News from September 2015
IL Supreme Court: Brookfield Zoo not a public entity, shouldn't be legally protected like one
Brookfield Zoo sits on publicly owned land. And every year, it receives a large amount of tax dollars to help fund operations. But the zoo should not enjoy the same protections from lawsuits given to governmental organizations and their offshoots in Illinois, the state’s high court has ruled.
Judge junks junk fax class action settlement deal to pay plaintiffs' lawyer 98 percent of proceeds, class members zero
Saying a proposed settlement agreement in which a lawyer would receive over 98 percent of the proceeds “does not come close to meeting the standards of fairness and reasonableness,” a federal judge in Chicago has rejected the request of two truck companies to settle a class action dispute over junk faxes sent by one of the companies. Grok Lines Inc., of Palatine, which initiated a class action claim against Murray, Ky.-based Paschall Truck Lines, was pursuing a $100,000 settlement.
Slowness of City Hall to move against Park Grill torpedoes its chances to undo'sweetheart' deal to counter bad press, judge says
In the latest scene in a years-long saga cutting across Chicago’s culture of politics and clout, a Cook County judge has said Chicago City Hall and Mayor Rahm Emanuel cannot undo a deal cut by the Chicago Park District under former Mayor Richard M. Daley to allow a group of Chicago investors – including some with ties to the former mayor – to operate the restaurant in Millennium Park, simply because city officials wished to now get on the right side of bad publicity surrounding the “sweetheart d
Student-athlete accuses Dominican University of negligence in soccer training
A Cook County woman is suing Dominican University, alleging negligence in a dispute involving the school’s soccer training regimen.
Mother sues two businesses, alleging negligence in daughter’s injury
A Cook County woman is suing a day care facility and a second business on behalf of her minor daughter, alleging negligence and premises liability when the child sustained a broken elbow in a day care outing.
Bounced barroom patron sues Fiesta Cantina after brawl
A Chicago woman is suing a Wrigleyville neighborhood tavern over battery charges following a 2014 scuffle.
Brookdale Senior Living sued over alleged negligence, sexual assault
A woman is suing a certain Cook County assisted living and nursing facility over allegations that she developed an infection and heel ulcer and was sexually assaulted while staying there.
Bus passenger sues Megabus following roll-over accident
A Cook County woman is suing a group of diversely located commercial transportation companies on charges of critical injuries incurred in a 2014 bus roll-over accident.
Chicago lawsuits add to growing list of Volkswagen diesel emissions deception class actions
Several Illinois and Indiana residents have joined their names to a growing list of named plaintiffs in class action complaints against Volkswagen over allegations the carmaker had designed its diesel cars to deceive government emissions detectors into believing their cars were more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Chicago's differing regulations of Uber vs taxis may violate equal protection, judge says
Cab drivers in the city of Chicago have long claimed City Hall’s treatment of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, compared to how it treats the city’s taxi drivers, is unfair. Now, Chicago’s cabbies will have the chance to press that claim in court, after a federal judge said an equal protection lawsuit brought by cabbies may have some gas left in the tank.
Customer sues Sawtooth Lounge, claiming aggressive assault led to broken bones
A Cook County man is suing Sawtooth Restaurant on allegations of assault and battery in a 2013 confrontation which allegedly left him with a broken wrist and medical expenses.
Son blames Cantata Adult Life Services for injuries to his mother
A Cook County man is suing his mother’s caregivers, alleging negligence for injuries she suffered while being transferred from her bed.
Family members charge Oncallers Inc., employees with assault and battery
A Cook County mother is suing a corporation, its employee, and an additional unknown employee on behalf of her minor son on charges of battery in a recent encounter which the plaintiff contends damaged her child.
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, physician sued over alleged negligence leading to amputation
An Illinois woman is suing an orthopedic center and a physician over claims of negligence resulting in an above-the-knee amputation.
Guardian sues Chicago Ridge Nursing Center over alleged substandard care of patient
A woman is suing Chicago Ridge Nursing Center on behalf of a disabled adult on allegations of negligence in the critical deterioration of the plaintiff’s health in 2013.
Felled pedestrian’s kin sue driver, Accurate Office Supply following fatal accident
A woman is suing a business and its employee as an estate administrator on wrongful death charges in a 2013 pedestrian-automobile accident that claimed her mother’s life.
Lifetime Fitness could owe ex-trainers back wages, but not vacation pay in whistleblower suit
A federal suit against the Lifetime Fitness chain of health clubs recently lost some muscle, when a judge ruled the company may owe fired personal trainers back wages for regular and overtime hours, but it does not owe them pay for unused vacation time. The case began July 7, 2014, when Jared Steger and David Ramsey filed a class-action suit in Cook County Circuit Court against LTF Club Operations Co.
Crestwood seeks to float bonds to fund possible $15 million settlement to end litigation over contaminated well water
A suburban Chicago village facing hundreds of lawsuits over allegations it knowingly allowed its residents to drink water contaminated with toxic, cancer-causing chemicals for decades has opted to move forward with a potential bond issue to potentially settle the litigation en masse later this year.
Appellate: Lawyer a day late, but shouldn't be any dollars short in malpractice case
A lawyer’s failure to file an appeal on time may have technically torpedoed a family’s lawsuit against another attorney who they blame for destroying their businesses. But an appellate panel has determined the family would have lost the appeal and the case anyway, and so has denied the family’s attempt to sue its attorney for losing the suit.
Redflex removes $300 million city red light camera bribery lawsuit to federal court
The red light camera vendor accused of bribing Chicago’s transportation director to get and keep the city’s red light camera contract says it believes the city’s $300 million lawsuit over the bribery allegations belongs in a federal, not county, courtroom. On Monday, Sept. 21, Redflex filed notice in federal court in Chicago of its intent to remove the case from Cook County Circuit Court.