Jonathan Bilyk News
Judge says IL Dems can't step in to join IL State Elections Board's defense vs challenge to IL vote by mail law
The judge recognized Democrats' election efforts could be strained, should he rule that mail-in ballots can't be counted if they are received after Election Day. But the judge said that's not enough to let them join the court fight
Judge won't wipe away lawsuit over Crisco's non-stick 'butter' spray
Consumer alleges deceptive labeling of product including no real butter
Judge will decide if white teacher's lawsuit would violate First Amendment rights of Evanston schools to discuss race
A Chicago federal judge is asking lawyers on both sides of the lawsuit to answer key legal questions in the novel case to help him decide whether the discrimination lawsuit brought against Evanston/Skokie District 65 can continue
Feds anti-corruption oversight of IL state hiring practices ends after 50 years, in win for Pritzker
A federal judge, under orders from an appeals court, has formally ended the so-called Shakman Decrees, intended to prevent officials, like the governor, from using patronage hiring to boost political power
Biometrics class action targets dating app Tinder over user face scans
The lawsuit seeks potentially big money from Tinder for failing to provide notice and obtain consent from users before scanning their faces in video selfies uploaded as part of the profile verification process.
Trial lawyers pony up big bucks to slam Republicans, boost Democrats running in close IL Supreme Court races
This fall, voters will have the chance to reshape the partisan makeup of the Illinois Supreme Court for the first time in modern history. Trial lawyers and other progressive special interests are pouring millions of dollars into a campaign fund to stop that
Appeals panel: Voters can't create recall mechanism, remove Dolton mayor in same election
A state appeals court says the results of referendums approved by voters in June to remove Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard can't be enforced, because the referendums were placed before the voters unconstitutionally
Defamation lawsuit: Buffalo Grove Pride activist smeared reputation, harmed business of dance teacher for 'anti-trans' views
The lawsuit centers on Facebook comments made by activist Carolyn Pinta against the owner of a dance studio in Buffalo Grove claiming the dance teacher's opinions "cause suicide" and calling on people to not enroll their children at the dance studio
Judge OKs Google Photos face scans class action settlement; Claimants get $150 each, lawyers get $35M
The $100 million settlement ends a class action lawsuit brought against Google, accusing the company of illegally scanning the faces of Illinois residents appearing in photos uploaded to Google Photos.
Chief judge, sheriff owe no duty to protect the public from criminals on electronic monitoring: Court filings
Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to hold them liable for the carjacking murder of Vietnam vet Keith Cooper in 2021, allegedly committed by two men who were on electronic home monitoring
Lawsuits: Smith & Wesson should pay for Highland Park shootings; Shooter allegedly influenced by marketing
The lawsuits build on the campaign to use such litigation to make gun manufacturers liable for the criminal actions of others using firearms the manufacturers have made
'White guy' protestor disrupts SAFE-T Act press conference called by DeVore, Black south suburban leaders, activists
The press conference was intended to draw attention to alleged racial discrimination risks faced by Black and brown Illinois residents under the SAFE-T Act. DeVore called on Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul to condemn the 'violence' that disrupted the press conference
Report: IL, Cook County courts driving 'nuclear verdicts' trend, leveling big costs on consumers, business, economy
A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform said Illinois ranks sixth nationwide for jury verdicts totaling at least $10M
Pritzker threatens to sue TV stations that air political ad his lawyers say 'defames' the governor
The ad features Beverly Miles, a Black female Army major and "lifelong Democrat," who claims Gov. JB Pritzker attempted to "get her fired" from her job as a Veterans Administration nurse, allegedly in retaliation for her decision to run against him in the Democratic gubernatorial primary
Cook County courts mask mandate to remain in place, potentially through winter
A memo from Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans indicates the county will continue to be the only county circuit court system in the region to require masks for everyone entering the county's courthouses
Cook County Judge Carl Boyd suspended from hearing cases after charged with domestic battery
Cook County Circuit Judge Carl Boyd was charged with domestic battery in an incident Chicago Police say left a woman with a cut on her cheek from broken glass. Boyd has served on the Cook County bench since 2012
Judge OKs final deal ending Osco pharmacists' biometrics class action; Attorneys get $551K
The settlement ends a 4-year-long court fight over claims Osco pharmacists were improperly required to scan their fingerprints to prove their identity when accessing the pharmacy's computer system
McHenry County State's Attorney lawsuit: SAFE-T Act's end of cash bail violates crime victims' rights under IL constitution
The lawsuit is the latest in a growing list of constitutional challenges launched in court against Gov. JB Pritzker and the SAFE-T Act, which critics allege would make it too difficult to hold violent criminals in jail while they await trial
Jury verdict: Sterigenics, related cos. owe $363M to woman in first Willowbrook EtO cancer trial
Medical device sterilization company Sterigenics says it plans to appeal the verdict. Plaintiffs said they hope the verdict sets a "precedent" for hundreds of other cases still pending vs Sterigenics
Will Co. State's Attorney sues Pritzker, other top IL Dems, says SAFE-T Act violates state constitution
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow says it takes Democratic lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker can't simply abolish cash bail without amending the state constitution. He further says Democrats trampled constitutional procedures in passing massive bill in the dead of night