News from December 2016
Woman blames pain syndrome on Foot & Ankle Associates treatment
A married couple's lawsuit against Emil Zager, D.P.M., and Foot & Ankle Associates Ltd., alleges negligence in podiatric care.
Presence Ballard Nursing Center, others accused of contributing to woman's death
An administrator of a deceased woman's estate has filed a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Family blames Lexington Health Care Center of Chicago Ridge for woman's death
A deceased woman's family has filed a wrongful death claim against Lexington Health Care Center of Chicago Ridge Inc., and Royal Management Corporation, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Elmwood Care accused of not providing proper supervision to resident
A man is suing Generations at Elmwood Park Inc., which does business as Elmwood Care, alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Divided appeals court says lawyer can't sue Indiana prosecutors over embezzlement charges, statements
A Chicago federal appeals panel, in a partial 2-1 decision, cited tort immunity in upholding the dismissal of a Michigan lawyer’s suit against county and state officials in Indiana, for an allegedly malicious prosecution of her in an embezzlement case.
Gerchen Keller, Burford merge, form largest litigation finance firm, point to expansion
A Chicago-based firm which has grown in the past three years to become one of the leading sources of financing in the U.S. for plaintiffs lawyers seeking to bring a variety of lawsuits in civil courts across the country has merged with its rival investment house to create the largest third-party litigation financing company in the world.
Cook County, with Madison, St. Clair counties, lands a top spot again among "Judicial Hellholes"
After two years off the official list, Cook County has again landed a top spot – albeit, in combination with two other downstate Illinois counties - on an annual list recognizing some of the most litigious locales in the U.S., the world’s most lawsuit-happy country. On Dec. 15, the American Tort Reform Association ranked Cook County, together with Madison and St. Clair counties, at No. 6 in its top U.S. “Judicial Hellholes.”
Automatic voter registration bill dies in Illinois House after veto, but similar legislation could follow
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill that would automatically register voters across Illinois has held up in the General Assembly, leaving unclear whether such a bill can secure enough votes to become law amid the current political environment.
City Hall delays Airbnb rules til Feb. 28 amid lawsuit over home-sharing ordinance
As lawyers for both sides prepare to face off in federal court over a request by a group of Airbnb hosts to block Chicago City Hall’s new home-sharing rules from taking effect, the city has agreed to put off enforcement of the rules until the end of February.
City levies higher fees to register vacant buildings, sock lenders, loan servicers
The city of Chicago has amended a city code to reduce the number of vacant buildings throughout Chicago, socking lenders and mortgage servicers with higher fees in the process, even as those lenders navigate the slow county judicial foreclosure process.
Providence Healthcare and Rehab, of Palos Heights, others accused over woman's fall, later death
A deceased woman's family has filed a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in nursing home care.
University Neurosurgery patient alleges medical negligence during surgery, resulting in back injuries
A patient is suing Dr. John O'Toole and Rush University Medical Center, which does business as University Neurosurgery, alleging negligence in medical care.
The Underground Chicago faces accusations of negligence, battery
A woman is suing Nick & Howard L.L.C., which operates The Underground Chicago, alleging negligence and battery.
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, others accused of injuries from a hernia surgery
Two people are suing Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and other health care providers, alleging medical negligence.
Chef, co-owner at Parthenon asks court to take over restaurant, says co-owners took $1M
A chef and minority shareholder in Chicago’s former Parthenon has asked a Cook County judge to intervene in management of the Greek restaurant's assets, saying the father and daughter team who owned the now-shuttered establishment took nearly $1 million for their own purposes.
Stem cell products maker demands ex-patent lawyer pay $3M for 'incompetence'
A Skokie-based maker of products to enhance stem-cell therapies has sued its former patent lawyers for $3 million, alleging their “incompetence” over the past two years cost them the chance to secure patents on certain stem cell therapy innovations and market the associated products.
Home Rules: Cook County suburbs mull if, how to respond to county's Chicago-style ordinances
Cook County communities are weighing their options to respond to actions by the Cook County Board to impose ordinances, similar to those approved earlier this year in Chicago, to mandate paid sick leave and boost the minimum wage. The suburban communities believe the state constitution gives them the power to opt out, without challenging the county's constitutional authority to pass the ordinances in the first place.
Class action: ComEd, Nicor improperly adding interest, fees to medical hardship repayment plans
A new class action lawsuit has charged two of the Chicago area’s largest utility companies with improperly adding finance charges and late fees to so-called “medical payment arrangements” – or special electric and natural gas bill repayment plans required by the state, should utility customers suffer significant health problems interfering with their ability to pay their bills on time.
Write-in judge candidate OK to log votes, but no winner yet vs law clerk accused of impersonating judge
An Illinois appeals panel has backed up a Cook County judge in declaring the law should be interpreted to allow a write-in candidate who is seeking to win a judicial seat against a former law clerk accused of impersonating a judge to receive votes cast for her on Election Day. However, neither the appellate justices nor a Cook County judge have yet declared the write-in candidate the winner of the Nov. 8 election, saying the answer to that question should come from the Illinois Supreme Court.
Woman blames doctor for prescribing blood pressure meds that caused liver failure, requiring transplant
A Cook County woman alleges she was injured by a blood pressure medication that was prescribed to her, causing her liver to fail.