the value of vaccines was "slim" and the city's evidence in favor was "substantial."
IL High Court says California domestic battery conviction doesn't strip Illinois man of right to own guns in IL
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled state police were wrong to pull an Illinois man's FOID card over a 20-year-old domestic battery rap.
Appeals court: Ex-Chicago Police sergeant deserved to be fired for signing off on false Laquan McDonald reports
An appellate panel has ruled the Chicago Police Board was correct to fire a sergeant for allegedly OK'ing dubious officer reports in the Laquan McDonald case
Wrongfully imprisoned man can't sue city of Chicago after getting $7.6M from earlier suit vs Chicago cops
A judge has refused to let a man wrongfully imprisoned a quarter century, who already successfully sued Chicago police, now sue the city of Chicago, saying the city already compensated the man when it paid a $7.6 million judgment against the officers.
Judge says Conscience Act protects Catholic nurse who refused to handle birth control, abortion referrals
A Rockford judge has ruled the Winnebago County Health Department was wrong to deny continued employment to a Catholic nurse who objected to the department's contraception and abortion referral services, saying the agency could have done more to accommodate her conscience.
Metra says judge was off track in ruling Union Pacific can cease northwest suburban Chicago commuter trains
Metra wants to derail a judge's ruling that Union Pacific does not have to run commuter lines in northwest Chicago, arguing the judge committed a "manifest injustice" in refusing to consider the railroad was contractually obligated to keep operating the service.
Judge bounces court reporter's sex discrimination suit vs chief judge, over bullying by other Black female court reporters
A Chicago federal judge has tossed a sex discrimination lawsuit by a black female Cook County court reporter, who alleged some of her fellow black court employees bullied her for associating with white court personnel, ruling the alleged harassment was not based on the reporter's gender.
Chicago school board, teachers union ask SCOTUS to toss suit claiming union dues unconstitutionally choke teachers' free speech
The Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Board of Education are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to refuse a request for a hearing by two teachers, who claim the union violated their free speech by deducting dues to subsidize political positions without their consent.
Two objectors fail to hold up $92M settlement of TikTok privacy class actions
A Chicago federal judge has given preliminary approval to a $92 million settlement of a lawsuit that accuses TikTok of breaking privacy laws, overriding objections the payout falls short and users are still not fully protected.
IL High Court: Insurance companies cannot keep people's personal health info after lawsuits end
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled insurance companies must return or destroy private health information acquired in lawsuits, finding there's no regulatory law that says otherwise as claimed by State Farm in a pair of Lake County personal injury actions.
Appeals court says Crain's story was true, so Ditto Trade brothers' defamation suit must go
An appeals panel has hit the delete button on a lawsuit by the owners of the defunct online broker Ditto Trade, which claimed Crain's Chicago Business ran a defamatory news story about the owners, saying not only did Crain's act without malice, the story was true.
Illinois High Court says suits voluntarily dropped, may only be reinstated within one month or filed as new actions within one year
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled suits that have been voluntarily dismissed, may only be reinstated within one month or filed as a new action within one year.
Judge: Lawsuit can continue vs Lake County circuit clerk over political firings of office supervisors
A judge has ruled former Lake County Circuit Clerk Office supervisors may press their lawsuit, which alleges Circuit Clerk Erin Weinstein, a Democrat, fired them for backing her opponent, the Republican incumbent.
Judge says road runoff could have polluted water at Aurora recycling yard; City says recycler to blame for contamination
A Chicago federal judge is allowing the owners of a scrap yard in Aurora to continue to fight the city's pollution claims against them, by arguing the city contributed to the alleged water contamination on the site, too.
IL High Court: Suburban man with prior drug convictions needs more detailed character references to get gun permit
A split Illinois Supreme Court says state law shouldn't make it impossible for people with prior criminal convictions to legally possess a gun. But a suburban man, with drug convictions from the '90s, has more work to do.
IL High Court: New state law means federal rap doesn't keep Markham mayor from office
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled the mayor of suburban Markham may hold office, despite a '99 conviction for mail fraud