News from July 2016
FOIA doesn't apply to Illinois High School Association, which oversees state high school sports: Panel
The state's Freedom of Information law doesn't apply to the Illinois High School Association, which oversees Illinois high school athletics, a state appeals panel has ruled, rejecting the request by the Better Government Association to compel the IHSA to turn over certain documents.
Panel: Judge erred in dismissing lawsuit over suburban Walmart store, denying new judge request
Two suburban communities in northern Kane County engaged in a custody battle over a Walmart store are headed back to circuit court — with a new presiding judge — after a state appellate panel weighed in on the dispute.
Judge pens final chapter on author’s ill-fated suit against Amazon
A Chicago federal judge has closed the book on an amateur author's suit against Amazon, ruling the author’s works about his life as a homeless person were not counterfeited and sold by the online retailer as alleged.
Movers can't be designated contractors to avoid unemployment insurance rules, appeals panel says
An Illinois appeals panel has said the Illinois Department of Employment Security was right to order a Skokie furniture moving business to contribute to the unemployment insurance of more than 90 company workers, because the workers are employees, not “independent contractors” as the company tried to classify them.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives OK to pull plug on deal with developer over Pullman property: Panel
A state appeals panel has signed off on the decision by the Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative, an organization dedicated to encouraging economic activity by redeveloping properties in some of the city’s troubled neighborhoods, to cut a veteran of the Chicago real estate development sector out of a project to build a new food warehouse and distribution center in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood.
Cook County Sheriff's Office accused of censoring prisoners' rights magazine at county jail
The publishers of a magazine which discusses the legal rights of prisoners have accused the Cook County Sheriff’s Office of unconstitutionally preventing inmates at the Cook County Jail from reading their publication.
Mount Sinai Hospital ordered to pay $8 million in woman's death
CHICAGO – Mount Sinai Medical Hospital of Chicago was found negligent in the death of 41-year-old Joya Pipkin in April, and now must pay $8 million to her son, Ronald Willis Jr.
Building materials supplier says customer didn't pay
CHICAGO — A building materials supplier is suing Lenox Hill Construction Inc., d/b/a Mack Construction Company, and James H. McClelland, citing alleged breach of contract, failure to pay for completed work and unpaid debt.
Nursing home accused of providing poor quality of care
CHICAGO — An attorney-in-fact is suing Manor Care of Oak Lawn (East) IL, LLC, d/b/a Manorcare Health Services - Oak Lawn East, and South Suburban Rehabilitation Center, LLC, d/b/a South Suburban Rehab Center, alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries in nursing home care.
Estate executor claims failure by physician
CHICAGO — An executor of a deceased man's estate is suing Frank Apantaku, M.D., and Apantaku Clinics, Ltd., health providers, in a wrongful death case alleging negligence.
Patient claims hip implant was defective
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc., and Premier Orthopaedic Sales, Inc., citing alleged design defect, failure to warn, negligent misrepresentation and product liability.
Nursing home blamed in wrongful death suit
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased woman's estate is suing Harmony Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc., d/b/a Harmony Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Itex Venture Fund, Inc., d/b/a Itex/AK Care Company, and Swedish Covenant Hospital, in a wrongful death case alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Judge: Driller's RICO suit can continue vs Chicago Public Building Commission over treatment of subs
A Michigan-based water driller will be allowed to continue its $2.4 million federal racketeering lawsuit against Chicago’s Public Building Commission and two contractors, after a federal judge said the driller has done enough to this point to back its assertions the CPBC and the contractors withheld information about underground asbestos-wrapped pipes on the construction site for a new Chicago police station, and then subsequently withheld payment, driving the driller out of business while maxim
Man says throat procedures were done improperly
CHICAGO — A man is suing Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Henry V. Giancinto, M.D., and Northern Illinois Emergency & Occupational Medicine Specialists, S.C., alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
Medical care providers sued after amputation
CHICAGO — An individual is suing Aref Senno, M.D., Todd Scott, D.P.M., and Diversey Medical Center, alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
Nursing home accused of providing poor care
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased woman's estate is suing Presence RHC Senior Services, formerly d/b/a Presence Ballard Nursing Center, alleging that negligence and insufficient care at the nursing home hastened the woman's death.
Estate administrator blames property owners in drowning
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased man's estate is suing The Stratford at South Commons Condominium, D&K Real Estate Service Corp. and Draper and Kramer Inc., property owners, alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent a drowning.
Nursing home blamed for pressure sores in wrongful death suit
CHICAGO — An administrator of a deceased man's estate is suing Aria Post Acute Care, LLC, d/b/a Aria Post Acute Care; Nucare Services Corp., LLC; Janmela Newman, LPN; and Ma Scylla C. Wilkins, RN, in a wrongful death suit alleging failure to provide proper care in a nursing home.
IL Supreme Court: Flooding can be private property 'taking,' but maybe not in NW suburban case
The lllinois Supreme Court has thrown cold water on a lawsuit brought by a group of northwest suburban Cook County homeowners who claimed the state’s largest stormwater management agency unconstitutionally violated their property rights when the agency, taking action to prevent flooding elsewhere during a heavy rainfall six years ago, diverted water into creeks near the plaintiffs’ homes, flooding their neighborhoods in the process.
Georgia negligent animal death case on value of killed pets not likely to make huge impact in Illinois
CHICAGO - Area pet owners who saw a recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling on the value of pets in negligent death cases might be wondering what impact the ruling will have in regards to their animal friends; however, an area attorney is saying that the impact of the ruling should be rather limited.