Jonathan Bilyk News
Appeals court: Cook divorce judges can't hold ex-husbands 'hostage' to force families to pay divorce bills
An Illinois appeals panel has become the first to push back against a continued practice by Cook County divorce court judges who have jailed ex-husbands to force them to pay 'obligations,' even if they may not have the money. The justices said Judge Scannicchio, who oversees the county's divorce courts, improperly jailed a man without first determining he could pay $248K
Jury orders plastic surgeon to pay $66M to family of woman who bled to death after procedure
The verdict was entered against Dr. Abou Sayeg, who practices plastic surgery in Chicago and Detroit, according to his online bio. Plaintiffs' lawyers estimated the verdict is the largest of its kind in Illinois history.
Tadros may get trial in defamation case vs Crain's over 2016 article
A Cook County judge on Dec. 10 denied a motion by Crain's Communications to end the lawsuit brought by businessman Philip Tadros, which accused Crain's Chicago Business of defaming him in a 2016 article. The judge said a jury may need to decide if accusing Tadros of a "pattern of mismanagement" was defamatory
Judge: Lawsuit investor Burford still can't revive Sysco's chicken price claims vs Pilgrim's Pride
A Chicago federal judge said he still hasn't changed his mind about an existence of a deal to end Sysco's chicken price lawsuit vs Pilgrim's Pride, despite objections from third party lawsuit funder Burford Capital
Bears complete settlement to end lawsuit over alleged 'anti-white' discrimination
A federal judge ordered the end of the lawsuit, after the plaintiff, a former paralegal at the law firm that first filed the suit, agreed to confidentially settle the case under undisclosed terms. The suit had accused the Bears of refusing to consider white male applicants for a "diversity" position in its legal office.
River Forest developer, ex-wife reach deal to end divorce case that has sent man to 'debtors' prison' three times
River Forest developer Frank "Marty" Paris was ordered to jail three times since 2017 amid contentious divorce proceedings, centered in most recent years on a dispute over Paris' obligation to pay his ex-wife's lawyers fees
Lawsuit accuses Ferrara of violating constitutionally challenged IL temp worker law
Activist labor group Chicago Workers Collaborative sued Ferrara Candy Company, accusing the company of violating technical notice provisions of a controversial Illinois temp worker protection law. Staffing agencies say the law could drive them out of business in Illinois. They are challenging the law in court as unconstitutional
Cook County checks in at No. 6 on list of worst U.S. 'Judicial Hellholes'
The American Tort Reform Association released its annual list of the country's most notable "Judicial Hellholes." Cook County's courts earned a spot on the list thanks to a host of "abusive" lawsuits and the potential for many more to come, should the Illinois Supreme Court nix a doctrine used to force certain plaintiffs to sue elsewhere
'Assault weapons' ban to continue in IL, for now, while courts handle appeal
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Illinois Atty Gen Kwame Raoul to keep a decision on hold from a southern Illinois federal judge, who declared Illinois' ban on so-called "assault weapons" an "unconstitutional affront" to the Second Amendment
Appeal seeks revival of suit accusing IL judges of working together to squelch criticism
An attorney and judicial reform advocate says a Chicago federal judge improperly tossed his legal claims against the Illinois Judges Association and a Cook County divorce court judge
Family of Dexter Reed poised to get paid by city taxpayers, under possible lawsuit deal announced in court
A judge tentatively dismissed the legal action vs the city of Chicago by the family of Dexter Reed, a black man shot and killed by police in March after he reportedly opened fire on them from inside his vehicle during a stop. Terms of the settlement, which must be approved by City Council, have not been disclosed.
Class action accuses ComEd of providing homes with 'less efficient,' substandard power
The lawsuit centers on claims that ComEd's electricity contains allegedly excessive levels of so-called total harmonic distortion, resulting in power that is "less efficient" and of "diminished quality," as measured by Ting sensors. ComEd disputes those measurements, saying Ting sensors aren't the correct tool for that task
O'Neill Burke reverses Foxx prosecution policies in first actions as new Cook County top prosecutor
New Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke announced prosecutors are required to ask judges to keep people charged with a host of violent and heinous crimes in jail while they await trial. Reports also indicated O'Neill Burke would more aggressively prosecute shoplifting
Parents of Latin School student who died by suicide to ask appeal court to OK suit vs school over bullying
A Cook County judge had dismissed the Bronstein family's legal claims vs Latin School of Chicago over the death of their son by suicide, allegedly egged on bullying. The family accused the school of having not done enough to both stop the bullying and prevent their son's death
Townstone settles 'nightmare' court fight with feds over radio show comments
Chicago area mortgage lender Townstone Financial agreed to pay a $105K penalty and submit to specific regulatory oversight as part of the deal to end the four-year-long court fight over the ability of federal agents to use anti-discrimination provisions of a federal lending law to regulate lenders' speech
Target can't clear out customer class action over alleged customer facial recognition cameras
Target has flatly denied it uses facial recognition cameras to monitor customers in its stores. But a judge said he believes plaintiffs need more opportunity to investigate those claims, so he is allowing a lawsuit to continue vs Target under the Illinois biometrics privacy law.
Lawsuit: IL law requiring insurers to pay for abortions tramples religious freedom rights
A group of pro-life groups and employers, including a private school and a manufacturer, filed suit against Gov. Pritzker and the state, saying the Reproductive Health Act violates their First Amendment rights and federal law by forcing them to pay for others' abortions against their religious beliefs
Justice for Jussie? IL Supreme Court overturns Smollett conviction for lying to cops
The Illinois Supreme Court said Smollett's conviction for lying to police about his hoax attack claims was an unconstitutional violation of his rights to due process because he should have been able to rely on the charge-dropping deal from Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx
Controversial Cook County judge loses retention bid, unofficial vote totals show
According to unofficial vote totals, Cook County Judge Shannon O'Malley - formerly known as Phillip Spiwak - appears to have fallen short of retaining his seat on the county court. O'Malley famously changed his name to sound Irish in an apparent bid to win election, and has been accused of living outside the county
Judges: Reforms to limit harm from IL biometrics law should apply to pending lawsuits, too
Recent rulings from a Chicago federal judge and a Cook County judge are seen as key wins for Illinois businesses, as they begin the work of answering a key question that could decide the fates of potentially hundreds of lawsuits with many millions of dollars at stake