Dawn Geske News
GMA Legal Conference: A 'must-attend event' for food, beverage and consumer product legal professionals
PALM BEACH GARDENS – This year's Grocery Manufacturers Association's Legal Conference event is set to be held in Palm Beach Gardens on Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5.
Appeals panel: Couple can sue American Family, alleging agent misled them on coverage
A state appeals panel will allow a couple to pursue their claim their insurance agent failed to provide them with the coverage they had requested - and which they later needed - to fund their defense against a defamation claim brought against their son, who was accused of bullying another child.
Study finds Illinois Supreme Court takes average of 190 days to decide cases
A Chicago law firm recently conducted a study on the amount of time it takes the Illinois Supreme Court to decide a case, finding litigation moves relatively quickly through the state's high court, particularly when compared to other appellate courts elsewhere in the country.
EEOC adds online portal for filing employer discrimination claims; Chicago selected for pilot program
Employees in the Chicago area and other select metropolitan areas will now be able to initiate employment discrimination claims against their employers through an online portal.
Cook County government employees paid double the state average, reform group says
Cook County leads the state in the highest-paid government workers, according to information posted by the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR).
Second-installment property tax bills may rattle some suburbanites
Cook County property tax bills have hit residents’ mailboxes and were due to the county on March 1 - but taxpayers especially may not like what they see when the second installment bills arrive four months from now.
Tax incentive packages handed out to several city, suburban Cook County businesses to remain, expand
Saying the county is trying to work with local communities to boost the local economy, the Cook County Board has approved a series of tax incentive packages recommended by the county's Bureau of Economic Development.
Law firm releases report noting trends in workplace class-action litigation
While wage-and-hour litigation, and related regulatory actions were on the rise in 2016, the monetary value of top employment-related class action settlements were on the decline last year, among other trends identified in the latest Workplace Class Action Litigation Report issued by the Seyfarth Shaw firm.
Federal appeals court: ADA accommodation rules don't rule out competition for jobs; SCOTUS could decide
A decision by the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Ga., says employers are not required by the Americans with Disabilities Act to surrender the search for the best qualified candidate for a job when considering a disability accommodation job transfer request from a disabled employee.
Proposed rule on harassment and discrimination opposed by Illinois Bar members
SPRINGFIELD – A rule meant to fight harassment and discrimination was overwhelmingly opposed by the members of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Demolition of three Cook County Jail buildings will save taxpayers money, county says
In an effort to reduce the county's jail population and save Cook County and its taxpayers money, three buildings at the Cook County Jail will be demolished.
Sports lawyer thinks court made right choice in suit over blown high school football playoff call
OAK PARK – While the judge’s decision didn’t go in its favor, Fenwick High School has created a buzz surrounding what could have been an overturned football call and changed the face of high school sports going forward.
Fenwick ready to move forward after losing case that challenged football call
Fenwick High School is ready to move on after a Cook County Circuit Court judge declined to intervene to reverse a bad call that lost the school the opportunity to play for a state football title.
Voter turnout high in suburban Cook County but doesn’t reach 2008 turnout
Voter turnout in the suburban areas of Cook County failed to reach the high levels garnered in the 2008 presidential election, but still easily surpassed the last presidential election cycle in 2012, the Cook County Clerk's office reported, as voters turned out in strong numbers to tackle a host of races and referendums.
Legislators may override governor's veto of plan to automatically sign up voters
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois legislators are looking to make voting even easier by overriding the governor’s veto of a bill designed to register voters when they apply for driver’s licenses.
Court's injunction of Advocate, NorthShore merger could have future ramifications for health care industry
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has overturned the decision by a lower court, which had denied enjoining the proposed merger between two health-care providers in Illinois. And the decision could be a harbinger for future cases, said an attorney who deals with such antitrust litigation.
Time to file medical wrongful death suit open to more liberal view of discovery date
A decision by the Illinois Supreme Court may liberalize the time frame in which to file lawsuits in medical malpractice wrongful death cases.
Election Day voter registration easier in urban areas than in rural locations
With an order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to not expedite a case looking to block Election Day voter registration come November, voters will be able to register to vote on Nov. 8 right at the polling precinct in some counties of Illinois - a move which could make it easier for those living in more populated areas to vote than other eligible voters living in more rural areas.
New sick leave ordinance will take effect next year in Cook County; employers face litigation risk
Cook County has approved an ordinance giving employees in the county the right to accrued sick leave and the ability to use it as necessary, as well as to sue employers who don't abide by the rules.
November referendum looks at idea of moving Orland Township out of Cook County
A referendum on the November ballot will let residents of Orland Township explore whether the township and its communities should secede from Cook County, and decide what kind of message they want to send to Cook County leaders about the state of the county.