News from 2015
Former Ungaretti lawyers not liable for bringing whistleblower suit for one client, but not another who asked them first, appeals panel says
A Chicago law firm which allegedly initially declined to bring a whistleblower suit against doctors and MRI companies over purportedly illegal leasing agreements, but then later won hundreds of thousands of dollars for a different client in a nearly identical case months later, should not be held liable for the first client’s failure to bring a similar case or collect damages, a state appeals panel has ruled.
Daughter sues John R. Stroger Hospital, alleging malpractice in mother’s death
A Cook County woman is suing county health care givers, alleging the doctors and hospital treating her mother for gangrene were negligent, leading to her death.
Judge: Dollar General must tell how it screens job applicants, EEOC doesn't need to supply info on why it brought disparate impact action
A federal judge has dealt setbacks to Dollar General in its years-long court fight with federal equal opportunity regulators over claims the company’s employment screening practices resulted in keeping African Americans from landing jobs at the retailer’s stores.
Malpractice action dismissed vs Dickinson Wright over alleged bad advice on proposed Oklahoma Indian casino
A Chicago federal judge has said no dice to a legal malpractice action brought against Michigan-based Dickinson Wright by the Illinois developers of an Oklahoma casino, dismissing the lawsuit because the developers ultimately beat an attorney general’s complaint the developers alleged was brought because of bad legal advice. The malpractice suit was filed in 2013 by MCZ Development and Sheffield Development Partners, and Golden Canyon Partners.
High schools, districts not in open field yet on football concussion lawsuits, but recent dismissal raises bar
High schools in Illinois could still face legal trouble over the traumatic brain injuries suffered by the state's high school football players. But the legal bar potential plaintiffs must clear when suing Illinois' statewide high school athletics association has been raised, following a Cook County judge's decision to toss a class action over just that issue.
Seventh Circuit orders Dart to back off Backpage.com, pending appeal of injunction denial
A federal appeals court has ordered Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to stop efforts to financially squeeze online classifieds site Backpage.com, which the sheriff says is used to facilitate sex trafficking, until the court can decide whether or not it will let stand a lower court’s decision to allow Dart’s office to continue its campaign against the website.
Prior class action settlements doom fresh class action attempt vs maker of Oscillo
A federal judge has denied class certification in a lawsuit against the maker of a homeopathic flu remedy, but is permitting the man who filed the suit to proceed with his claim for individual relief. Plaintiff Chad Conrad sued Boiron Inc. and Boiron USA Inc., manufacturer of a homeopathic remedy called Oscillococcinum, sold under the name Oscillo.
Jury orders ISMIE to pay $14.3 million for 'bad faith' in representing doctors sued for child's death
A jury has awarded more than $14.3 million to the parents of a child who died after being born with severe brain damage, finding medical malpractice insurer ISMIE acted in bad faith in allegedly misleading doctors the family had sued, leaving the doctors to fill a coverage gap of more than $1 million following a jury verdict against them – a coverage gap the doctors said they were led to believe would not exist.
Patient's daughter accuses Glenshire Nursing of failing to release records
A Calumet City woman is suing a Richton Park nursing home, seeking the release of her mother’s medical records.
Daughter accuses Lexington Center of negligence in father's death
A Cook County woman is suing Lexington Health Care Center, alleging negligence in her father’s death.
Appeals court upholds dismissal of asbestos-related legal malpractice lawsuit
A state appeals panel kept the door shut on a legal malpractice action brought against the firm of Cascino Vaughan by a family whose legal action over asbestos exposure was tossed, saying a circuit court was correct in finding that, no matter how plaintiffs juggled the calendar, they still brought their lawsuit too late. .
Canadian Pacific asks court to block Tollway from taking land at Bensenville rail yard for Elgin O'Hare project
Canadian Pacific Railroad has asked a federal judge to detour the Illinois Tollway’s plans to take land at a Bensenville rail yard as part of the highway agency’s plans to extend and improve the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway, saying the Tollway lacks the authority to take its land for the new roadway, as federal interstate commerce laws effectively nix the state agency’s eminent domain powers.
Lawsuit: Partner stole idea for products aimed at foreign EB-5 investors; Suit without merit, defendant says
A partnership that quickly turned sour has landed the opposing parties in court, with one party demanding $11 million and the other calling the lawsuit frivolous.
Cook County woman accuses Pillman Properties of negligence in sidewalk injury
A Cook County woman is suing property owners, alleging they allowed dangerous conditions on its premises.
Court user survey measures perceptions of Illinois court system
The Illinois Supreme Court has released results of a survey that quantified court users’ experience and perception of court systems in counties across the state.
Family member accuses Lake Shore Healthcare of negligence in relative's death
A Cook County woman is suing a Chicago health care facility, alleging negligence led to a relative's death.
Husband blames health care givers for wife's breast cancer death
A Cook County man is suing his wife's Rolling Meadows cancer treatment center and one of its doctors, alleging wrongful death.
Fair housing advocacy groups score settlement with Ryan Companies over senior apartments
A collection of organizations advocating for housing for those with disabilities has announced a settlement of their lawsuit against development group, the Ryan Companies, over claims the national developer of commercial and multi-family residential properties and its associated businesses failed to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act.
IL Atty Gen: Chinese employment agencies, buffets, exploited 'vulnerable, desperately poor' Latino workers
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has served a federal civil rights action against companies run by Chinese nationals who advertise they can provide “honest” and “sincere” Mexicans to work in Chinese buffet restaurants across the Midwest, saying the job placement agencies and the restaurant owners profited from placing “vulnerable and desperately poor Latino workers” in jobs at which they were routinely exploited, discriminated against, underpaid and housed in dingy conditions in return for
Judge: Federal law pre-empts state law claims in massive testosterone treatment lawsuit vs drug makers
A federal judge has dismissed the state law counts in a massive lawsuit against eight manufacturers of testosterone replacement therapy drugs, agreeing with the defendants that the claims are preempted by federal law.U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly ruled Monday in federal court in Chicago in the multi-district litigation involving more than 2,500 plaintiffs who have alleged they’ve suffered injuries from improper prescribing of the testosterone replacement drugs.