Jonathan Bilyk News
'Threat to everybody:' Townstone says feds mean to make example of them to expand regulatory power over lenders
Townstone Financial President Barry Sturner said he intends to continue fighting a federal regulatory complaint he said appears intended to chill speech federal agents disapprove of, under the rubric of fighting discrimination.
Class action accuses Chicago cops of using 'Investigative Alerts' to support no-warrant arrests
A woman arrested months later for her alleged role in looting amid the riots of Aug. 9, 2020, asserts police arrested her and thousands of others unconstitutionally under arrest orders issued under the practice known as "Investigative Alerts."
Judge predicts IL Supreme Court won't gut BIPA suits vs employers, refuses pause in class action vs Pret a Manger
A Chicago federal judge said he believed Illinois' high court will reject attempts by employers to limit the onslaught of class actions brought under Illinois' biometric privacy law.
Townstone Financial: Fed action stretches law to let feds impose hiring quotas, dictate marketing, silence speech
Mortgage lender Townstone FInancial has asked a federal court to dismiss an action from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, accusing Townstone of discrimination for "discouraging" potential Black applicants on radio shows and insufficient marketing aimed at Black people
New lawsuit: Law used by Pritzker to repeatedly declare disaster, use emergency COVID powers, is unconstitutional
A new lawsuit from an attorney who has repeatedly challenged Gov. JB Pritzker's use of emergency powers against the COVID pandemic has returned to court, with a claim that the law Pritzker has relied upon to justify his executive actions is unconstitutional.
Pritzker to appeal federal judge's refusal to lift fed oversight of IL state government hiring practices
A federal judge had denied Pritzker's attempt to end court-appointed oversight of Illinois government hiring practices, saying there was still too much evidence of politically motivated hiring and promotion within agencies under the governor's supervision
Former Homewood country club 'free agent' after judge OKs contentious disconnection from village
A Cook County judge refused to consider objections from activists opposed to a plan to bring $100M warehouse and distribution hub to a defunct south suburban country club.
Homewood country club developer wins disconnection, seeks to end court fight vs village, activists
Developers say the Homewood Village Board's decision to OK an ordinance disconnecting the Calumet Country Club from the village should allow them to dismiss their lawsuit. Activists opposing the development say dismissing the case would violate their rights.
Class action: Pace Bus doesn't pay drivers enough for inspecting bus, working 11+ hours in a day
A class action lawsuit has accused Pace Suburban Bus of allegedly shorting its bus drivers pay.
Road builders ask IL Supreme Court to force Cook County to spend $250M transportation taxes on transportation projects
A coalition of associations representing road and transportation construction contractors have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to overrule lower courts who determined the Illinois state constitution's transportation lockbox amendment doesn't apply to Cook County and other local home rule governments.
Pritzker can't kill FoxFire legal challenge of guv's restaurant shutdown order, Springfield judge says
'The governor cannot rely on emergency powers indefinitely,' wrote Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow, in denying Gov. JB Pritzker's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the owner of Geneva restaurant, FoxFire.
Whole Foods can't be sued in Illinois for selling bottled water with too much arsenic: Judge
Whole Foods' promotion of the Starkey Water product on its website is not enough to allow the Texas-based company to face a class action in Illinois courts, under Illinois law, a federal judge ruled.
Judge refuses to step in to block execution of settlement between Homewood, country club redeveloper
In emergency hearing, a Cook County judge questioned the need for action to block a settlement deal that both sides considered 'binding,' though it is opposed by anti-redevelopment activists. The Homewood Village Board is expected to consider its next move at a meeting April 13
Judge OKs activists' request to join court fight to stop Homewood country club redevelopment
Developers have said the redevelopment of the site as a logistics hub would add millions of dollars in new tax revenue, especially for schools; reduce property taxes for homeowners; and add 1,000 new jobs to the local economy.
City of Chicago moves closer to trial over claims opioid makers' marketing led to painkiller abuse, big city costs
A federal judge has refused the attempt by a swath of pharmaceutical companies to dispense with the city of Chicago's lawsuit accusing them of saddling the city with big bills to deal with the effects of painkiller pill abuse. The case has been pending since 2014.
Biz owners can't sue Pritzker over claims his COVID shutdown orders unconstitutionally seized their property: Judge
The lawsuit brought by business owners and Republican politicians from Will County and the southwest suburbs was disallowed under the Eleventh Amendment, which generally bars lawsuits seeking court orders requiring states to dole out money from the state treasury.
Illinois' car dealers lawsuit: State of IL illegally letting Tesla, Rivian sell electric cars direct to consumers
Illinois' car dealers have signed on to a legal action seeking to force Secretary of State Jesse White to pull the plug on arrangements allowing electric car makers to sidestep state law in the way they sell their cars.
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear church's challenge vs Pritzker's power to impose religious gathering restrictions
A Chicago church had sought an order preventing Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker from reimposing restrictions on religious gatherings over COVID-19. Pritzker has pledged not to do so, but won't disavow the powers he asserted last spring.
Save-A-Lot owners to pay $762K to settle class action over worker fingerprint scans; Lawyers get $267K
Under the deal, 693 workers would get $625 each, according to settlement documents
IL lawmakers OK revised law allowing prejudgment interest in personal injury cases; Biz groups still fear huge costs
The measure establishes 6% prejudgment interest in personal injury lawsuits, and was still opposed by Illinois doctors, manufacturers and others who fear it will hammer businesses with inflated costs from lawsuits.