Chicago Tribune
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Attorney: Class action over Junior Mints slack-fill latest example of 'easy target' for plaintiffs' bar
Susan Razzano can't say how many similar cases will fill up court dockets in coming years. But the attorney with Eimer Stahl LLP, in Chicago, said she expects class actions over so-called 'slack fill,' such as that recently filed in Chicago federal court against the makers of Junior Mints, will continue to offer trial lawyers a sweet and "easy target." -
Lawsuit: Madigan, political orgs retaliated vs female staffer who complained of sexual harassment
Saying she was ignored, belittled and then effectively shunned and fired, a female former campaign worker for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organizations has sued her former employers for allegedly doing next to nothing to address the sexual harassment she said she suffered at the hands of a high-ranking operative within the Madigan organization and the brother of a Chicago alderman. -
Class action: Cook County Sheriff can't reintroduce 'sham' disciplinary complaints vs formerly fired deputies
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is facing yet another lawsuit over his handling of employee terminations before an illegally constituted merit board, as two fired Cook County deputies argue the sheriff has lost his chance to fire them and 230 other terminated sheriff’s officers, even after the board was reconstituted under new legislation. -
Appeals panel: Ex-Redflex executive can't claim share of $20M paid to city to settle red-light camera bribes claims
Saying to find otherwise would give “fraudsters” the chance to profit from bribery, a federal appeals panel has upheld a lower court’s decision to bar a figure at the center of Chicago’s red light camera bribery scheme from claiming a cut of the settlement paid to City Hall by the city’s former red light camera vendor. -
'Pharmacy deserts' not helped by Chicago city regulations, lack of social responsibility from chains
Shareholders and the public like to hear companies talk the talk of social responsibility, but businesses need to also walk the walk of social responsibility by demonstrating their commitment to their under-served pharmacy customers even in the face of short-term business pressures. We should examine our continuing effort to insure that all communities have ready access to prescription medications and essential pharmaceutical services. -
Federal judge keeps wrongful termination case against Cook County Sheriff alive
A federal judge has allowed a former Cook County correctional officer to continue his suit accusing Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart of firing him in retaliation for supporting a political opponent of the sheriff. The judge, however, dismissed a number of other defendants within the sheriff's office from the case. -
Man suing Madigan asks court to order release of inspector general's 2014 report detailing Speaker's clout
A former candidate who is suing Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and some of his supporters for allegedly using political tricks to sabotage his campaign, is now locked in a fight in Chicago federal court to secure the release of a 2014 inspector general’s report his lawyer says is needed to shed light on how the longest serving state house speaker in U.S. history and his political organization work, to help substantiate the candidate’s claims. -
Illinois courts review hospital tax exemptions, with millions in tax revenue, viability in the balance
Illinois courts are wrestling with the idea of which hospital networks and major healthcare provider groups should pay property taxes - and a lot of revenue potentially hangs in the balance, perhaps jeopardizing the ability of hospitals, particularly in rural areas, to maintain service levels, some observers say. -
Ex-girlfriend, mother of son of Bears legend Urlacher files $125M defamation suit over ex-husband's death
The ex-girlfriend of Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher is seeking $125 million in a defamation lawsuit filed Jan. 12 in Cook County Circuit Court. -
PI counter sues for $25M claiming defamation involving Alstory Simon, Northwestern University saga
Nearly a year after his first attempt to sue was rejected by Chicago federal judge, private investigator Paul Ciolino has returned to court, this time in Cook County, claiming former Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez defamed him, partnered with others to ruin his career and set a murderer free to settle a score with Northwestern University. -
Cook deputy says 'sham' merit board had no power to fire her in 2011 over personal misconduct charges
A former Cook County Sheriff's Office sergeant, fired for alleged off-duty incidents involving alcohol, is suing Sheriff Tom Dart, claiming the sheriff's Merit Board had no authority to sack her, because board members were serving interim, rather than six-year terms as required by law, making the board a “sham.” -
Downers Grove within its rights to remove library board member for comments on homosexuality, appeals court says
Controversial comments on homosexuality cost a Downers Grove library trustee his seat on the board, and the village board's decision to remove him has now been upheld by a state appeals panel. -
Lawsuit: Cook County assessments racially discriminate, make Hispanic, black homeowners pay higher taxes
Two organizations whose mission is to help homeowners in two predominantly minority and economically struggling Chicago neighborhoods have filed suit against the office of Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios, asserting the office’s assessment practices have discriminated against Hispanic and black homeowners by under-assessing properties in wealthier and whiter neighborhoods and communities, pushing a greater tax burden on those with less means to legally protect themselves. -
Hearings set next week in Alstory Simon’s $40 million wrongful incarceration suit
CHICAGO - A status hearing is set Oct. 2 in Alstory Simon's lawsuit against those he claims falsified evidence that implicated him and sent him to prison for a 1982 double murder. -
Property tax lawyer questions validity of Cook County tax system review
A review of the Cook County property tax system may be nothing more than a political witch hunt, according to a local property tax attorney. -
Consumer fraud suit vs McDonald's over 'pop tax' collection falls flat over misread receipt
An attempt at suing McDonald’s restaurants in Chicago and suburban Cook County for allegedly charging a few cents too much tax while collecting Cook County’s “pop tax” has fizzled, after a more careful reading of sales receipts revealed the plaintiffs had no case. -
Appeals court: Rosemont can't keep lid on its take from rents, concession sales at its arenas
The village of Rosemont can't cite concerns over "competitive harm" to others when picking and choosing which financial documents to publicly disclose - and specifically when trying to keep privileged its take from rents and concession revenues from the arenas it owns and operates, a state appeals court has affirmed. -
Second District Appellate Court upholds ruling forcing College of DuPage and its foundation to release subpoena
The Illinois Second District Appellate Court has upheld a circuit court's ruling granting the Chicago Tribune's request for summary judgment in its attempt to force the College of DuPage and its fundraising foundation to release a subpoena. -
Businessman's accusations vs ex-Speaker Hastert over use of funds 'strain credulity,' judge says
A Chicago federal judge has dismissed a court action by a suburban businessman, who alleged former U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert misused public money for his private business interests, saying the businessman’s story could not be believed. -
Operators of Dotty's, Stella's, Shelby's gambling cafes sue state over revenue rules
The owners of two groups operating many of the video gambling establishments in strip malls and other locations across Illinois have sued the Illinois Gaming Board, arguing one board policy and two provisions of the state’s 2009 Video Gaming Act are unconstitutionally depriving them of the chance to negotiate better business deals for a larger share of the revenue they generate.