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Stories by Scott Holland on Cook County Record

COOK COUNTY RECORD

Friday, November 29, 2024

Scott Holland News


Appeals panel: Caterpillar didn't discriminate vs older workers by nixing benefits plan to boost early retirement

By Scott Holland |
A federal appeals panel in Chicago has ruled Caterpillar can’t be sued for age discrimination simply because it changed a benefits plan that led to widespread worker retirement.

Female U.S. national team gymnast sues USA Gymnastics, others for abuse by Nassar

By Scott Holland |
A female gymnast, who competed for the U.S. national team for three years earlier this decade, has filed suit in Chicago accusing the organization that runs the national team and others of allowing institutionalized sexual abuse of young athletes.

Car dealer's class action: Tribune, Sinclair, other TV broadcasters colluded to inflate ad rates

By Scott Holland |
In the wake of a report indicating the federal government is looking into allegations a number of U.S. television broadcasters have colluded to inflate advertising rates, a Pennsylvania car dealer has filed suit in Chicago federal court accusing several broadcasters of just that.

Judge: Chicago's altered rules for peddlers outside Wrigley strike out lawsuit by Cubs-related magazine seller

By Scott Holland |
A federal judge has again sent to the showers a lawsuit alleging the city of Chicago violated the rights of the publisher of a Cubs-related magazine when it barred the company from selling its publication outside Wrigley Field, noting changes to the city's ordinance effectively strike out the publishers' legal arguments to this point.

Dolton, Robbins say low water bill, property tax collections to blame for still owing Chicago millions for water

By Scott Holland |
Facing legal actions from the city of Chicago asserting they collectively owe more than $23 million in unpaid water bills, the villages of Robbins and Dolton have responded by conceding they owe the money, but assert they face financial challenges, from depressed property tax collections and water bill collections that are too low to cover the amount demanded by Chicago, to actually repay what the city is demanding.

Judge: Difference between 'mass action,' 'class action' means Pfizer can't flush Robitussin suit

By Scott Holland |
A federal judge has rejected Pfizer’s attempt to scuttle a class action accusing the drugmaker of misleading consumers over the actual strength of its maximum strength Robitussin cough syrup, saying a U.S. Supreme Court decision doesn’t necessarily mean the company shouldn’t have to face a nationwide class action in Chicago federal court.

Judge refuses try by St. Louis Billy Goat Chips maker to dismiss Chicago Billy Goat's trademark suit

By Scott Holland |
In an ongoing battle of the Billy Goats, a federal judge this week gave a win to the iconic Chicago side, saying the Billy Goat Tavern can continue with its trademark infringement lawsuit against a St. Louis snack chip maker.

Sears reaches deal to end class action over flammable Craftsman mowers; Lawyers could get $3.2M

By Scott Holland |
A federal judge has signed off on a preliminary deal to settle a class action lawsuit against Sears, which had leveled accusations that some of its Craftsman riding lawnmowers caught fire as a result of faulty fuel systems.

Appeals panel: Objector earned $80K atty fees for getting Southwest passengers class two more free drinks each

By Scott Holland |
A federal appeals panel has cleared an objector to claim attorney fees for his role in landing a class of eligible Southwest Airlines passengers two more free in-flight drinks, amid a long-running class action lawsuit over drink vouchers the airline formerly provided to passengers.

Lawsuit: Abbvie's after-hours share offer adjustment cost investors $100M

By Scott Holland |
A group of Abbvie investors who say they and others like them collectively lost more than $100 million when the pharmaceutical giant used an after-hours press release to adjust a share price tender offer, has sued the company in a federal securities class action filed July 26 in Chicago.

Appeals judges: Cook Forest Preserve's try to get horse ranch in foreclosure not unconstitutional seizure

By Scott Holland |
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a blow to the owners of a horse ranch near Barrington in their property ownership battle with the Cook County Forest Preserve District, as judges said the Forest Preserve’s attempt to use the foreclosure process to acquire the land did not amount to an unconstitutional taking.

Lawsuit: Chicago racks up 'hundreds of millions' in excessive fines for 'minor violations,' too punitive to be legal

By Scott Holland |
A Chicago man has initiated a class action complaint against the city, claiming its penalties for minor violations like parking tickets or missing car window stickers are so punitive – particularly against those “least able to pay them” – that they violate state law. He is represented by the same lawyers which recently announced a $38 million settlement agreement with City Hall over its red light camera program, earning the firm $11 million in fees.

Lawsuit: 'Level playing field' in Illinois election campaign spending for independent advocacy groups

By Scott Holland |
Dan Proft and a conservative Illinois political advocacy group are asking a federal judge to strike down certain campaign contribution limits.

Judge: No 'risk of harm' to Rexnord workers from fingerprint scan time clocks; case sent back to Cook courts

By Scott Holland |
A federal judge has kicked back to Cook County court a class action lawsuit accusing manufacturer Rexnord of violating an Illinois state privacy law by requiring employees to scan their fingerprints when using employee punch clocks to track work hours.

Class action accuses Cook County courts clerk of leaving too much personal info in traffic court records

By Scott Holland |
A Cook County woman has initiated a federal class action against Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown concerning what information can be disclosed on public records.

Federal lawsuit: Cook Co. makes it too difficult to appeal big tax bills; state law only enables

By Scott Holland |
A group of property owners have filed a federal complaint challenging the legality, not only of their Cook County property tax assessments, but also of the state law that governs the assessment process and which they said aided the county's efforts to make it overly difficult to effectively appeal tax bills.

Appeals panel: School district knew too much about cheerleader's concussions; summary judgment improper

By Scott Holland |
A state appeals panel has given a lift to a legal action brought against a far northwest suburban school district by the family of a cheerleader, saying the school district may have known enough about the cheerleader’s three concussion events to no longer be protected by state immunity laws.

Lawsuit: Woman says lawyer referred lawsuit vs her to his father while still representing her in related action

By Scott Holland |
A New York woman is accusing her former attorney of improperly referring a lawsuit against her to his father while still representing her in a related action.

PETA: Brookfield Zoo operators should be subject to FOIA, turn over info regarding stingray deaths

By Scott Holland |
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is suing the Cook County Forest Preserve District in hopes of using the Freedom of Information Act to force the Chicago Zoological Society to turn over documents regarding the deaths of dozens of stingrays at the Brookfield Zoo.

Judge again tosses Napleton Auto Group's RICO claims vs Fiat Chrysler over dealer incentive plan

By Scott Holland |
A federal judge in Chicago has curbed racketeering claims brought by the Napleton car dealership group, as the judge said the dealers still hadn’t presented enough evidence to back its claims accusing Fiat Chrysler of using a sales program to lean on dealers who refused to go along with an alleged scheme to falsify sales figures.