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Stories by Jonathan Bilyk on Cook County Record

COOK COUNTY RECORD

Monday, March 10, 2025

Jonathan Bilyk News


Judge ends ex-Palatine HS teacher's suit vs activist she claims got her fired over anti-BLM statements

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Cook County judge said Township High School District 211 fired the teacher for "her own conduct," so she can't sue the activist and current D211 board member she says targeted her for posting comments on Facebook critical of anti-racism protests in 2020

Workers' comp law blocks mother's try to sue Arby's restaurant owner over son's on-the-job murder

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals court said the mother didn't present enough evidence to back her claims the incident in which a co-worker stabbed her son to death while working the drive thru late night shift was not work related

UPS Store can face class action for allegedly overcharging customers for notary services

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals panel revived claims UPS Store conspired with its franchisees to sidestep $1 limit set by state law for notary fee

'Stupid and unconstitutional:' Raoul blocked by federal judge from enforcing IL abortion 'misinformation' law

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Rockford federal judge granted a preliminary injunction sought by pro-life groups and so-called crisis pregnancy centers, who said Illinois, under Gov. JB Pritkzer and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, was attempting to use the new law to silence abortion opponents unconstitutionally

IL appeals panel ends lawsuit in which Pritzker accused of helping friend defraud state

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A state appeals court in Springfield says Attorney General Raoul within his power to pull plug on suit, despite political implications against Gov. JB Prtizker

IL pregnancy center law unconstitutional attempt to stifle speech of abortion opponents: Lawsuit

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The law empowers Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, a staunch supporter of unlimited abortion rights, to use a state consumer fraud law to investigate, prosecute and potentially fine and shut down pro-life pregnancy centers if Raoul believes they are spreading "misinformation" about abortion

Appeals court: IL Supreme Court must rein in lawmakers' abuse of legislative process

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Springfield appeals panel has called on Illinois' highest court to do more than just 'bluster' and follow through on threats to police state lawmakers who rely on prior leniency from the state Supreme Court to all but ignore constitutional rules governing how laws must be passed

Judge: CPS can't shut down, take over Urban Prep until at least early 2025

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Cook County judge has ruled Chicago Public Schools' attempt to seize control at the successful, but controversy-plagued Urban Prep Academies charter high schools violated a state moratorium on public school closures until Chicago can elect and seat a new Board of Education in January 2025

Should BIPA plaintiffs who lose pay defendants' legal bills? Yes, says Dior

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Fashion designer Christian Dior says courts should send a message to plaintiffs who may bring doomed lawsuits because they believe they can "extract" a settlement from defendant companies, at no risk to themselves

Glenbard schools to join rapidly growing nationwide lawsuits seeking billions from Snap, TikTok, Meta, Google

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The nationwide mass litigation is seeking potentially billions of dollars from some of the biggest operators of social media platforms, accusing them of fomenting a "mental health crisis" among children and teens. Trial lawyers stand to claim a quarter or more of the ultimate take

Filing: City acting in contempt of court by continuing to deny Southside metal recycling facility permit

By Jonathan Bilyk |
"This is about whether the city of Chicago is above the law," developers of a South Side metal recycling facility said in a motion, asking a Cook County judge to enforce an administrative judge's ruling that the city had illegally denied the permit it needs to operate its new $80M plant

IL Supreme Court: IL Dems OK to abolish cash bail, because state constitution doesn't require it

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The Democratic supermajority on the court agreed that the state constitution does not block lawmakers from redefining 'bail' to fit progressive policy goals without first amending the state constitution

Appeals court to decide if Raoul can kill off lawsuit, potentially embarrassing for Pritzker

By Jonathan Bilyk |
IL A/G says plaintiff hasn't proven A/G is acting under political pressure to seek to dismiss a lawsuit against politically connected ex-state worker accused of defrauding state for $500K, allegedly under protection of Gov. JB Pritzker's office

Filing: Chicago Public Schools 'brazenly' refusing to comply with court order to keep Urban Prep open

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Leaders at Urban Prep Academies are asking a Cook County judge to find CPS in contempt, because CPS is continuing with plans to take control at charter high school, despite appeals court's restraining order

Chicago: Arwady free to use 'environmental justice' review to deny South Side metal yard permit

By Jonathan Bilyk |
City Hall has appealed a decision by a Chicago administrative law judge, who had determined Chicago Public Health Commissioner used an environmental analysis not allowed under city ordinances to illegally deny a permit to the company formerly known as General Iron to operate a new recycling center

Appeals court: Lawsuit can resume challenging constitutionality of feds' across-the-board ban on gun ownership by felons

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A divided appeals panel says a Supreme Court ruling means lower courts can't simply agree with governments that they have the authority under the Second Amendment to categorically deny gun ownership rights to those convicted of felonies, or other "dangerous" people

Dad appeals ruling he has no fundamental right to forbid Villa Park school from helping child change genders

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A new Biden-appointed federal judge declared a Florida man's constitutional rights as a parent may end at the school house door, so he can't sue the school district for allegedly conspiring with his ex-wife to speed along his child's gender transition

State Farm accused of holding out on interest allegedly owed to Illinois claimants from awards and judgements

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The lawsuit is the latest example of lawsuits accusing the insurance giant of allegedly attempting to not pay interest on awards to claimants.

Google Photos settlement payments sliced again, now down to $95 per person; Lawyers still getting $35M

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A renewed screening and claim review process resulted in the addition of nearly 167,000 new claimants to the settlement class, dropping the per person payment, which had initially been estimated at $200-$400, from $154 to $95 per person

Ruling: City Hall, Arwady improperly used 'environmental justice' analysis to deny Southside metal recycling center's permit

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Chicago administrative law judge reversed the decision of Chicago Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady, who had denied a permit to the company formerly known as General Iron for a South Side metal recycling center. The denial had been based on a 'health impact assessment' that the judge said isn't allowed by law