Jonathan Bilyk News
IL lawmakers advance law to limit 'annihilative' payouts faced by business under biometrics law
The Illinois State Senate approved SB2979, which would explicitly limit the amount of money trial lawyers and plaintiffs can demand businesses pay under the Biometric Information Privacy Act. The law has spawned thousands of lawsuits generating hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fees
Student claims CPS ignored sex assaults by ex-dean at Little Village H.S., part of culture of grooming, abuse at CPS
The lawsuit claims the male dean impregnated the student twice, and forced her to get two abortions despite being underaged. He allegedly claimed to be her parent to sidestep a parental notification law that Illinois lawmakers have since repealed. The suit claims other staff knew, but did nothing
New Trier wrongly refused requests for records to explain decision to cancel Holocaust Remembrance Day: Lawsuit
Education reform group Parents Defending Education has sued New Trier Township High School District claiming administrators violated Freedom of Information law by refusing to provide PDE with staff communications that may discuss the Holocaust or conflict in Gaza.
Salvi firm, Wise, Morrissey end dispute over fees for cases Salvi grabbed amid Wise, Morrissey tiff
A confidential settlement among the firms and attorneys was announced in court last week, resolving the action filed by Salvi to protect its fees from 21 cases that moved to the firm with a former Wise Morrissey lawyer.
Wow Bao says never scanned customer faces, letting biometrics class action continue would be 'injustice'
In a case with potentially far-reaching implications, the Asian-themed fast food chain says it never possessed nor authorized customer face scans at self-service ordering kiosks, meaning it can't be face the risk of a potentially huge payout under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act in this case
Coalition seeks to let IL voters deliver message on parents' rights in November
Thousands of volunteers aligned with conservative social policy groups across Illinois are seeking signatures to place an advisory referendum on the fall ballot asking voters if they believe Illinois law should require parents' consent before children receive non-emergency medical care or therapy
Appeals court: Lawsuits vs Smith & Wesson over Highland Park massacre belong in Lake County court
A federal appeals panel, led by a judge who has repeatedly upheld "assault weapons" bans, has ruled that gun makers can't use their regulatory relationship with the federal government to keep themselves from being sued in state court when criminals use their weapons to commit mass murder
Judge: Bulls great Kukoc can't use Chicago courts to sue Swiss banks over fraud
A Chicago federal judge said Kukoc making his home in the Chicago area, and communicating with the banks here, is not enough to allow him to sue Swiss banks for allegedly allowing an employee to work with Kukoc's ex-financial advisor to 'raid' millions from Kukoc's accounts
Amazon can't escape potentially huge biometrics class action over virtual try-on tool
A federal judge has cleared a Cook County woman and her Chicago lawyers to proceed with a class action under Illinois' biometrics privacy law. The same woman and her lawyers failed in 2022 in their bid to target an online eyewear seller over similar claims
Judge says Potawatomi Tribe can't sue Waukegan over casino developer selection process
The tribe, which operates casinos in Wisconsin, asserted the city had engaged in a rigged and discriminatory bid process that unfairly excluded their proposal. Court documents noted the tribe had also said it sought to reduce losses for its successful Milwaukee location and 'reclaim' ancestral land
Chevron seeks to take Chicago's climate change 'disinformation' suit to federal court
The filing by Chevron says the city's lawsuit is dangerous and misguided, as it would seek to impose Chicago's left-wing policy goals across the globe, and upset a "balance" established by federal regulation that has allowed oil and gas to fuel the modern life enjoyed by everyone in Chicago and worldwide
IL Supreme Court: Patient privacy rights don't extend to medical info collected under child sex assault cases
The Illinois Supreme Court refused to overturn the conviction of a man who allegedly was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter after both he and the young girl twice tested positive for chlamydia.
Chuy Garcia takes down ex-alderman candidate's defamation claims over domestic violence rumor
A state appeals panel says one time 14th Ward aldermanic candidate Jaime Guzman can't revive defamation suit accusing U.S. Rep Jesus "Chuy" Garcia of launching a false rumor accusing Guzman of domestic violence to take him out of 2019 campaign for Ed Burke's seat
Co-pay kickback Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit revived vs Walgreens after 10 years in court
The lawsuit, filed by two pharmacy techs at a small specialty store in Glenview, accuses Walgreens of intentionally ignoring pharmacists' decisions to waive copays to steer business from a West Side clinic, and then improperly auto-refill prescriptions at higher rates, billed to the government aid programs
Judge: Litigation financier Burford can seize control of Sysco's claims in chicken prices lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin rejected poultry producers' attempts to shut down Burford Capital's move to step into court in place of Sysco, saying poultry producers need to accept that third party lawsuit funders can take control of lawsuits to protect their investments and maximize profits
Finally: O'Neill Burke declared victor in tight Cook County State's Attorney's race
After 10 days of counting ballots, ex-judge Eileen O'Neill Burke claimed victory and promised to follow through on her pledges to reverse controversial prosecutorial policies of current State's Attorney Kim Foxx. She defeated Clayton Harris III, who had the backing of Chicago Democratic Party bosses and left-wing activists
Judges challenge IL Tier 2 pension reforms, say law was approved and applied unconstitutionally
If successful, the lawsuit could undo a key pension reform law, which many have credited with helping the state better balance its financially troubled pension systems. It also joins a growing list of challenges claiming lawmakers routinely approve controversial laws unconstitutionally
S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination
'De facto invisible': High costs, court rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts
Spyropoulos wins circuit court clerk race, becomes latest to pledge to modernize, restore trust in embattled office
Mariyana Spyropoulos rode big support from Cook County Democratic Party to defeat incumbent one-term incumbent Iris Martinez