Jonathan Bilyk News
Class action: Sysco improperly uses dash cams to scan faces of truck drivers, violates Illinois biometrics' law
The class action against food distributor Sysco is similar to a federal legal action against tech firm Samsara, which allegedly supplies Sysco with its truck dash cameras, which are installed to monitor drivers for fatigue and other distractions and increase roadway safety.
Filing: Raoul violating legal rules, law by giving 'conflicted' trial lawyers state power to help investigate insulin prices
Caremark and other pharmacy benefit managers have asked a Cook County judge to disqualify out-of-state trial lawyers hired by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to assist with an investigation into insulin pricing practices. The companies say the lawyers could use the power of Raoul's office to help them in other lawsuits vs the companies
State's attorneys' lawsuits to strike down SAFE-T Act head to court soon in Kankakee County
The Illinois Supreme Court consolidated 57 lawsuits challenging the SAFE-T Act, the law that will eliminate cash bail in Illinois and presumes nearly all criminal defendants cannot be held in jail before trial. The lawsuits will be led by Kankakee County State's Attorney Jim Rowe, with assistance from six other state's attorneys, including prosecutors in Will and McHenry counties
Cook County Treasurer, Circuit Clerk ask federal court to lift oversight of patronage hiring
The motions to lift the so-called Shakman Decrees are supported by reform advocates who had filed suit to impose the court ordered monitoring decades ago
Lawsuit: Loyola Chicago blocked student from Covid testing, then expelled her for not taking Covid tests
A lawsuit in federal court says a freshman student was expelled in the fall of 2021 for failing to comply with Loyola University Chicago's Covid testing program, even though they wouldn't let her enter the testing program, because she was still a month away from turning 18
Teacher: Suit vs Evanston D65 not to silence speech, but to end 'hostile environment' vs white students, educators
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 says allowing the white middle school teacher's lawsuit to proceed would violate the school district's speech rights. The teacher says the district's 'anti-racist' priorities are illegally hostile toward white students and educators
State Rep. Carroll, who clashed with Edelson over big TikTok settlement, faces more public misconduct accusations
State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, was accused last year of using his office to allegedly threaten a prominent class action law firm engaged in a court fight with a legal team that included his now-estranged wife over the fate of $30 million in attorney fees from a $92 million settlement with TikTok. He is now accused of firing a female staffer after she allegedly refused requests to terminate her pregnancy
Appeal filing: IL A/G Raoul 'suppressing' lawsuit to recover $500K allegedly pilfered by ex-state worker connected to Pritzkers
The director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board says Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is blocking her attempt to recover $500,000 allegedly stolen by a former Merit Board employee and friend of the family of Gov. JB Pritzker, whose administration has allegedly aided the ex-worker
Hazel Crest homeowner claims village jets sewage into her basement, treats her home as 'sewage dump'
The lawsuit claims the village has unconstitutionally taken her property and discriminated against the homeowner, who is Black
Class action says MLB.com violates federal privacy law, lets Facebook track users' video viewing habits
The lawsuit is similar to others filed against the NFL, Warner Bros. and Buzzfeed, among others
Ex-ISP office head: Reputation 'held hostage' by court hold on lawsuit over Pritzker-connected ex-worker's sex assault claims
Jack Garcia, ex-director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board, has asked a federal judge to lift a stay on his lawsuit vs Jenny Thornley, who is accused of manufacturing sex assault claims to thwart an investigation into alleged criminal conduct, and then used her ties to Gov. JB Pritzker to get Garcia removed
IL Supreme Court cites SAFE-T Act, throws out sentence that took into account prior juvy burglary conviction
The Illinois Supreme Court's Democratic majority said they believe the passage of the SAFE-T Act's criminal justice reforms reinforce conclusion that Democratic lawmakers meant to block courts from using prior juvenile convictions when sentencing people for crimes committed as adults
Top IL Dems rake in campaign cash; Trial lawyers chip in big bucks to help Dems
According to campaign finance reports, trial lawyers in Illinois donated almost $1.85 million to campaign funds run by powerful Democratic leaders, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch and State Sen. President Don Harmon
Judge blocks IL Dems' law to block out-of-state donations to judge campaigns
Democrats said the law was needed to maintain judicial integrity. A federal judge said he feared the law was actually motivated by a desire for the Democrats who dominate Springfield to "maintain the status quo" of Democratic control of the courts, not to fight corruption
Feds charge Madigan in new bribery conspiracy with AT&T, widening criminal case vs ex-Speaker, Democratic chairman
Under a newly unsealed indictment, former Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Chairman Michael Madigan allegedly solicited bribes to benefit a former state lawmaker loyalist in exchange for helping AT&T rid itself of obligations to provide landline service in Illinois
Judge, who formerly served on IL State Police board, recused from case vs woman accused of using Pritzker-ties to oust ex-ISP Board director
According to a court order, new U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado recused herself from the court fight over claims that former ISP Merit Board executive Jenny Thornley called on Gov. JB Pritzker to remove her ex-boss because he was investigating fraud allegations against her. Maldonado had served on the Merit Board, appointed by Pritzker in 2019
Jury verdict: BNSF must pay $228M to truck drivers for rail yard gate security fingerprint scans
The verdict against railroad company BNSF ended the first such class action lawsuit taken to trial under Illinois' biometrics privacy law. BNSF vowed to appeal
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