News from March 2016
Judge tosses garbage haulers' $24 million discrimination lawsuit vs Chicago, Allied Waste
A federal judge has tossed out a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by the African-American owners of a garbage hauling company, who had alleged Chicago city officials and representatives of two other waste haulers had conspired to lock their smaller, minority-owned rival out of the city’s waste hauling business, saying the small business owners had not offered nearly enough evidence to back their assertions.
Patient blames estate of dead chiropractor for back problems
CHICAGO — A patient is suing the estate of her former chiropractor, alleging his negligence caused her pain and injury.
Worker blames construction firm for injuries
CHICAGO — A worker is suing a construction business, alleging negligence resulted in injury.
Chicago woman blames apartment owners for injury
CHICAGO — A worker is suing a construction company, alleging its negligence resulted in injuries.
Woman sues over alleged chicken bone in soup
CHICAGO — A woman has filed suit against a restaurant company, claiming she choked on a chicken bone that was in soup.
Man sues neurosurgeon over claims of misdiagnosis, unnecessary surgery
CHICAGO — A former patient is suing a neurosurgeon, claiming misdiagnosis and an unnecessary surgical procedure.
Challenge to Chicago affordable housing ordinance not affected by SCOTUS decision to not hear similar California case
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last month to not hear a California case challenging the constitutionality of an inclusionary housing ordinance should not have any impact on a similar lawsuit pending in Cook County.
Customer blames Chicago bar operator for injuries
CHICAGO — A customer is suing a Chicago bar operator, alleging negligence for an injury the plaintiff says she suffered.
Patient alleges physicians misdiagnosed foot injury
CHICAGO — A patient is suing a Wheeling podiatry clinic, alleging breach of duty in failing to properly diagnose a foot injury.
State high court says arbitrator can't order union pay raises unless lawmakers provide the money
The Illinois State Supreme Court has sided with the state in determining an arbitrator cannot order the governor to increase union pay if lawmakers have not yet authorized the spending.
Mother blames Chicago housing development firm for daughter's death
CHICAGO — An mother is suing the Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation, alleging negligence in the death of her daughter.
IL Supreme Court strikes down Chicago public pension reforms as unconstitutional
While saying they recognize the fiscal crisis cited by lawmakers in Illinois is real, the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court have again slapped aside an attempt by state legislators to rewrite some public employee pension funding rules, saying the attempt by the state and the city of Chicago to ease the funding burden on the city and its taxpayers violates the state constitution’s prohibition on reducing public employees’ retirement benefits in any way.
State Supreme Court disbars five lawyers, suspends dozen more for ethical violations
Five attorneys were disbarred in Illinois and an addition dozen were suspended in the latest round of disciplinary actions handed down by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Customer sues Subway restaurant, employees after restaurant worker pointed gun at him
CHICAGO — A customer is suing a Chicago Subway restaurant, alleging negligence caused his injuries.
Patron says bar should pay for injuries he suffered fleeing from person with gun inside the bar
CHICAGO — A customer is suing a Chicago cocktail lounge, alleging its negligence led to the plaintiff's injuries.
Patient accuses eye care specialists of negligence
CHICAGO — A patient is suing Cook County eye care specialists of negligence resulting in injury.
Estate alleges Northbrook nursing facility was negligent
CHICAGO — An estate special representative is suing a Northbrook nursing home, alleging negligence in the care of a patient.
Use of C.diff infection study 'clearly' targeted rival medical sharps disposal company, judge says
A Chicago federal judge has refused to toss a lawsuit brought by a medical waste disposal container company against a competitor it accused of funding and spreading an allegedly specious study on hospital bacterial infection rates, not out of a concern for public safety, but merely to infect their rival’s reputation and suppress its business.
Appeals panel: Ex-assistant state's attorney's lies mean DeKalb County on hook for stiffed supplier's legal bills
A state appeals panel has ruled a north central Illinois county is on the hook for legal costs incurred by a construction component company, because an assistant state’s attorney for the county – who has since been suspended from practice – told the court the county had secured a bond in connection with a building project, when it had not.
Appeals court: Malpractice claim vs Chuhak can be put on hold until criminal case resolved vs lawyer over fuel tax credit scheme
A state appeals panel has decided a Cook County judge was correct in slapping a stay on a legal malpractice claim against Chicago law firm Chuhak & Tecson over allegations the firm misled investors into sinking money into buying into federal nonconventional fuel tax credit partnerships, saying, while plaintiffs may wish to move ahead with their lawsuit, the case must take a backseat for now to a criminal tax case pending against an indicted lawyer.