Dee Thompson News
Judge: Calumet City didn't violate civil rights of business owner denied business license
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a Calumet City business owner who alleged the city's refusal to grant her a business license for a new banquet hall and youth center violated her civil rights.
Appeals court made right call in shipping pelvic mesh case from St. Clair Co. to Maryland, lawyer says
A state appeals court's recent decision to ship off to Maryland a lawsuit over allegedly defective pelvic mesh may boost hopes of businesses trying to stave off forum shopping by out-of-state plaintiffs seeking a friendly venue in which to air their claims.
Recent ruling in glutamine powder case could have far-reaching implications for class action cases, lawyer says
A recent ruling by a federal judge that non-Illinois residents cannot participate in a class-action suit has far-reaching implications, according to a local attorney. The ruling came in the case of Joshua DeBernardis v. NBTY and United States Nutrition, the makers of the supplement Body Fortress 100 percent Glutamine Powder.
State AGs speak up in Janus case to preserve collection of union fees from non-union workers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Several friend-of-the-court briefs have now been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in the lawsuit brought by Mark Janus, an Illinois state government employee who feels union dues should not be taken from his paycheck since he is not a member of a union.
Chicago law firm the first to file lawsuits over Washington Amtrak derailment
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A Chicago attorney says several factors may have led to the derailment of the Amtrak train near Tacoma, Washington, on Dec. 18. He is representing some of the plaintiffs who are suing Amtrak over the incident.
Woman loses appeal in suit vs snow removal company, mall owner over slip-and-fall in snowy parking lot
A woman who slipped and fell in the snowy parking lot of a mall has lost her lawsuit against the owner of the mall.
Insurer can treat thousands of asbestos claims vs manufacturer as single insurable occurrence, appeals court says
A state appeals panel has come down on the side of insurers in an ongoing legal dispute with a manufacturer over the question of whether thousands of asbestos exposure-related lawsuits arising from the same company's products should be treated as a single "occurrence" or multiple occurrences for the purposes of determining how much the insurer would be obligated to pay.
Walmart, Charles Komar & Sons out, but Macy's remains in lawsuit filed by woman whose clothes caught fire
Walmart and clothing maker Charles Komar & Sons have been dismissed from a lawsuit filed by an Illinois woman whose clothing allegedly caught fire - but Macy’s remains and faces trial in early 2018.
Judge: Faxed invite to diabetes drug seminar enough to let TCPA class action continue
Receiving an unwanted fax, inviting medical professionals to a "free seminar" discussing diabetes treatment options is harmful enough to allow a class action to continue against a drugmaker and a company that describes its mission as "connecting" nurse practitioners with drug companies' clinical research, a Chicago federal judge has said.
Northern Illinois University College of Law eliminates out-of-state tuition fees
DeKALB – Starting in the fall of 2018, students at the Northern Illinois University (NIU) College of Law will not be charged out-of-state tuition premiums.
Pending legislation in Congress could address ADA 'drive-by' lawsuits, but business lawyers not optimistic
In recent years, businesses of all sizes have been hit with spurts of lawsuits brought by lawyers seeking out often relatively small violations under disability access guidelines. And while businesses have asked lawmakers to change the rules under which such lawsuits - commonly known to many as "drive-by" suits - a Chicago lawyer is not holding out much hope of any action from Congress anytime soon.
New bill before Congress would offer paid leave to many more Americans
A new bill before Congress could give many more employees across the United States paid leave, replacing a patchwork of state laws on paid employee leave.
Volvo can't escape class action suit due to alleged false marketing over range of hybrid SUV
A federal judge has ruled that a couple who were upset over their hybrid Volvo’s ability to hold a charge have legitimate claims against Volvo, turning aside the automaker's attempt to again pull the plug on the couple's class action lawsuit.
Federal judge lands dispute over ownership of vintage World War II-era fighter plane
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a dispute over the ownership of a rebuilt World War II fighter plane.
Illinois e-filing requirement may not mean easier public access to court filings
At the turn of the New Year, county circuit court systems across Illinois are expected to take a leap into the 21st Century, as they begin to require all civil court documents to be filed electronically, under an order from the state's Supreme Court. However, the steps into the digital age may not necessarily ensure greater or easier access to otherwise public court documents in the state.
Judge: Insurer OK not to cover big losses for defendants accused in RICO case of trying to bribe Blago
An insurer has won the right to exclude coverage based on specific policy language mentioning a 2014 RICO claim over an alleged scheme by horse racing track owners to bribe jailed former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
EEOC rolls out nationwide program to help people file discrimination complaints
As of Nov. 1, an online filing system for workers to file discrimination charges against their employers has been rolled out nationwide. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Public Portal had been available on a "pilot" basis in Chicago and in four other cities over the past six months.
Illinois A/G, FTC announce $7M settlement, ban 'phantom' debt collectors
A recent settlement involving the Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General's Office against Chicago-based "phantom" debt collectors could bring in several million dollars.
Judge: Fundraising robocalls for Breast Cancer Society OK under federal law; plaintiffs appeal
A fundraising and marketing company has been let off the hook in a class action lawsuit after a federal judge said its work on behalf of a breast cancer research charity meant it couldn't be made to pay for allegedly violating a federal telemarketing law. However, plaintiffs are appealing that decision.
Judge: Quaker can say oatmeal 'maple' even if contains no 'maple'; Decision roadmap for future defenses
A federal judge has ruled federal regulation of food ingredient labeling can cut short false advertising suits against foodmakers like Quaker Oats, which was recently sued over the contents of its maple and brown sugar oatmeal, which, the lawsuit claimed, contained no actual maple, only maple flavoring.