Jonathan Bilyk News
Appeals panel upholds record $42M verdict vs Advocate for quadriplegic who died awaiting surgery
Illinois state appeals panel says Advocate Health bore direct responsibility to ensure supplies and medications were on hand at the right time for surgery in 2017 to replace implant needed to keep man alive
'Once and for all': SCOTUS asked to strike down IL 'assault weapons' ban, end 'defiance' from states, courts
Three petitions were filed on behalf of Illinois gun owners, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to send a message to defiant courts and state lawmakers, who have all but thumbed their noses at SCOTUS' Second Amendment rulings in passing and upholding new gun restrictions in Illinois and elsewhere
Tubi can't unplug class action for allegedly sharing user info with advertisers
A federal judge denied Tubi's attempt to use an arbitration clause in its user agreement and other legal arguments to quickly defeat a class action lawsuit accusing the streaming service of violating a federal video privacy law
Burke's lasting legacy: Cook County's courts harbor favored, connected judges
Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, once one of the most powerful politicians in Illinois, has left behind a long list of loyalist judges on Cook County's courts, including several in high places within the county's controversial divorce and family law courts
Ex-Dolton top cop says Henyard fired him because his wife is 'friendly' with political opponents
Former Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins has filed suit against the village, saying he was illegally fired by Mayor Tiffany Henyard over personal political conflicts, without approval from the village board
'Political winds:' Biz groups urge judge to nix power grab by City Hall in metal yard permit case
Business advocacy groups warned of dire consequences for Chicago and its economy if City Hall is allowed to use "public health" to justify changing the rules midstream when evaluating industrial development permits, as it did when denying $80M Southside Recycling project
Lawyer claims Ravinia wrongly kicked her off Women's Board, sullied her reputation
A Glencoe lawyer says the Ravinia Festival Association board overstepped its authority and defamed her when ousting her from the volunteer Women's Board over "unethical conduct" accusations
'Did me dirty': Ex-NFLer Thomas struggles to collect $700K owed by TN gym operators D1 Training
Former NFL running back and Chicago area native Pierre Thomas claims Nashville-based franchise gym operator D1 Training is using a network of corporate entities to block him from collecting on a judgment, now worth $700K, in a lawsuit over a failed effort to open a Chicago gym
Lawsuit asks court to order Dolton to pay $33.5M verdict to families of men killed, injured in police chase crash
The lawsuit says the court could order the village to raise taxes to fund the judgment. They say such action is needed to address financial mismanagement in Dolton under Mayor Tiffany Henyard.
Judge: Bankruptcy doesn't stop Cook County judge from jailing River Forest developer over unpaid divorce bills
A federal bankruptcy judge said River Forest developer Frank "Marty" Paris' bankruptcy filing doesn't apply to efforts by a Cook County divorce judge to use incarceration - including jailing and electronic home monitoring - to force Paris to pay millions in "domestic support obligations," including big legal bills racked up by his ex-wife
Northshore to pay $55M to settle antitrust class action from 24-year old merger; Lawyers to get $18M
Settlement will end 16-years-long court fight over claims the former Northshore University Healthsystem used hospital acquisitions two decades ago to monopolize health care services in Chicago's north suburbs and then raised prices. Northshore has since merged with Edward-Elmhurst Health, and is now known as Endeavor Health
IL Supreme Court: State OK to consolidate local police, firefighter pension funds
The state high court said the state law consolidating control over 650 local pension funds for police officers and firefighters - which the state has projected will bring in an additional $2.5B over 5 years for pensions - did not run afoul of the Illinois pensions protection clause.
Bus company sues Chicago over ordinance enacted to stop Texas migrant drop-offs
The lawsuit claims a city ordinance regulating where and how buses from out of state can drop off passengers is unconstitutionally attempting to regulate immigration and interstate commerce, while illegally discriminating against migrants, as well.
IL courts help fuel massive class action, settlement activity in 2023: Duane Morris annual report
Class action settlements collective totaling more than $51 billion in 2023 helped to generate 'most extensive ... transfer of wealth' in U.S. court history, new report says. Illinois biometrics class actions one of 'hottest' growth sectors in litigation, according to the report.
Appeals panel: Cubs pop out in bid to defeat sports photog's lawsuit over Wrigley Field injuries
The appeals court said the arbitration clause associated with the photographer's press pass user agreement was "unconscionable" because it wasn't easy to spot online, so the Chicago Cubs can't use it to defeat a photographer's lawsuit for injuries suffered while working at Wrigley Field in 2018
SCOTUS rejects appeal of IL Supreme Court gun ban ruling, despite big Pritzker giving to justices
The U.S. Supreme Court denied appeal from Decatur gun rights supporters, who argued their rights were violated when the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the state's new "assault weapons" ban law and the state's two newest Democratic justices refused to recuse, despite millions in campaign gifts from Gov. JB Pritzker and his allies
River Forest man nears month in jail over unpaid divorce legal bills
A federal bankruptcy judge did not rule Jan. 3 on competing motions over whether Cook County judge can keep Marty Paris in jail while his bankruptcy continues
People who opted out of $100M settlement hit Google with new lawsuit for Photos face scans
A group of 60 people who previously opted out of Google's $100 million settlement under Illinois' biometrics privacy law have filed a collective action lawsuit against the tech giant, seeking a potential big money payday of their own.
Burke convicted; Ex-Chicago Finance chair used power to boost law firm, stack courts, control government
Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke was convicted on 13 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion charges, stemming from shakedowns of developers, businesspeople and the Field Museum, among others. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot noted Burke his used his power to leverage control of the courts in Chicago and elsewhere
Cook County judge says bankruptcy doesn't mean man gets out of jail without paying divorce lawyers
Calling it a "Christmas present," a Cook County divorce court judge said she'd release River Forest businessman Marty Paris, who has been jailed since Dec. 8, if he came up with $300K now, and pay $200K later, rather than full $500K immediately. Paris had sought his release while his Chapt. 7 bankruptcy moves forward