News from August 2016
Insurer accuses plumbing company of negligence in fire
CHICAGO — An insurance company is suing Ability Plumbing & Sewerage Company, a plumbing company, citing alleged negligence.
Facility, transit agency accused of failures in connection with death
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased woman's estate is suing UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago Foundation, Seguin Retarded Citizens Association Inc, United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago, UCP Housing Corporation NFP and Chicago Transit Authority in a wrongful death claim alleging failure by an assisted-living facility and the transit agency to provide proper assistance and/or suprervision.
Judge sinks bid by cruise line to use Spokeo to thwart class action over telemarketing disguised as surveys
A cruise line and other companies being sued for allegedly cloaking telemarketing calls under the guise of nonprofit surveys lost an attempt to use the recent U.S. Supreme Court Spokeo ruling to defeat a class action against them.
IL Supreme Court strikes remap effort; dissenters say redistricting reform now all but impossible
By a 4-3 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a proposed constitutional amendment to change the way Illinois draws its legislative districts. The decision prompted dissenting justices to declare 'meaningful reform' of the redistricting process all but impossible under the legal reasoning of the majority.
Woman blames care providers for pressure ulcers
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Northwestern Memorial Hospital and physicians Mamta Swaroop and Danette Ko, alleging negligence in medical care.
Jury sides with small manufacturer in TV mount patent infringement case
CHICAGO — A jury has saved a small manufacturer $4 million after siding with the defendant in a lawsuit over patents and trade secrets.
Woman alleges injury in connection with surgery
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Mir Joffrey, M.D., LLC, d/b/a Smart Sinus and Allergy, and Mir Joffrey, M.D., alleging negligence in medical care.
Patient alleges damage to breast implant
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Northwestern Memorial Hospital d/b/a Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and radiology technician Laura Kalinoski, alleging negligence in medical care.
Man claims improper care after ingesting windshield washer fluid
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Roseland Community Hospital; Roseland Community Hospital Association; Antonio Navarete, M.D.; Emergency Medical Specialists, S.C.; Linette Huston, R.N.; and Charlene Thiesen, R.N., alleging negligence in medical care.
Judge: LexisNexis can be sued under federal privacy law for selling crash reports to lawyers
A federal judge will allow an Illinois couple to continue their lawsuit against online information provider LexisNexis and a subsidiary company, saying the couple had done enough to establish they may be able to prove the companies violated federal law by selling traffic crash reports to personal injury lawyers, who then used the information in the reports to send targeted marketing materials to offer their legal services should those involved in the traffic accidents wish to sue.
Male student says University of Chicago's sexual assault policies created 'hostile environment'
A University of Chicago student has sued the school, arguing its sexual assault investigation system has created a "hostile environment against males," which has violated his constitutional rights and potentially those of other male students.
Ruling may expand use of 'hearsay' government reports to support inmate lawsuits, attorney says
A recent appeals court ruling that a Cook County Jail inmate may cite a 2008 Department of Justice investigation could open similar doors for other plaintiffs alleging unconstitutional mistreatment at the jail and at the hands of law enforcement, the inmate's attorney said.
Woman says defective semen caused autism
CHICAGO — A woman is suing Idant Laboratories, Daxor Corporation, Invia Fertility Specialists, Karande & Associates S.C. and Does 1-25, alleging that her two children conceived with donor sperm both have autisum and that she deserves compensation for battery, breach of warranty, fraud, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and product liability.
Hospital accused of falling short in woman's care
CHICAGO — An executor of a deceased woman's estate is suing Palos Community Hospital and VNA Healthtrends Ltd. in a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in medical care.
Balloon angioplasty procedure flawed, couple allege
CHICAGO — A couple's lawsuit against Neeraj Jolly, M.D., and Rush University Medical Center alleges negligence in medical care.
Wrongful death claim blames nursing home for fall
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased woman's estate is suing Alden Estates of Naperville, The Alden Group Ltd., d/b/a Alden Management Services Inc., and Audrey Serritella, R.N., in a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in nursing home care.
NLRB OKs grad student worker unionization, opens up new litigation risks for colleges
In a landmark decision, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that graduate students employed at private universities have the right to unionize. And while benefits won in potential collective bargaining may increase costs and tuition, it may also open colleges and universities to greater risks of being sued.
Lawsuit: Hospital misled siblings to believe mother's body was being donated to science
A man and woman are suing Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital, dba Amita Health Adventist Medical Center, Bolingbrook, Amita Health, and two unknown defendants, accusing the defendants of misleading them into believing their mother's body could be donated for medical science following her death.
Surgical patient sues DuPage Medical Group, says doctors left sponge in his body
A man is suing Dupage Medical Group, Ltd., DMG Surgical Center, LLC, d/b/a Surgical Center of Dupage Medical Group, and David Dehaan, M.D., health providers, alleging they left a surgical sponge inside a surgical wound.
Records: Total public tab for City Hall's Park Grill legal fight tops $7 million
While the city of Chicago won concessions, including increased rent, from the group that runs Millennium Park’s restaurant, records reveal City Hall and the Chicago Park District racked up a final tab of more than $7 million in legal fees to wage the years-long legal fight over the restaurant owners’ so-called “sweetheart deal.”