News from December 2016
Woman alleges Belhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center did not properly care for decedent's hip fracture
A deceased woman's family has sued a Chicago long-term care facility, accusing them of not appropriately caring for a hip fracture until several days after the fall that caused the fracture.
Family accuses Northwestern Memorial Hospital of wrongful death
A deceased man's family allege he died in the waiting room of Chicago hospital's emergency department because he did not receive immediate care.
Parents allege school bus driver left hearing-impaired students at wrong address
Cicero parents allege a school bus company left their twin hearing-impaired sons at an incorrect address.
Doctor, Good Samaritan Hospital sued by woman alleging procedure perforated her esophagus
A patient claims her esophagus was injured because of an improperly performed medical procedure.
Woman named in article about 2014 Sony hacking scandal can't sue Hollywood Reporter, judge says
A Manhattan, Ill., resident named in a Hollywood Reporter article about the 2014 Sony hacking scandal won’t be able to pursue her case after a federal judge granted the magazine’s motion for judgment in a Dec. 7 ruling.
Class action says telemarketers working for banks secretly recorded phone calls with small biz owners
A Salt Lake City-based telemarketing business which uses a Naperville call center to solicit retailers and other merchants to persuade them to hire certain banks to process their debit and credit transactions has been hit with a class action lawsuit from small business owners who allege they and a company whose marketing operations they purchased last year, “surreptitiously recorded” phone conversations in which the business owners divulged financials and other “sensitive” information.
Downstate B&B owner fined for refusing to host same-sex ceremony, vows appeals
A panel of the Illinois Human Rights Commission has fined the owner of a downstate bed-and-breakfast inn that refused to host a same-sex civil union ceremony. And the innkeeper's attorney has pledged to appeal the case as far as they can.
L.A. Tan settles fingerprint scan privacy class action for $1.5M; attorneys get $600K
A woman who brought two class action lawsuits against L.A. Tan and some of its local franchisees over how they handle customers’ fingerprint scans has settled one of the lawsuits, as L.A. Tan has agreed to pay $1.5 million - including $600,000 to the attorneys who filed the class action.
Brothers who headed Ditto Trade sue Wert, Tribune Media for defamation, demand $100M
The brothers who headed troubled online brokerage firm Ditto Trade are taking aim at Tribune Media Company and Chicago media executive Larry Wert, demanding $100 million for allegedly participating in an alleged scheme to ruin his reputation and his business.
Demolition of three Cook County Jail buildings will save taxpayers money, county says
In an effort to reduce the county's jail population and save Cook County and its taxpayers money, three buildings at the Cook County Jail will be demolished.
Home Rules: Cook County awaits challenges to authority to mandate paid sick leave, boost min wage
Cook County has enacted ordinances, virtually identical to similar ordinances enacted earlier by the city of Chicago, requiring employers throughout the county provide paid sick leave and a higher minimum wage to employees. But did the county have the authority to do it? Opinions from the county's own State's Attorney's office said likely not.
Maneuver in receipt privacy class action earns AllSaints $58K sanction from federal judge
The U.S. wing of a British high-end retail clothier has failed in a gambit to persuade a federal judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging it broke federal law by printing too many credit card digits on its customers’ receipts – and has been stuck with a bill for $58,000 for its opponents’ legal costs, as the federal judge sent the case back to Cook County court for further proceedings.
CTA must pay part-time bus drivers $7M to settle labor dispute over 2010 layoffs: Appellate order
The Chicago Transit Authority will need to pay a group of its part-time bus drivers more than $7 million after a state appellate panel upheld an arbitrator’s determination the bus drivers’ union was correct in believing the CTA had overworked the drivers, in violation of their collective bargaining agreement.
Barrington plastic surgeon brings false advertising class action vs makers of UltraShape system
A Barrington plastic surgeon has filed a class action lawsuit against the makers of the Ultrashape Power device, which purportedly “uses pulsed, highly focused ultrasound energy to target and permanently destroy unwanted fat cells,” accusing the company of falsely promising the system would help patients quickly lose dress sizes and centimeters from their circumference.
New Chicago ordinance requires pharmaceutical representatives to be licensed
A new Chicago city ordinance says pharmaceutical representatives working in the city will have to pay $750 to obtain a city license.
Stroger Hospital, others blamed in vision loss
A patient is suing David Greenberg, M.D; Eye Surgeons, S.C.; and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, alleging negligence in medical care.
Attorney accused of negligence in real estate deal
A client is suing attorney Robert Cisneros, citing alleged breach of contract and negligence in a real estate transaction.
Manorcare Health Services, others accused of negligence in connection with death
A deceased man's family has filed a wrongful death claim against Manor Care of Palos Heights and affiliated business entities, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Lawsuit: Deerfield temp firm favored Hispanics over blacks; lawyers brought similar suit in October
A discrimination suit against a nationwide temp staffing agency marks the second such complaint launched by a Chicago plaintiffs’ employment law firm in recent weeks alleging staffing companies have discriminated against African-American workers in favor of Hispanic laborers.
Judge: Fair Treatment policy doesn't limit court's discretion on whether wage action goes to arbitration
While the case may ultimately land before an arbitrator, a federal judge has denied a home care company’s motion to use a company policy to dismiss and send to arbitration a class action lawsuit filed by a home health aide, which accused the company of underpaying her and her coworkers.