News from October 2016
Citgo station allegedly leaked gasoline, contaminating air with fumes at her apartment
A woman is suing over allegations that she suffered harm from inhaling fumes from a gasoline leak at a gas station near her apartment building.
Religious housing group plans appeal in Blue Island discrimination case, home's attorney says
The longstanding dispute between a religious addiction recuperation group, Affordable Recovery Housing, and the suburban city of Blue Island isn't over yet, as attorneys for the suburban Chicago recovery home plan to seek another day in court.
Appeals panel upholds dismissal of class action challenge of how Blue Cross parent corp uses profits
A state appeals panel has ruled in favor of the parent company of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, finding a Cook County judge was correct in dismissing a class action lawsuit arguing the health insurer should have spent more of its $10 billion in “cash surplus” for the betterment of its members.
Cook Board of Review race pits GOP incumbent vs Dem lawyer with 'odd' job deal at Lyons schools
This November, voters in much of suburban Cook County will have a chance to choose who will represent them on the board responsible for reviewing taxpayer appeals of property assessment decisions used by the county to determine how much property tax should be paid by the owners of homes, businesses and other real estate in the county.
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, others accused of negligence in woman's spinal surgery
A woman's lawsuit against several healthcare providers alleges they botched her spinal surgery.
St. Alexius, medical pros accused of not doing enough to stop attempted suicidal leap from parking garage
A woman is suing Amita Health St. Alexius Medical Center, Midwest Emergency Associates LLC, Team Health LLC, Bryan M. Bluhm, M.D., and a nurse, alleging they did not do enough to stop her from jumping from a parking garage deck when she came to an emergency room seeking help for alcoholism and suicidal thoughts.
Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, others accused in wrongful death case
A decased woman's family has filed a wrongful death claim against a Chicago area hospital and several doctors alleging negligence in medical care after the doctors allegedly improperly treated conditions caused by a stroke.
Windmill Nursing Pavilion accused of failure to adequately supervise resident
A deceased woman's family is suing Windmill Nursing Pavilion Ltd., Windmill Nursing Pavilion and The Ingalls Memorial Hospital in a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in care.
Alden Estates of Barrington accused of negligence in resident's care
A deceased woman's family is suing Alden Estates of Barrington Inc., alleging negligence in nursing home care.
City OK to regulate Uber, Lyft differently; license doesn't entitle cabs to no competition, appeals judge says
The city of Chicago doesn’t need to burden Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing services with the same costly regulations applied to cab drivers, a federal appeals court has ruled, declaring the city did not infringe cab companies’ constitutional rights by allowing the alternative transportation companies to operate and compete for passengers in the city.
Illinois governments would face large legislative hurdle to follow Detroit's path on bankruptcy, pension cuts
A federal appeals court in Ohio has upheld a ruling rejecting claims that Detroit retirees’ pensions were unfairly cut, demonstrating that declaring bankruptcy may be a viable, if extreme, way to deal with a city’s overwhelming pension obligation.
Cook County judge mounts write-in campaign for bench seat vs ex-law clerk fired for impersonating judge
After much deliberation, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Maryam Ahmad will be allowed to start a write-in campaign for a seat in the 1st Judicial Subcircuit, challenging Rhonda Crawford, who was fired from her job as a law clerk at the circuit amid allegations she impersonated a judge from the bench, and who is running otherwise virtually unopposed for the judicial post after winning the Democratic Party's nomination.
Loyola University Health System, Cook Medical accused of making, implanting faulty embolism filter
A deceased man's family is suing Loyola University Health System, Cook Incorporated, Cook Medical Incorporated, Cook Medical LLC, Cook Polymer Technology, Cook Canton LLC and William Cook Europe APS, alleging negligence and product liability, saying the medical device maker produced, and the hospital implanted, a defective embolism filter, which contributed to the man's death.
Property owner accuses Pie Five Restaurants of breach of contract, demands $1.4M
A property owner is suing tenant Pie Five Restaurants Inc., citing alleged breach of contract, costing more than $1 million.
Najarian & Najarian accused of improper behavior in ice cream business deal
A part-owner of an ice cream company, represented by his two sons, is suing lawyer David V. Najarian and his firm Najarian & Najarian, citing alleged breach of duty and negligence.
Peterson Park Health Care Center accused of not recognizing, treating infection before patient's death
A deceased woman's family is suing Peterson Park Associates LLC, Peterson Park Health Care Center PPA Ltd. and Legacy Healthcare Network LLC in a wrongful death claim, alleging they failed to properly recognize and treat an infection.
Saint Anthony Hospital, doctor accused of not stopping patient from taking too much acetaminophen
A patient is suing Saint Anthony Hospital, a Highland Park CVS Pharmacy, and medical professionals, identified as Winnie Yuen, RPH, and Asma Khatoon, D.O., alleging they allowed him to poison himself by ingesting too many acetaminophen painkillers.
Federal jury orders IDOT to pay Muslim worker $1.5M for discrimination, retaliatory firing
A Chicago federal jury has ordered the Illinois Department of Transportation to pay more than $1.5 million for discriminating against a former employee who is Muslim and firing him in retaliation for blowing the whistle on alleged wrongdoings by fellow workers.
Ex-Gov. Quinn joins legal actions to overturn state law letting mayor choose Chicago school board
Former Gov. Pat Quinn has joined state and federal lawsuits aiming to change the way Chicago Public Schools Board members are selected, saying state law giving the mayor of Chicago, and not voters, the power to select the Chicago Board of Education violates voters’ and taxpayers’ rights under the U.S. and Illinois constitutions.
Judge: Questions in Chicago cops' privacy lawsuit vs Sun-Times limited to whether paper broke law
A federal judge has handed wins to five Chicago police officers in the latest rounds of proceedings in their lawsuit against the Chicago Sun-Times over the paper’s publication of the officers’ photos and other information as part of the paper’s exposé of the investigation of the 2004 death of a man punched by Richard Vanecko, a city cop and nephew of former Mayor Richard Daley.