News from September 2016
Woman whose foot was severed by firecracker in park can't sue Chicago Park District: Appeals court
A woman whose foot was severed after a firework, detonated by two men visiting a Chicago park, exploded near her, cannot hold the Chicago Park District liable for her injuries, an appellate court has ruled.
Chicago taxi surcharge fee class actions end in settlement deal for refunds, $48K attorney fees
Lawsuits targeting Chicago taxi companies and a payment processing company for adding a 50-cent surcharge to nearly 410,000 credit card payments over three-plus months this spring have been garaged, according to a settlement agreement filed Sept. 9 in Cook County Circuit Court. The deal ended the lawsuits in exchange for refunds of all improperly charged fees. Plaintiffs' lawyers received $48,000.
Woman alleges vibrator makers improperly used smartphone app to track usage
An Illinois woman has brought a class action against the makers of a high-tech personal intimacy device, alleging the smartphone app used to operate the vibrator is improperly collecting private information.
NLRB rules employers must bargain with unions before disciplining workers ahead of first contract
While unions and employers focus on bargaining points like pay and benefits ahead of their first contract, they’re also obligated to put discretionary discipline on the table, according to a recent National Labor Relations Board decision.
Doctor, practice accused of failing to ID, treat renal cell carcinoma in kidney
A married couple's lawsuit against Metismd LLC, South Suburban Open MRI of Orland LLC and Dr. Douglas Arnson, alleges negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries in health care, after the practitioners allegedly failed to identify and treat a mass in the wife's kidney.
Woman claims negligent employee struck her with pallet jack at Menards
A woman claims she was injured due to the negligence of an employee at a Menards store, who allegedly struck her with a pallet jack.
Patient says practitioners at Vascular Access Centers of Illinois inserted catheter into wrong blood vessel
A man is suing a doctor and medical practice over allegations of negligence and
insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries, saying the practitioners inserted a dialysis catheter into his carotid artery, rather than his jugular vein.
Men seek damages from Chicago, police officer over Taser use
Two men are alleging assault, battery, excessive force and violation of civil rights by a Chicago police officer who tasered them.
Woman blames Advocate Health for injury from fall in parking garage stairway at Lutheran General
A woman is suing Advocate Health, alleging she was injured in an unsafe stairway in the parking garage at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
Federal court emissions ruling vs IL coal power plant to have limited impact, attorney says
The impact of a federal court's decision handed down last month against an Illinois coal-burning power generator probably will have limited effect outside the state, an environmental law attorney said during a recent interview.
Class action vs legal directory Avvo tossed, judge says attorney listings protected by First Amendment
A federal judge has tossed a Chicago lawyer’s class action lawsuit against online attorney directory Avvo, ruling Avvo’s lawyer listings are protected by the First Amendment, and don’t break an Illinois law which forbids the use of personal information, without consent, for profit.
NorthShore charitable foundation can't sue Niles high schools over wasted $1.3 million clinics grant
A charitable fund associated with Evanston-based NorthShore University Health System will not be able to continue much of its legal action against Niles’ high school district over the district’s decision to close some health clinics in the suburban high schools, after a Cook County judge declared the foundation should have sued someone else over the alleged waste of the foundation’s grant to fund the clinics.
Lexington Health Care Center of Orland Park accused of failure to provide proper supervision
The family of a nursing home resident is suing Lexington Health Care Center of Orland Park Inc. on her behalf, alleging negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
Rush University Medical Center, physicians accused of poor care leading to teen's death
The family of a deceased 17-year-old girl are suing a hospital and several medical professionals in a wrongful death claim.
Wrongful death claim targets doctors, Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center
The family of a deceased woman has filed a wrongful death claim against several medical professionals and a hospital, alleging they didn't properly treat a pulmonary embolism.
Cambridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center accused of negligence in wrongful death claim
A deceased man's family has filed a wrongful death claim alleging negligence in nursing home care.
Man blames Palos Community Hospital for development of pressure sores
A patient is suing Palos Community Hospital, alleging negligence in connection with the development of pressure sores.
Judge says antitrust class action vs NorthShore's 2000 Highland Park hospital merger not time-barred
NorthShore University Health System will need to continue to defend itself against a class action antitrust lawsuit, after a federal judge ruled a group of patients and health insurers were not years too late in bringing their legal action over NorthShore’s decision to allegedly jack up its rates nearly 16 years ago following its acquisition of Highland Park Hospital.
Chicago Justice Project sues to force city to release key to Chicago 911 call data
Chicago City Hall has refused to release its "data dictionaries" to help explain the city's information about 911 calls and police responses, and the Chicago Justice Project has recently filed a lawsuit to compel the city to make the information public.
Judge nixes lawyer's 1st Amend defense vs crash reports privacy suit; will allow Spokeo argument
A Chicago federal judge has refused to dismiss a suit against a Chicago personal injury lawyer, which alleges he violated a federal drivers privacy law by buying traffic crash reports. Nonetheless, the judge said he wants the lawyer to further explain why the plaintiffs may lack standing under the law to pursue the case at all.