Jonathan Bilyk News
IL Inspector General's effort to block access to state hiring reports show IL not ready to lift feds oversight: Court filing
While Gov. JB Pritzker says the state is ready to emerge from federal court oversight of its hiring practices, a new court filing asserts efforts by the Office of the Executive Inspector General to impede court-appointed monitors from seeing certain state hiring reports says otherwise.
Judge: 'Conspiracy theory' not enough to give accused cops' lawyers access to inmate's recorded phone calls
Lawyers for a group of Chicago Police officers being sued for allegedly coercing confessions in a brutal 1998 double murder and kidnapping said they should get access to recorded phone calls to determine if a woman at the center of the murder case was offered anything to change her testimony before a key deposition. A judge called it a "confusing conspiracy theory."
Judges: Federal labor law dooms unionized workers' IL biometrics class actions vs employers
On Nov. 30, two federal judges ruled a federal appeals decision means workers represented by unions can't bring class actions under the Illinois Biometrics Information Privacy Act against their employers for requiring fingerprint scans when punching the clock.
Judge: 'Virus' exclusion dooms mattress store chain's COVID claim coverage, despite coverage against govt ordered closure
Even though American Mattress' parent company had coverage against business interruption caused by state action, they still can't collect on their claim, because the shutdown order came in response to COVID, judge says.
Edelson lawsuit: Injury lawyer Girardi, Real Housewives star wife embezzled plane crash settlement money to fund 'lavish' habits
The lawsuit asserts L.A. personal injury lawyer Tom Girardi and his wife, Erika Jayne, of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, of converting settlement funds intended for the families of the victims of the Lion Air Flight 610 crash, to pay for "outrageous" personal spending practices.
Judge again OKs $15M fee award in 20-year-old case, potentially including more than $1M for other judge
A Cook County judge ruled it isn't the court's business that Cook County Judge Patrick Sherlock and Sherlock's ex-law partner could collect 7% of the fees under a deal with a law firm headed by Sherlock's father-in-law, for work Sherlock did on the case nearly 20 years ago.
IL biometric privacy law not unconstitutional, just because it shields governments, banks from privacy class actions: Judge
A Chicago federal judge said the exemptions carved into the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act for state and local governments and for financial institutions don't run afoul of the Illinois state constitution's ban on so-called "special legislation."
Bears legend Dent wins new chance to sue people who accused him of harassment, cost him contracts
Appeals judges ruled a Cook County judge out of bounds in denying football hall of famer Richard Dent the chance to learn the identities of those who accused him of groping a woman and of public drunkeness.
Cook County chief judge shuts down criminal bench trials due to COVID, orders all proceedings to livestream, conference call
The order from Chief Judge Timothy Evans marks second time since spring in-person proceedings have been shut down in Cook County due to COVID-19.
Man shot at Chicago Wendy's drive thru sues fast food chain for not protecting him
The man said Wendy's should pay for his wounds because they didn't hire security guards for the restaurant in a high-crime neighborhood.
More Madigan loyalists, ComEd officials indicted over roles in alleged bribery scheme
Federal prosecutors unveiled more charges in the investigation that threatens to draw ever closer to Illinois' powerful House Speaker and Democratic Party chairman.
IL Supreme Court orders restaurant lawsuits vs Pritzker over COVID closures to Springfield judge
Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow has sided with Gov. JB Pritzker on similar questions over Pritzker's COVID shutdown powers.
Judge candidate DiFranco sues Mt. Prospect woman for defamation over Facebook post
Attorney Frank DiFranco, who appears poised to win a seat on the Cook County judicial bench, has sued a woman who he says accused him on Facebook of taking some of his opponent's campaign signs.
SCOTUS nixes Cook County appeal of decision that green lit taxpayer suit vs county over unfair propety tax assessments
County officials and a collection of school districts had argued letting the appellate court decision stand would open the floodgates to taxpayer lawsuits, potentially including class actions, in federal court.
Ex-LaGrange library clerk sues library, director for defamation over alleged racist comment
The clerk, who had worked at the library for 13 years, alleges the director falsely told the library board she had made the alleged discriminatory comment, resulting in her termination.
With appellate hearing looming, Pritzker tweaks evictions ban to prevent non-paying tenants from 'taking advantage'
New evictions moratorium would not apply to people earning more than $99K, or $198K for households, Pritzker says. Landlords group says Pritzker's changes address their "most significant concern."
In-person trials, court proceedings shut down in Chicago, Rockford federal courts, again, due to COVID
New order issued Nov. 13 by Northern DIstrict of Illinois Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer
Asthma sufferers can't use ADA to sue Pritzker for mask mandates retailers cited to deny entry for no masks
A federal judge has dismissed Gov. JB Pritzker from a class action brought by two people with chronic asthma who claimed the mask mandate was used by retailers to discriminate against people with disabilities who can't wear face masks.
Plaintiffs can 'narrow' claims to block Clearview from kicking biometrics class action out of Cook court, judge says
Facial recognition tech company Clearview A.I. had argued the plaintiffs had improperly manipulated the case to keep it in plaintiff-friendly Cook County court system.
Pritzker, A/G ask appeals court to apply ruling OKing Pritzker's COVID shutdown powers statewide
The appeals court on Nov. 6 became the first state appeals court to shoot down the challenge to time limits on Pritzker's emergency powers. But, because of the way it was issued, it can't be used yet by other courts hearing cases based on similar claims challenging Pritzker's authority.