The Cook County Record News
Former employee alleges religious discrimination against school district over vaccination mandate
Renata Butauskiene has filed a lawsuit against Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180 alleging religious discrimination following their refusal to accommodate her anti-vaccination stance based on deeply held beliefs. The suit details years of exemplary service followed by harassment post-exemption request leading up to wrongful termination.
Chicago resident alleges false arrest and excessive force by Forest Park Police Officers
Steven Jenkins has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was falsely arrested and subjected to excessive force by multiple police officers from Forest Park in June 2022. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as reimbursement for legal costs.
Man aleges misconduct by Village of Lansing Police leading to false arrest
Dwight Austin Jr.'s lawsuit accuses Village police officers including Detective William Mason of false arrest and malicious prosecution following an incident where he was wrongfully detained during a search operation. The charges were later dismissed consistent with his innocence.
Mother sues City of DeKalb Police Officers over excessive force
Veronica Almanza has filed a lawsuit against the City of DeKalb and two police officers alleging excessive force and constitutional violations during a traffic stop in December 2022. The suit seeks over $50,000 in damages per count along with attorney's fees.
Former employee alleges age discrimination against healthcare company
Paul Kevin Kelley has filed a lawsuit against Medcor Inc., claiming age discrimination following his demotion and subsequent termination despite exemplary performance reviews over nearly two decades of service. The case highlights allegations of systemic bias favoring younger employees within the company.
Reed Smith IP team earns recognition in IAM Patent 1000
Global law firm Reed Smith has been recognized in the 2024 IAM 1000, a guide to the world's leading patent practitioners.
State's weapon ban expert - 'rain making trauma surgeon' - on administrative leave
Surgery professor Martin Schreiber filled 100 pages with his credentials as Gov. Pritzker’s expert on assault weapons but didn’t mention that Oregon Health and Science University placed him on administrative leave.
'The Village is broke:' Dolton village board lawyer says Dolton may lose insurance coverage soon
An attorney representing Dolton's village board of trustees asserts in an email obtained by The Cook County Record that dysfunction under Mayor Tiffany Henyard has left the village 'at risk of having no liability insurance,' even as the village faces a growing list of lawsuits accusing Henyard and the village of corruption and lawlessness
Plaintiff alleges systemic corruption in City of Chicago police leading to wrongful conviction
A new lawsuit accuses several members of the Chicago Police Department of egregious misconduct resulting in wrongful convictions tied to former Sergeant Ronald Watts' criminal enterprise at Ida B. Wells Homes during the early 2000s. Plaintiff London Weekly seeks compensatory and punitive damages after having his conviction vacated following revelations about widespread corruption within the department.
Former employee alleges Humboldt Park Health engaged in racial discrimination
A former patient care technician has filed a lawsuit against Humboldt Park Health alleging severe racial discrimination and harassment during her tenure. The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages along with other forms of relief after enduring derogatory slurs and retaliatory actions following her complaints about workplace misconduct.
Former high-ranking employee sues local municipality for wrongful termination
Anthony Finch has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Sauk Village and its mayor Derrick Burgess alleging wrongful termination, defamation, and a hostile work environment among other claims. The case highlights procedural irregularities surrounding his dismissal after efforts to ensure financial accountability within the village.
Insurance broker SelectQuote accused of unsolicited telemarketing calls
Ronald Lightfoot has filed a class-action lawsuit against SelectQuote Inc., alleging that the company made millions of unauthorized pre-recorded telemarketing calls in violation of federal law. The complaint seeks an injunction against further unlawful activities and statutory damages for affected consumers nationwide.
Former Amazon warehouse associate alleges pregnancy discrimination
A former Amazon warehouse associate has filed a lawsuit alleging pregnancy discrimination and retaliation after being terminated following requests for reasonable accommodations related to her pregnancy. The case underscores ongoing concerns about workplace treatment of pregnant employees at large corporations like Amazon.
When to Sponsor the Permanent Resident Process for Workers in Nonimmigrant Status on June 14, 2024
Scott Bettridge will present “When to Sponsor the Permanent Resident Process for Workers in Nonimmigrant Status” at the 2024 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference on Immigration Law.
Ex-Chicago cop sues Kim Foxx, Park Ridge Police for wrongly prosecuting him for detaining suspect who had his kid's bike
Former Chicago Police Sgt. Michael Vitellaro says Park Ridge cops and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx wrongly prosecuted him after he acted within his lawful authority, capitulating to a public pressure campaign from activists who demanded his arrest for detaining a "young man" who had his son's stolen bike
IL to get $29M from $700M J&J talc settlement deal with states
The settlement will end legal actions launched by 43 states accusing Johnson & Johnson of allegedly misleading consumers about the safety of its talc baby powder and body powder products. The company has denied its products cause cancer, as other plaintiffs have claimed in thousands of other lawsuits
Former student alleges Fenton Community High School District enabled teacher's sexual abuse over decade
A former student has filed a lawsuit against Fenton Community High School District for allegedly allowing a teacher to sexually abuse students over more than ten years. The complaint details extensive allegations against both the teacher involved and the school district's failure to act despite numerous warnings.
Chicago Police accused of racial profiling during traffic stop
A new lawsuit filed in federal court accuses Chicago police officers of racial profiling during a traffic stop that led to an unlawful search and arrest of an African American man named Corris A. Whitfield on May 9, 2023.
Nursing home accuses estate over unpaid fees amid Medicaid dispute
The Council for Jewish Elderly is embroiled in a legal dispute with Julia Kurtz over unpaid nursing home fees related to her late husband’s care despite Medicaid approval claims. The Illinois Appellate Court has reversed an earlier ruling favoring the healthcare facility highlighting unresolved factual disputes requiring further proceedings.
Cook County Judge Flanagan to face investigation over handcuffing of attorney at May hearing
Cook County's courts leadership has asked the state's Judicial Inquiry Board to examine potential disciplinary action against Cook County Circuit Judge Kathy Flanagan for her conduct amid a dispute with a lawyer in her courtroom which resulted in the lawyer being handcuffed to a chair. Flanagan denied wrongdoing