News from February 2016
Rauner to lawmakers: Make a choice; Democratic leaders: Little has changed
SPRINGFIELD — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner used his annual budget address Wednesday to put two choices before legislative Democrats who control both houses of the state legislature: The General Assembly can grant him, the state’s chief executive, the authority to make the cuts that will allow Illinois to spend what it’s bringing in, about $32.8 billion Or, Rauner said, lawmakers can agree to some of what he considers essential economic and political reforms and he’ll work with them on a combin
Pair sue over claim that surgical sponge was left inside woman
CHICAGO — A Cook County woman is suing medical medical practitioners and and a hospital, claiming a surgical sponge left inside her body caused a pelvic abscess and colon perforation that led to further surgery and a colostomy.
Amended law, court case help companies challenging unemployment claims
CHICAGO — Employers now have a clearer path to thwart former workers’ unemployment applications thanks to amendments to the Illinois Unemployment Act that took effect last month and the outcome of a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision.
CBC National Bank hit with FLSA class action over OT pay for home-based mortgage processors
A Tennessee woman has brought a class action in Chicago federal court against a Florida-based bank that employed her, alleging the bank shorted her and all other home-based mortgage loan processors like her, the overtime pay she believes they are due under the law.
Patron claims tavern employees assaulted him
CHICAGO — A Cook County man is suing a Roselle tavern, claiming he suffered permanent injuries when he was assaulted by employees of the tavern.
Patient sues over alleged negligence in dental work
CHICAGO — A Cook County man is suing over dental work that he claims resulted in pain and injury.
Man sues after fall through skylight
CHICAGO — A man is suing a food distribution company and the owner of the building where that company operations, claiming negligence caused severe injuries.
Woman blames NCH Medical Group, doctors for infected surgical wound
CHICAGO — A Cook County woman is suing a team of doctors at NCH Medical Group for allegedly mishandling post-operative care for her pancreatic cancer surgery.
Judge tosses bulk of ex-Horizon Farms owner's false arrest lawsuit vs Cook Forest Preserve, Holland & Knight
A woman embroiled in a years-long legal fight with the Cook County Forest Preserve District over the fate of a Barrington Hills horse farm she once owned has won the right – barely – to proceed with her lawsuit against the Forest Preserve District over the treatment she received when she was arrested in 2014 on a charge of trespassing as she purportedly attempted to care for horses still on the property.
Woman sues podiatrists, hospital after surgery
CHICAGO — A Park Forest woman is suing two podiatrists and a hospital in a complaint alleging that surgery resulted in chronic pain and worsened condition.
Son of deceased resident accuses nursing home of neglect
CHICAGO — A Cook County man is suing Park Villa Nursing and Rehab in a dispute surrounding his mother’s death.
Woman claims research lab committed fraud regarding husband's body
CHICAGO — A Winnebago County woman has filed a fraud suit against a Cook County firm that claims to use donated bodies for medical research.
Class action says Pepperidge Farm needs to treat in-store display workers as employees, not contractors
A federal class action lawsuit claims cookie and cracker maker Pepperidge Farm has exploited the workers who deliver, set up and maintain its product displays in supermarkets and other stores, treating these workers like employees, but classifying them as independent contractors, contrary to labor law.
Wife of deceased dialysis patient brings wrongful death suit
CHICAGO — A Cook County woman is suing her husband’s dialysis providers in a case alleging medical malpractice.
Man sues construction contractor over injuries
CHICAGO — A man is suing a construction contractor over injuries he allegedly sustained while working.
Driver sued for allegedly causing fatal injuries
CHICAGO — The owner of Always on Time Refrigeration is being sued by the independent administrator of the estate of a deceased man who allegedly died as a result of being hit on the road by the defendant's truck.
Patient sues doctor over alleged surgical error
CHICAGO — A Cook County woman alleges that a doctor at Ingalls Health System made a surgical mistake that caused her to develop meningitis.
Father of track athlete with disability says IHSA needs new qualifying times to let son, others compete
The father of a physically disabled Evanston Township High School track athlete, who doesn’t need a wheelchair, is seeking a federal injunction to force the Illinois High School Association to give his son and other runners like him a different qualifying time – as it also gives wheelchair-bound athletes – so they can compete equally in state championships alongside non-disabled competitors.
Illinois family law, child custody rules undergo overhaul
The start of the new year has brought significant changes to family law and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), affecting every practitioner and the families they represent in Illinois.
Dollar General customer seeks to ignite class action over alleged failings of store brand motor oil
Dollar General’s marketing of its store-brand motor oil has one customer targeting the discount retailer with a class action complaint worth at least $5 million, alleging the oil is at best of little use and, at worst, can actually damage the engines of most cars in which it is poured.