News from December 2015
Wife alleges Oak Park hospital's surgical error cost her husband his life
CHICAGO -- A Cook County woman is suing West Suburban Medical Center and its doctors, alleging they lied about her husband’s cause of death.
Mother blames Evanston Hospital for infant’s death
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing Evanston Hospital, alleging negligence in the death of her baby.
Cook County, home rule municipalities can tax slot machines, video gaming terminals, appeals panel says
In a pair of decisions, a state appeals panel again upheld the ability of Cook County and other home rule units of local government in Illinois to tax slot and video gaming machines. Both cases, docketed in court records as Case No. 13-L-050995 and Case No. 14-CH-7357, named Lemont-based Accel Entertainment among the plaintiffs, and both were decided by the same panel of three judges.
For-profit colleges could forgive millions in student debt under deals with IL, other states
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has announced two settlements with for-profit college operator Education Management Corporation (EDMC). The settlements would “significantly reform” recruiting and enrollment practices for the company, forgive over $3 million in loans for Illinois students, and reimburse the state of Illinois for money the education company obtained fraudulently.
Jury awards $22 million to family of woman who suffered brain damage from blood clots in tracheostomy
A Cook County jury has ordered a group of medical professionals and organizations, including Chicago’s Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, to pay more than $22 million to the family of a mother of six children who suffered brain damage, leaving her disabled and dependent on the care of others, as a result of an alleged lack of medical attention to a tracheostomy blocked by blood clots more than 10 years ago.
Daughter blames Glen Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation for mother’s injuries, death
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing a Northbrook health care center, alleging negligence in her mother’s death.
Daughter blames South Shore Hospital for mother’s heart attack death
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing a Chicago hospital and staff members, alleging the failure to swiftly diagnose and treat her mother’s heart attack led to her death.
VW diesel emissions class actions transferred, centralized by MDL Panel in San Francisco federal court
The blizzard of litigation filed against Volkswagen in the wake of revelations the automaker allegedly installed devices on diesel cars to fool emissions testing equipment has been redirected to federal court in San Francisco. Across the country, more than 500 lawsuits - primarily class action complaints - have been lodged in federal district courts against Volkswagen. In the Northern District of Illinois, for instance, 19 such lawsuits have been filed against VW.
Lakeview hotel operators bring class action over mobile banking app allowing checks to be cashed twice
Potential loopholes in a mobile banking application which could allow depositors to cash the bank notes more than once have prompted a Lakeview hotel business to bring a class action against JP Morgan Chase. Plaintiff 1409 West Diversey Corp., which does business as the Bellwood Hotel, filed its putative class action against JP Morgan Chase in Cook County Circuit Court Dec. 9, claiming its mobile check capture service allows bank customers to deposit checks more than once.
Failed church merger includes suit against Jesse White
CHICAGO – A Buffalo Grove church is suing another ministry and the Illinois secretary of state, alleging its merger is invalid.
Barrington Hills investment firm says 121 Railroad owes $600,000
CHICAGO–A Barrington Hills investment firm is suing a Lombard company, alleging it owes more than $600,000, stemming from a 2013 promissory note.
Chicago man blames Blue Island medical facility for relative's death
CHICAGO–A Cook County man is suing Blue Island Clinic Company LLC, alleging it failed to treat his relative’s mental illness properly, leading him to commit suicide.
CHA can't collect $4.3 million from architect blamed for renovations running afoul of ADA, appeals panel says
The Chicago Housing Authority should not be allowed to continue with its lawsuit to recover money from an architecture and design firm the CHA blames for causing it to spend an additional $4.3 million to retrofit newly renovated apartments to comply with federal disability access laws, a state appeals panel has ruled. On Dec. 11, a three-justice panel of the Illinois First District Appellate Court upheld the decision of Cook County Circuit Judge Ronald Bartkowicz.
Amazon can use rejected settlement offer to fight background check class action, judge says
A Chicago federal judge has ruled a plaintiff, who is leading a putative class action suit against Amazon for allegedly rejecting his job application after a background check turned up what the plaintiff said is a bogus report of a drug conviction, can’t stop the online retailer from using the plaintiff’s decision to reject a settlement offer as a defense to ward off the class action suit.
Teamsters member says ex-Local 710 CEO removed amid embezzlement probe must repay $1.3 million in salaries
A member of a Teamsters union local representing thousands of workers in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa has asked a judge for permission to sue former local union officials who were removed last year amid accusations of embezzlement and corruption, and to force those former officials to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries the potential lawsuit says were wrongly paid at a time the organization was otherwise financially insolvent.
Son says Alexian Village of Elk Grove's negligence led to mother's death
CHICAGO – A Cook County man is suing Alexian Village of Elk Grove, alleging negligence in his mother’s death.
Son accuses Rush University Medical Center of malpractice in father’s death; plaintiff withdraws case
CHICAGO – A Cook County man has withdrawn his lawsuit against a Chicago hospital and physicians, alleging wrongful death in his father’s passing.
Mother blames city of Chicago for son's traffic chase death
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing Chicago, alleging negligence for her son’s death during a high-speed chase.
Patient alleges Lakeshore Hospital held him against his will
CHICAGO – An unnamed Cook County man is suing a Chicago hospital, alleging it involuntarily admitted him, initially denying him access to family or his attorney, when he came to the emergency room with suicidal thoughts.
Husband blames Buffalo Grove health facility for wife’s wrongful death
CHICAGO – A Cook County man is suing a Buffalo Grove health facility, alleging wrongful death in a dispute surrounding his late wife.