News from December 2016
Seyfarth Shaw gets perfect score as LGBT-friendly workplace
The Seyfarth Shaw Law Firm has been recognized again by the Corporate Equality Index as one of the leading business firms to have a five-star LGBT workplace environment.
Franciscan St. James Health, others blamed for allegedly mishandling woman's care
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased woman's estate has filed a wrongful death claim against several health-care providers, alleging negligence in medical care.
Disease linked to firefighting not 'catastrophic injury' allowing free health insurance: IL Supreme Court
A Rockford firefighter who officials determined contracted cardiomyopathy through his decades of service at the city’s fire department cannot also assert the disease should be considered a “catastrophic injury” entitling him and his wife to free health insurance under a “line-of-duty” pension, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled.
Green groups fighting Metro Water Dist over phosphorus limits not engaged in 'double-speak': Judge
A Chicago federal judge has refused to sink a lawsuit by environmental activists alleging the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has polluted waterways with excessive levels of phosphorus, ruling the district failed to show the activists contradicted themselves, by arguing in state court environmental permits do not significantly restrict phosphorus discharges, while arguing in federal court the permits do impose such restrictions.
New laws at state, local level bring changes in 2017 employers should be mindful of, labor attorney says
As the calendar flips to a new year, a host of new laws in Illinois and elsewhere will take effect, including a number of which employers should particularly be mindful.
Immigrant carnival workers sue North American Midway Entertainment, say they've been shorted OT pay
A carnival operator which has billed itself as “the world’s largest traveling outdoor amusement park,” providing carnival services to 10 of the 50 largest fairs in North America, including the Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky state fairs, is facing a class action wage complaint from employees who allege violations of laws in five states.
7th Circuit Court dismisses claim to declare student-athletes employees
CHICAGO – A class action lawsuit filed by a pair of former student athletes failed to make the grade as far as the 7th District Circuit Court is concerned.
Settlement of L.A. Tan class action raises questions about biometric information security
CHICAGO – A recent settlement of a class action lawsuit over customer fingerprints raises questions about the security of biometric information.
Online app makes getting on Cook County ballot easier
CHICAGO – Cook County residents seeking elected office can now apply online using a new application to simplify the process of getting information and generating candidate paperwork packets.
Federal judge to allow class action vs Bridgeview Bank over loan officer OT pay
A Chicago federal judge has signed off on an order certifying a class of plaintiffs suing Bridgeview Bank for not properly paying its loan officers.
Chicago pet store owners' defamation lawsuit tossed vs puppy mill activist; judge says 'no malice'
The owners of two Chicago pet stores who failed to overturn a Chicago ordinance prohibiting the sale of pets from so-called “puppy mills” have also fallen short in their lawsuit against a non-profit organization that helped spearhead passage of that ordinances, in which they had claimed the president of the Chicago-based Puppy Mill Project had harmed their businesses by associating their businesses with animal cruelty.
Class action: IL supervised release policies unjustly effectively keep sex offenders in prison 'for life'
A lawsuit has been filed accusing the state of Illinois of violating the rights of convicted sex offenders by maintaining policies that do not allow a number of them to be released from prison after they have served their sentences, effectively leaving them informally sentenced to life in prison.
Glenwood Healthcare and Rehab, others accused of failure to adequately supervise
A deceased woman's family is suing Glenwood Healthcare and Rehab, Inc.; Certified Health Management, Inc.; and various nursres, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Advocate Christ Hospital, others accused of negligence in labor and delivery care
A mother is suing Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center; doctors, identified as Karen Johnson, MD; Rachel Katherine Harrison, MD; and Julianne Z. Morton, MD; and various nurses, alleging negligence in providing labor and delivery care.
Mayfield Care Center, others accused of failing to prevent pressure ulcers
A nursing home resident's family is suing Mayfield Care Center and related corporate entities, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Man claims The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving charged excessive legal fees
A man is suing The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd., alleging legal malpractice.
Woman adds second class action vs McDonald's over Extra Value Meal pricing
A woman who claimed she overpaid for her sausage burrito meal at a McDonald’s restaurant in The Loop has become the second plaintiff asking Cook County courts to make McDonald’s and a local McDonald’s franchisee pay for charging a few cents more the meal as a bundled “Extra Value Meal,” rather than a la carte.
UpRight Law uses online technology to connect prospective clients with attorneys
CHICAGO – Not everyone who wants a lawyer can find one. Chicago-based UpRight Law is a nationwide online law firm that noticed the underserved market and now uses modern online technology to connect prospective clients to legal counsel.
Illinoisans need to change voting habits to get off Judicial Hellholes list, spokesman says
Illinois citizens - and particularly those living in Cook, Madison and St. Clair counties - need to change their voting habits to reduce the problems that landed them near the top of American Tort Reform Association's most recent "Judicial Hellholes" list, an ATRA spokesman said.
Whitehall of Deerfield Healthcare Center, others accused of responsibility for fatal overdose
A deceased man's family has filed a wrongful death claim against Whitehall North and Whitehall of Deerfield Healthcare Center, and A K Care Inc., alleging negligence in nursing home care.