Jonathan Bilyk News
Appeals panel: Bad deal or not, Chicago parking meter lease isn't illegal monopoly over public street parking
Federal appeals judges have tossed a class action lawsuit asserting the company that owns the rights to thousands of metered parking spaces in Chicago violated federal antitrust law by cutting City Hall out of control of on-street parking, forcing motorists in the city to pay among highest costs to park in U.S.
Who benefits from Illinois' biometrics privacy law? Mostly trial lawyers, new report says
A report from the Chamber of Progress, which speaks for many "progressive" minded big tech and ecommerce companies, says Illinois' controversial Biometric Information Privacy Act has harmed Illinois' economy and limited access to new tech offerings in the state, while enriching lawyers
Samsung: Prominent plainfiffs' firm Labaton Sucharow seeking to press 'frivolous' biometrics claims in 'mass arbitration'
Samsung says the Labaton lawyers have 'weaponized' the arbitration process to extract a large, quick, potentially undue settlement. Labaton says Samsung is throwing a 'tantrum' to sidestep potentially massive liability for allegedly violating the Illinois biometrics privacy law
Two new Dem IL Supreme Court justices asked to step aside from hearing challenge to IL 'assault weapons' ban
Lawyers for plaintiffs say Justices Rochford and O'Brien both accepted millions in campaign contributions and endorsements from Gov. Pritkzer, other top Dems, and gun rights activists, making it difficult for public to believe they can be impartial on gun ban challenges
US Chamber: Burford, Sysco court fight shows dangers to U.S. economy, security from lawsuit financing
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says an arbitrator's order would allow lawsuit investors, including foreign interests, to use U.S. courts to further their strategic interests. Burford Capital says court fight is merely Sysco's attempt to avoid contractural obligations and deny Burford the chance to protect $140M investment
City paid $117M to settle lawsuits in 2022; Loevy firm represented clients getting at least $42M of that total
According to city data,the firm of Loevy & Loevy has sued the city of Chicago at least 111 times since 2010, generating at least $32.9 million in fees in that span. The firm has typically represented people suing over alleged wrongful convictions or allegedly coerced confessions, and other alleged police misconduct
High profile departures from Cook County State's Attorney's Office headline list of 22 new Cook County judges
Jennifer Coleman was forced out from Cook County State's Attorney's office in 2021, while Natosha Toller publicly resigned to keep her "integrity intact." Other notable appointments include Sunil Bhave from Illinois Attorney General's Office and Hilda Bahena, executive director of Illinois state hate crimes commission under Pritzker
Class action targets apartment tenant ID verifiers CheckpointID, IDScan.net over applicant face scans
The lawsuit claims the companies, which offer tech to help landlords combat apartment rental application fraud, violated Illinois' biometrics privacy law by scanning applicants' facial images without notice or consent
IL Supreme Court: Employers can use federal law, CBAs to block unionized workers from suing over fingerprint scans
The decision leaves in place a rare win for Illinois employers besieged by thousands of class actions under Illinois' biometrics law, with potentially millions or even billions of dollars at stake
Lawsuit: Village of Hillside illegally boosting political operations of longtime mayor, as well as IL House Speaker Welch
The lawsuit accuses the village of Hillside, at the direction of Mayor Joseph Tamburino, of violating Illinois election law by using taxpayer-funded resources, including village staff, to aid the campaigns of Tamburino and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, and the judicial campaign of Welch's wife
Lawsuit: City Hall, Michael Reese developer conspired to use city power to smash value of coveted property
Lawsuit claims Ald. Sophia King, Chicago Planning department and Michael Reese Hospital redevelopment group GRIT used the city's zoning and permitting authority to block any efforts to improve or sell a property neighboring the former Michael Reese Hospital site, because the city and GRIT wanted to buy it "cheap"
IL Supreme Court justices hear arguments over cash bail abolition
The justices will decide if state lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker had the authority to simply abolish cash bail, despite constitiutional language and past constitutional amendments appearing to assume the existence of the system
'Serious risk of bias?' Pritzker bristles, but legal community has long sought new rules for judge recusal over campaign cash
Gov. JB Pritzker said it was "ridiculous" to ask if two Illinois Supreme Court justices should step aside from hearing constitutional challenges over cash bail and 'assault weapons' bans. But a never-enacted rule change recommended by the Illinois State Bar Association may have called for precisely that, because of Pritzker's campaign donations to the justices
Under lawsuit, Cook County 'rescinds' small biz Covid relief grant distribution based on race, gender, other characteristics
A Chicago chiropractor had sued Cook County over the Grow Grant program, which the county said would distribute $71M in federal Covid relief funds to thousands of small businesses, using guidelines prioritizing businesses owned by Black, LGBTQ and other 'historically excluded' populations
Naperville gun shop owner appeal asks court for order blocking IL 'assault weapons' ban
A Chicago federal judge was wrong to say the state can 'evade' the Second Amendment and prior Supreme Court decisions by simply declaring certain guns as 'particularly dangerous,' the appeal says
'Recipe for increases in crime': Chicago cops warn IL Sup Ct cash bail abolition tramples courts, cops, favors criminals
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police union filed a brief backing the constitutional challenges to the provisions in Illinois' SAFE-T Act abolishing cash bail. They warn Illinois should expect much more crime if the state is allowed to abolish cash bail, an action the police argue is unconstitutional
Lake County judge rejects dance studio owner's defamation claim vs Buffalo Grove LGBTQ activist
The judge found Facebook comments posted by local activist Carolyn Pinta attacking dance teacher Louise Taitz for "hate" speech that leads to LGBTQ suicide, and encouraging people to take their business elsewhere could be "innocently construed" as protected opinion
BNSF: IL Supreme Court ruling means courts can choose not to order 'annihilative' payouts in fingerprint scan class actions
Lawyers for BNSF Railway are pushing to undo a $238 million verdict in favor of 45,000 truckers, who claim BNSF violated Illinois' biometrics privacy law by making them scan fingerprints to access rail yards. Plaintiffs, though, say the verdict should've been $807M
Pritzker, Raoul: No 'fundamental right' to own, sell 'assault weapons' in IL, ask IL high court to toss TRO
Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to immediately vacate a temporary restraining order upheld by a state appeals court, which had ruled the state ban on "assault weapons" trampled the state constitution
4th Ward Chicago Ald. candidate seeks $12M from Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Dems for alleged defamatory mailers
The campaign mailers allegedly falsely claim 4th Ward Chicago alderman candidate Ebony Lucas faces substantial IRS tax liens, contractor liens and court fines; All fictional claims, Lucas says