News from December 2017
Appeals court upholds 'flawed' AmEx gift cards class action settlement, giving plaintiffs' lawyers $1.95M
While they called the deal flawed, a federal appeals panel in Chicago nevertheless has upheld a settlement ending a class action lawsuit against American Express over gift cards, dividing $1.8 million among class members, and giving plaintiffs' lawyers $1.95 million more.
Noted class action lawyer Edelson calls for big litigation to cure opioid epidemic, make 'big pharma' pay
Asserting Congress and local governments either aren't doing enough or lack the resources to address the so-called opioid epidemc impacting communities of all kinds and sizes, the only way to effectively fund treatment and solutions is through litigation, a Chicago class-action attorney said.
Cook Co. judge ends bid by Dotty's, other 'gaming cafes' to challenge rules over video gambling take
A Cook County judge has shot down a legal challenge brought against the Illinois Gaming Board by the operators of the Dotty's, Stella's and Shelby's branded video "gaming cafe" chains, accusing the state regulatory body of stepping on their rights to secure deals that split the take more in their favor.
Judge lets Liberty Mutual keep pressing $17M workers comp billing fraud case vs back clinic
A Cook County judge is allowing a group of insurers, led by Liberty Mutual, to move ahead with a fraud action against a medical practice they have accused of false billing in workers comp cases.
Kerry Inc. allegedly collected employees' fingerprint scans without consent
Five workers have filed a class action lawsuit against food product maker Kerry Inc. for alleged violation of state law.
Corban Tower Holdings LLC accused of breach of contract with Mega Parking
A company is suing Corban Tower Holdings LLC for alleged breach of contract.
Pulmonetic Systems Inc. allegedly developed defective ventilator
A man is suing Pulmonetic Systems Inc., Viasys Healthcare Inc., Cardinal Health Inc., Carefusion Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., and Total Home Health for alleged liability, negligence and product liability.
Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, others allegedly failed to properly perform a colonoscopy, endoscopy
A man is suing Dr. James R. Clark, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Midwest Day Surgery LLC, Midwest Surgical Management Group LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery Inc. and Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital for alleged negligence.
Lawsuit challenging Chicago election audit loses in landslide
A lawsuit challenging the way Chicago's elections board audits election results has been shredded by a federal judge.
Judge pauses Chicago opioid lawsuit; judges mull consolidating host of similar cases nationally
A federal judge has placed on hold the city of Chicago’s lawsuit accusing the makers of prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Percocet – so-called “opioids” – of falsely marketing their drugs to doctors. defrauding City Hall and other employee health plan administrators, while giving time for a panel of federal judges to decide if the action should be consolidated with other similar lawsuits, brought by cities and others, now pending in other jurisdictions.
Law school exam administrator says applicant brought 'sham' suit based on bogus disability documents
An organization that administers law school entrance tests, is fighting off a suit, which alleges the group refused to rearrange testing conditions to accommodate an emotionally disabled applicant, by alleging the applicant and his attorney have tried to “perpetrate a fraud” by allegedly submitting fake documents as evidence of his alleged disability.
Wentworth Rehab & Health Care Center, others allegedly failed to provide proper medical care
A woman is suing Wentworth Rehab & Health Care Center, Alden Management Services Inc. and the Alden Group Ltd. for alleged negligence.
Aldi Inc., employee accused of negligence after cyclist hit, killed by motor vehicle outside Chicago store
A woman is suing John Mitchell and his employer, Aldi Inc., for a relative's death after she was struck by a vehicle outside a Chicago Aldi store.
Access Community Health Network, others accused of wrongfully terminating doctor
A physician is suing Access Community Health Network, Donna Thompson and Dr. Hugo Alvarez for alleged breach of contract and wrongful termination.
Ideavillage Products sued in death of woman in house fire allegedly caused by wireless light remote
A woman is suing Ideavillage Products Corporation for alleged negligence and product liability.
Federal judge lands dispute over ownership of vintage World War II-era fighter plane
A federal judge has ruled in favor of the plaintiff in a dispute over the ownership of a rebuilt World War II fighter plane.
New worker fingerprint class actions now target Southwest, American airlines, Hilton, Wyndham hotels
Southwest and American airlines, and hotel and resort operators Hilton and Wyndham, have been added to the large and growing list of employers in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois targeted by class action lawsuits accusing them of not securing their workers’ written authorization before scanning their fingerprints into their company databases to more accurately log and track their employees’ work hours.
Split IL appeals court upholds $7.8M verdict; majority brushes aside trial judge's alleged errors
A state appeals court has upheld a medical malpractice wrongful death verdict worth nearly $8 million in the case against a suburban anesthesiologist and his practice over a nerve block procedure that allegedly led to the patient's paralysis and, ultimately contributed to her death.
Loyola Center for Home Care and Hospice accused of medical negligence
A couple is suing Loyola Center for Home Care and Hospice for alleged negligence.
Norman Mechanical Inc. allegedly failed to prevent woman from tripping on floor tile
A woman is suing Martin Nixon, Michael Samson, Elaine Wisniewski, Norman Mechanical Inc., Margaret Gubala-Hagopian, Preferred Stock Inc., Martin Gaughan, Gaughan Capital Management Inc., Daniel Pontarelli, Daniel R. Pontaerlli Ltd. for alleged liability and negligence.