The Cook County Record News
Low income health insurer Centene can't escape fraud class action over coverage claims
A federal judge will allow a portion of a class action accusing ACA and Medicaid health insurer Centene of fraud by allegedly misleading customers about the breadth and scope of their coverage.
When is a suspect too dangerous to release? Answers may come from two appeals
SPRINGFIELD - Supreme Court Justices picked two cases to guide local and appellate judges in deciding when to declare a suspect too dangerous to release.
Appeals panel: Non-Facebook users can't sue Meta for biometric face scans that couldn't ID them
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that a San Francisco federal judge wasn't wrong to unplug a lawsuit accusing Facebook-parent Meta of allegedly violating an Illinois biometrics privacy law by using its photo upload system to scan photos for faces, even of non-users
Class action plaintiffs, lawyers could get stake in facial recognition firm Clearview under deal
The "creative" settlement would allow potentially many thousands of class member plaintiffs and their lawyers to scrape together millions of dollars from tech startup Clearview, which was sued for alleged violations of Illinois' biometric privacy law and other privacy statutes
Ambulance Service Provider Sued Over Massive Data Breach Affecting Thousands
A new class action lawsuit has been filed against Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service for allegedly failing to protect sensitive patient data during a significant data breach last year. Filed by Kirkston Spann II on behalf of nearly 858,000 affected individuals in Illinois federal court on June 6th, this case underscores severe lapses in cybersecurity measures within healthcare-related services.
Former Police Officer Alleges Village Discriminated Against Her Pregnancy Needs
Maria Guzman has filed a federal lawsuit against the Village of Stickney alleging sex discrimination and retaliation related to her pregnancy and breastfeeding needs while employed at their police department. The suit outlines how she was denied necessary accommodations post-pregnancy leading to significant personal and professional repercussions.
Probation Officer Sues Cook County Chief Judge for Retaliation Under Title VII
Wendy Drake has filed a lawsuit against her employer alleging retaliation under Title VII after being denied promotions despite her qualifications. The case highlights significant issues within workplace discrimination laws and seeks multiple forms of relief including compensatory damages.
Former Employee Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation Against Major Healthcare Company
A former employee has filed a lawsuit against CVS Health Inc., alleging discrimination based on ethnicity and skin color as well as retaliation after filing complaints with HR. The plaintiff seeks over $75,000 in damages along with other reliefs.
Plaintiff convenience store chain sues video rental company over breach of contract
A new lawsuit filed by convenience store giant accuses a video rental company of failing to pay commissions and refusing to remove kiosks after contract termination. The case seeks specific performance and damages exceeding $270k.
Finance Executive Alleges Discrimination by Non-Profit Employer
Wanda Ho has filed a lawsuit against Mary Crane League alleging racial discrimination and retaliation after being denied salary increases while non-Asian colleagues received them. The case highlights alleged violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Iconic Band Sues Online Retailer Over Alleged Counterfeit Merchandise Sales
Pink Floyd (1987) Limited has filed a lawsuit against an online retailer operating under pinkfloydmerch.com for allegedly selling counterfeit merchandise bearing their trademarks. Filed on June 6, 2024, in Illinois' Northern District Court, this case highlights ongoing challenges faced by brands combating online counterfeiting.
Citizen sues City of Chicago over alleged Second Amendment violations
Martin Bailey has filed a lawsuit against Officer Joseph D. Vecchio and the City of Chicago alleging malicious prosecution and violation of his Second Amendment rights following an arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm despite having a valid license. The suit seeks compensatory damages and demands the return of his confiscated firearm.
Plaintiff accuses online lender of predatory lending practices
A new class action lawsuit filed by Jennine Stoicescu targets an online lender accused of charging exorbitant interest rates exceeding legal limits in Illinois. The suit seeks declaratory judgment to void these loans along with damages under various state laws and RICO provisions.
Speaker Welch asks IL high court to toss ruling barring Dems from blocking many GOP candidates from fall ballot
A Springfield judge had ruled Democrats violated the constitutional rights of Republican candidates by passing a law weeks after the primary election barring them from getting on the ballot to challenge Democratic incumbents this fall because they didn't first run in the primary election
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.