Illinois Department of Transportation
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Recent News About Illinois Department of Transportation
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Former House Speaker, IL Dems chair Madigan indicted on racketeering, bribery charges
Federal prosecutors allege Michael J. Madigan, who for 40 years led Illinois Democrats and ruled over much of Springfield and Chicago politics, was the leader of a criminal racketeering enterprise, beginning at least 10 years ago. -
Metra says judge was off track in ruling Union Pacific can cease northwest suburban Chicago commuter trains
Metra wants to derail a judge's ruling that Union Pacific does not have to run commuter lines in northwest Chicago, arguing the judge committed a "manifest injustice" in refusing to consider the railroad was contractually obligated to keep operating the service. -
Appeals panel won't increase fee award for lawyer who helped Muslim man win discrimination case vs IDOT
Attorney Joseph Longo argued federal judge should've approved nearly $1 million more for his work on the case. But a federal appeals panel ruled his claims were "meritless" or even "simply frivolous." -
IL Inspector General's effort to block access to state hiring reports show IL not ready to lift feds oversight: Court filing
While Gov. JB Pritzker says the state is ready to emerge from federal court oversight of its hiring practices, a new court filing asserts efforts by the Office of the Executive Inspector General to impede court-appointed monitors from seeing certain state hiring reports says otherwise. -
Hiring monitor: Illinois has 'work to do' before court-ordered oversight of state hiring practices can be lifted
The filing comes in response to Gov. JB Pritzker's try to end the court decrees that gives federal monitors the authority to combat patronage hiring in state government. -
Pritzker: 'Facts do not support' IL government hiring monitor's accusations Pritzker moves slowed reforms
New court filing accuses special master of ambushing governor's office with accusations in report to federal judge -
Court filing: IL government hiring monitor says Pritzker moves have 'impeded' state government hiring reform progress
A court-appointed monitor of Illinois' government hiring practices says Gov. Pritzker has 'diminished' her ability to communicate with state personnel, harming efforts to complete a reform plan. -
Class action: Motorists owed $100M+ refunds for red light cameras in SW suburbs boosted by racketeering, bribes
A new class action asks a federal judge to order the refund of potentially more than $100 million in fines generated from a network of red light cameras in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, which were allegedly installed as a result of a racketeering conspiracy built on bribes and grift. -
Appeals panel rules against advertising company in battle over Bellwood's billboard ban
A Chicago-based advertising and marketing billboard company effectively lost the appeal of its property rights and antitrust claims against the a rival company and the village of Bellwood after it lost a lease following an imposition of a sign ban in the suburban community, a federal appeals court recently ruled. -
Court battle could decide how Illinois governments can spend gas tax money
Drivers in Illinois are paying sharply higher taxes on gas, after the state doubled the tax to pay for transportation-related projects across Illinois. But what qualifies as "transportation-related" spending? A lawsuit vs Cook County now on appeal could answer that question -
Land owners claim lawyers' mistakes cost them $1.7M in fight with IDOT over road work
Land trust beneficiaries are suing a lawyer and his firm, citing alleged negligence. -
IDOT ordered to pay $774K in fees to lawyers for Muslim ex-worker who claimed discrimination
The state of Illinois has been ordered to pay nearly $800,000 in legal fees to lawyers representing a Muslim employee of the Illinois Department of Transportation after a jury found IDOT supervisors had retaliated against him and did not give him space to pray and practice his religion. The ex-IDOT worker received more than $1.2 million in damages and back pay and benefits. -
Rauner order allows testing of self-driving cars; attorney says regulations to be worked out down the road
A new executive order from outgoing Gov. Bruce Rauner will pave the way for self-driving car testing in Illinois, setting the stage for further questions down the road. -
Judge: IL A/G's pro-union statements don't disqualify her from defending vs union lawsuit over fees
A federal judge has determined a state employee — notable for his public anti-union stances — can’t intervene on behalf of the state in a lawsuit it faces from a union leader asking courts to declare unions aren’t obligated to represent employees who refuse to pay membership dues. -
Anti-union IL state worker asks judge to let him defend state vs union attempt to 'discriminate' vs non-union workers
Saying Illinois’ attorney general’s defense is “inadequate” and is “bordering on malpractice,” an Illinois state employee who factored in the court action that led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down rules requiring non-union workers to pay fees to unions has again jumped into a federal court action, this time asking a judge to allow his legal team to defend the state against a union’s attempt to secure a court order striking down labor laws requiring them to represent all workers in a collective bargaining unit. -
Environmental groups' challenge to Illiana Tollway project rejected by Illinois appeals panel
A state appeals court has upheld a lower court’s ruling against environmental groups suing to block the Illiana Tollway project. -
Seventh Circuit ruling brings clarity for employers dealing with potential employee mental health issues
Dealing with an employee exhibiting mental health problems remains a thorny issue despite a federal appeals court's recent ruling denying a disability discrimination claim against an Illinois state agency. -
Chicago lawyer convicted of boosting scheme to con condo lenders among 16 disciplined by IL Sup. Ct.
A Chicago real estate lawyer convicted of defrauding banks for allegedly boosting a scheme to con mortgage lenders out of $1.5 million in loans on behalf of sham condo purchasers, has been suspended from practicing law in Illinois, one of 16 lawyers disciplined this month by the Illinois Supreme Court. -
Illinois Department of Transportation accused of discrimination
A former employee is suing the Illinois Department of Transportation for alleged discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. -
Rauner seeks court guidance on what to do with illegally hired patronage workers in wake of special report
In the wake of a scathing report from a court-appointed “special master” empowered to investigate political hiring abuses under former Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and other state officials and lawmakers, current Gov. Bruce Rauner has asked for the court’s guidance on whether those improperly hired, thanks to political connections, should now be able to use collective bargaining agreements to leverage the experience they gained in those positions to land in different positions or even move up in the state’s employment ranks.