Jonathan Bilyk News
IL Supreme Court: Fired Catholic principal can't use 'whistleblower' claim to sidestep church's First Amend lawsuit shield
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a Catholic school principal can be legally considered a "minister," and her status as a "whistleblower" doesn't allow her to sue the Diocese that fired her.
Pritzker, Raoul: Springfield's chief county judge wrong to reject transfer of case challenging Pritzker's high school sports shutdown orders
The Illinois Supreme Court was asked to override the order of Sangamon County Chief Judge John Madonia, who had accused Gov. JB Pritzker of judge shopping in seeking dismissal of a lawsuit brought by parents of student athletes against Pritzker's sports-related COVID orders.
Judge won't step into fight over Chicago city fuel supply bid involving trucking biz tied to feds corruption probe
A federal judge said she could not grant a request for an order to undo the city of Chicago's $91 million fuel supply bid award, despite assertions the process may have been tilted to favor a suburban trucking firm that has been named amid a federal investigation.
Welch 'steps back' from partner role at Ancel Glink, becomes 'Of Counsel;' What does change mean?
New Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch has taken on the role of 'Of Counsel' at the Ancel Glink law firm, but the continuing relationship with the firm that represents local governments across Illinois could raise questions.
IL Supreme Court green lights appeal to decide if employers can use workers' comp law to beat biometrics class actions
The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from a South Side nursing home operator, who argues the state's workers' comp law should shield it from a class action lawsuit brought by workers over fingerprint scans under the state biometrics privacy law.
Judge: Courts not going to intervene in school COVID reopening fight between Cicero district, teachers union
A Cook County judge refused the request from Cicero School District 99 to order about 500 elementary school teachers who have said they fear COVID-19, back into the classroom for in-person instruction.
Judge: Big college tuition bills not a contract with Loyola to force refunds over COVID closures
A federal judge tossed a class action lawsuit from Loyola University students who were sent home and forced into online instruction amid campus closures over COVID-19, and wanted the Chicago school to refund at least some of the tuition they paid in 2020.
Springfield judge: High school sports lawsuit vs Pritzker going back to LaSalle County, because Pritzker 'judge shopping'
The chief judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in Springfield has refused to allow Gov. JB Pritzker to transfer to Springfield court a lawsuit challenging Pritzker's restrictions on high school sports, saying he is concerned the governor is "forum and judge shopping" to secure a win in court.
US Supreme Court rejects appeals asking court to order unions to refund unconstitutional fees
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied appeal petitions in three cases arguing courts have been wrong to allow unions to use a "good faith" defense to keep millions in fees deducted for the unions by governments from the paychecks of non-union government workers.
Lawsuit: City Colleges fired three women deans, protected male dean accused of inventing suicide of fake male fiance
Three women, who formerly worked as deans at Daley College in Chicago, sued the Chicago City Colleges for discrimination and retaliation for allegedly protecting a male dean found to have allegedly faked the suicide of his fake male fiance, among other alleged infractions
Salvation Army to pay $898K to settle class action over worker fingerprint scans; Lawyers to get $299K
A Cook County judge has signed off on a settlement deal to end a class action that accused the Salvation Army of violating Illinois' biometrics privacy law for requiring workers to scan their fingerprints when punching the clock.
Class action: Currency exchanges wrongly adding fees onto checks declined for stopped payments
A new class action says a Chicago area chain of currency exchanges allegedly illegally added $25 fees onto checks not honored because the account holder had stopped payment.
Pritzker: No intent to reimpose COVID worship service rules on churches; Says should moot church's legal challenge
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's latest COVID-related executive order includes language declaring Pritzker does 'not intend to' attempt to reimpose gathering restrictions on religious assemblies again under his COVID disaster declarations.
IL high court to decide whether longstanding defamation time limits still apply in internet age
A private investigator accused of framing a man for murder is suing those involved in a documentary about the case for defamation. He wants the court to allow him to proceed, even though his lawsuit was filed four years after the film was released.
Walmart inks deal to pay $10M to settle workers' handprint scan class action; Lawyers to get one third
Workers could be eligible to receive $460-$756 each under the deal announced in Cook County Circuit Court to end a class action filed against Walmart under the Illinois biometrics privacy law.
Employers should expect continued 'onslaught' of class action lawsuits from emboldened trial lawyers in 2021: Seyfarth Shaw report
Illinois courts figure to be at the fore of a renewed litigation push in coming years, as an incoming Biden administration figures to also ratchet up regulatory action against businesses, according to an annual litigation report from law firm Seyfarth Shaw.
Reform advocates hope change in IL Speaker's office brings more than just new tone
Those who represent businesses and employers in Illinois say they hope the switch from former Speaker Madigan to Speaker Chris Welch will help create opportunities for cooperation and reform, despite Welch's lockstep support for Madigan through his legislative career.
Class action: Connie's Pizza printed credit card info on customer receipts
New lawsuit asserts Connie's Pizza violated federal law by printing expiration date for customers' credit and debit cards on their receipts.
Madigan continues to rake in donations from trial lawyers, despite federal corruption probe
State campaign finance disclosures reveal trial lawyers, their firms and political lobbying groups have donated more than $175,000 to Madigan's two campaign organizations since Sept. 30.
IL high court to decide if state regulators broke law in awarding marijuana growers' license
A Lake County company has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to declare a state agency wrongly rewrote a state law in deciding to award a license for a cannabis cultivation facility to a competitor looking to operate a site in Aurora.