News from December 2016
Sports lawyer thinks court made right choice in suit over blown high school football playoff call
OAK PARK – While the judge’s decision didn’t go in its favor, Fenwick High School has created a buzz surrounding what could have been an overturned football call and changed the face of high school sports going forward.
Fenwick ready to move forward after losing case that challenged football call
Fenwick High School is ready to move on after a Cook County Circuit Court judge declined to intervene to reverse a bad call that lost the school the opportunity to play for a state football title.
7th Circuit nixes Calumet term limits challenge, but says IL referendum limits may be unconstitutional
A panel of federal appeals judges in Chicago has hinted Illinois’ so-called “Rule of Three” - which limits to three the number of referendums voters in a single municipality can decide in a single election, in a bid to reduce "clutter" on the ballot – may not pass constitutional muster, noting it can invite political gamesmanship on the part of powerful municipal officials who can use their power to crowd out citizen-initiated reform measures.
Cook County man alleges doctors did not provide proper treatment for facial condition
A man alleges he has suffered permanent and irreversible damage because of improper medical treatment.
Father claims vent at Asia Buffet & Grill fell on child's hand
A father alleges his minor son was injured at a Chicago restaurant by a metal vent that fell on the child's hand.
Family alleges Bella Terra Morton Grove did not prevent resident's fall
A woman's family has accused a Morton Grove long-term care facility of not providing proper care to prevent falls.
Rush University Medical Center accused of providing negligent care to woman
An estate administrator alleges a Chicago medical facility failed to provide proper medical care to her decedent.
Administrator alleges Manorcare of Rolling Meadows did not prevent woman's dehydration, death
An estate administrator alleges a Rolling Meadows nursing facility allowed a woman to become severely dehydrated, contributing to her death.
Home Rules: Cook County echoes Chicago on paid sick leave, min wage, frustrating suburban communities
Cook County has enacted policies - first put into place by Chicago City Hall - mandating employers provide paid sick leave and sharply boosting the minimum wage. The changes have left many suburban communities and business leaders frustrated and concerned.
Edelson says Bandas, others, conspiring to 'serially object' to class action settlements, extort payoffs
A prominent Chicago class action law firm and prolific filer of class action lawsuits against a diverse array of businesses has aimed its latest class action lawsuit against a Texas law firm and other alleged co-conspirators it accuses of engaging in a pattern of racketeering and extortion as “professional objectors,” who use the law to extract payoffs, often worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, in exchange for withdrawing objections holding up the completion of class action settlement paymen
IL Supreme Court: Law shields homeowners from suits over snow removal, not 'unnatural' ice
The Illinois Supreme Court has put the freeze on certain slip-and-fall suits, by affirming an appellate ruling that the Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act immunizes homeowners against suits arising from weather-caused slippery sidewalks, but not from ice buildup caused by negligent drainage.
Judge declares difference between food trucks, restaurants, upholds Chicago food truck rules
A Cook County judge has kicked to the curb a lawsuit from food truck owners challenging the constitutional authority of the city of Chicago to impose regulations dictating where they can park and how long they can stay in one spot, and requiring them to allow the city to monitor by GPS where they are when they are open for business.
Judge's temporary order on overtime rule could hint at its fate, attorney says
Days before the rule was set to take effect, a federal judge in Texas blocked a U.S. Department of Labor rule that would have extended overtime pay to upwards of 4 million salaried workers. The Department of Labor has appealed. The decisions in the meantime could produce confusion, a Chicago employment lawyer said.
South Loop Living & Rehab Center, Warren Barr South Loop accused of shortfall in care
A deceased man's family has filed a wrongful death claim against South Loop Living & Rehab Center LLC and Warren Barr South Loop, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Swedish Covenant Hospital accused of failure to prevent fall
A patient is suing Swedish Covenant Hospital, alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
St. Anthony Hospital, Central Nursing & Rehab Center accused of negligence in care
An administrator of a deceased woman's estate has filed a wrongful death claim against Saint Anthony Hospital; Central Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and two individuals, alleging negligence in health care.
Lawsuit alleges 'rogue officers' turned governance at Des Plaines Islamic center into 'shambles'
Taking aim at “rogue officers,” a Des Plaines man has filed a complaint against two people whom he said “turned the corporate governance of the Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines into a shambles.”
Alzheimer's diagnosis renders Cook Co. judge accused of letting ex-clerk hear cases unfit, report says
A Cook County judge accused of urging and allowing a now-fired law clerk to preside over cases from the bench as if she were a judge has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and is no longer fit to continue as a judge, a state judicial discipline board has reported.
Palos developer's heirs accused of 'judge shopping' in quest to force ex-lawyer to pay $3M for miscues
A Chicago law firm accused of costing some of the adult children of a prominent Palos Park developer more than $3 million in a years-long legal dispute with their siblings over their father’s estate has asked a judge not to let the accusers simply retreat from the legal action, saying the plaintiffs engaged in “judge shopping in its most brazen form” in trying to sidestep the law firm’s motion to bring the matter to a close for good.
Central Plaza Residential Home, others blamed in woman's choking death
A deceased woman's family has filed a wrongful death claim against B&D Hotel Corporation; Central Plaza Residential Home; Barton Healthcare L.L.C.; and Barton Management Inc., alleging negligence in a residential-care setting for a mentally ill woman.