News from January 2016
Judge: NLRB 'joint employer' subpoenas cost of doing business for McDonald's franchisees
The National Labor Relations Board has ordered up a legal victory in its ongoing effort to investigate McDonald’s and its franchisees in the Chicago area and nationwide over allegations of unfair labor practices lodged by labor unions seeking to secure a federal determination that McDonald’s and its franchise operators are, for the purposes of unionization and collective bargaining, employees of McDonald’s and not just of the franchisees who issue their paychecks.
Chicago Art Institute accuses Level 3 Construction of damaging underground vault
CHICAGO – A historic Chicago museum is suing Level 3 Construction and other contractors who allegedly damaged its underground storage vault.
Chicago couple accuses Northwestern Memorial Hospital of malpractice
CHICAGO – A Chicago couple is suing Northwestern Memorial Hospital and several doctors, claiming the husband was injured when he was allowed to walk with a knee prosthesis that was the wrong size.
Lawsuit vs Smart Sinus doctor dismissed by agreement
A Schaumburg doctor, who specializes in the so-called “Smart Sinus” procedure, has been served with a class action lawsuit brought by a DuPage County couple alleging the doctor pulled a bait-and-switch, misleading them and potentially other patients into believing he would perform a medical procedure, only to switch them with no warning or consent to another doctor who was outside their insurance network, costing them money.
Diner blames Original J&J for slip-and-fall injuries
CHICAGO – A Cook County man is suing a restaurant where he allegedly slip and fell on a wet rug.
Judge OKs false advertising lawsuit vs Johnson & Johnson over Bedtime Products
An Illinois woman’s false advertising complaint against Johnson & Johnson is allowed to proceed after a judge denied the company’s motion to dismiss, saying the woman had done enough so far to allow her to argue Johnson & Johnson misled her and others into buying products the company claimed were clinically proven to help babies sleep better. Stephanie Leiner, of Chillicothe, filed a class action lawsuit July 2 in federal court in Chicago against N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson.
Patient accuses Ingalls Memorial of spinal cord damage during baby's delivery
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing an anesthetist and Ingalls Memorial Hospital in a dispute involving injuries she suffered during childbirth.
Daughter files wrongful death suit against Renaissance at 87th Street nursing home
CHICAGO—A Cook County woman is suing Renaissance at 87th Street in a dispute surrounding her father's death.
IL Supreme Court to decide if Chicago can slap use tax on cars rented just outside city limits
The Illinois Supreme Court will decide whether the city of Chicago needs to garage its controversial tax on cars rented from businesses located outside the city, but within three miles of Chicago city limits. On Wednesday, Jan. 20, the state high court announced it would hear arguments in the lawsuit brought against City Hall by auto rental companies Hertz and Enterprise, who challenged the tax as an illegal extension of the city’s authority.
Oak Park woman says disability accommodation laws require association to let her rent her condo
A 94-year-old Oak Park woman has asked a federal judge to order the association that manages her condominium building to allow her to rent her condo temporarily to allow her to use the rental income to offset her medical expenses, saying association rules forbidding her from renting the condo until it has been listed for sale for a year stands as a violation of her rights to a “reasonable accommodation” under federal fair housing and disability laws.
Franchise developer accuses Tilted Kilt of mismanagement, 'scheme,' calls for receivership
After the owners of the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery restaurant brand accused them of misleading potential franchise operators into expecting big paydays, the company Tilted Kilt has used to develop franchise restaurant locations in and around Chicago has returned legal fire, accusing Tilted Kilt of mismanaging its franchise system, undercutting its franchisees and developers at many turns, and scheming to cut the franchise development company loose years before its deal is up.
Man bounced by security accuses strip club of battery
CHICAGO – A Cook County man says bouncers at the Red Diamond Strip Club assaulted him after he left a birthday celebration with friends.
Worker accuses Grecian Delight of negligence in injury case
CHICAGO – A Cook County man working for a recycling firm says he was injured after Grecian Delight allegedly failed to repair a hazardous stairway, despite his previous warnings about a defective step.
Northwestern Memorial accused of failing to properly sedate surgical patient
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman says she was improperly sedated during surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, causing her to suffer injuries during the procedure.
Apartment dweller accuses Pangea Ventures of property neglect
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing her landlord, Pangea Ventures LLC, claiming the bedroom ceiling’s collapse caused her permanent injury.
Class action status stripped from lawsuit alleging wage-hour missteps vs firm providing workers to Caterpillar
A Chicago federal judge has stripped the class action status from a lawsuit that alleged a Caterpillar contractor rooked Joliet workers out of overtime pay, with the judge describing the claims of 94 plaintiffs as too individualized to pursue as a whole.
Tenant accuses landlord of providing unsafe stairwell
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman is suing her landlord in a dispute surrounding injuries she allegedly sustained on the property.
Dolton recall ordinance struck down, appeals panel says must first be OK'd by voters
A trio of Dolton village trustees scored a victory in their dispute with the mayor and clerk over the legality of the town’s recall ordinance, as an appeals panel found the Illinois state constitution requires municipalities, like Dolton, must first secure the approval of voters at referendum for such recall powers.
Patient accuses Northshore Amulatory care, surgeon of malpractice
CHICAGO – A Cook County woman says a surgeon’s alleged negligence during an operation left her with lasting complications.
Reverse Mortgage Solutions accuses homonymous company of holding its name for ransom
They’ve got the same name, but one Reverse Mortgage Solutions is the plaintiff and the other, a defendant in a federal trademark lawsuit, accused of swooping in to claim the corporate name and hold it for ransom. And the original Reverse Mortgage Solutions has won a preliminary injunction against its homonymous rival.