Cook County Record

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

News from July 2017

Judge: Cigna didn't defraud in denying payment to surgical center suspected of 'fee forgiveness'

By Todd Barnett | Jul 10, 2017

A federal judge has granted a win to multinational insurer Cigna, cutting out state law fraud claims from a lawsuit brought by a surgical center asserting the insurer was wrong to deny claims for reimbursement from certain Cigna-insured patients, for whom the surgical center had forgiven much of the bill because the surgical center was outside of those patients' preferred providers network.

Woman claims Vision Financial implied she could be charged debt collection fee

By Louie Torres | Jul 11, 2017

A woman is suing Vision Financial Services, a debt collector, citing alleged misrepresentation in debt collection.

Collectors including Landmark Realty, Central Credit allegedly sought debt that was already paid

By Louie Torres | Jul 11, 2017

A man is suing four different collection agencies, alleging that they tried to collect a debt he had paid years earlier.

Woman claims Central Credit Services made automatic calls for debt she doesn't owe

By Louie Torres | Jul 11, 2017

A woman is suing Central Credit Services LLC, a debt collector, citing alleged violation of telephone harassment statutes.

Gold Medal Products says former employee took food secrets to competitor

By Louie Torres | Jul 11, 2017

An Ohio business is suing Bell Flavors and Fragrances Inc. and William Todd Sunderhaus, plaintiff's former employee, alleging breach of contract.

Chicago looks to use property tax increases to fund pensions

By John Revak | Jul 11, 2017

Residents of Chicago and its suburbs have once again seen their property taxes rise. For 2016 taxes, which will paid this year, Chicagoans' bills shot up by about 10 percent, while people living in suburban Cook County can expect increases of 4-7 percent.

Plug pulled on data breach class action vs Vtech; plaintiffs never showed how harmed, judge says

By Dan Churney | Jul 11, 2017

A Chicago federal judge has pulled the plug on a class action suit against electronic toymaker VTech, which alleged VTech did not protect parents' and childrens' personal data from a hacker, saying plaintiffs failed to show how the security breach harmed them.

Frequent suit filer Sportbrain says LifeBeam infringed patent for personal fitness technology

By Louie Torres | Jul 12, 2017

An Illinois company known as a frequent filer of patent infringement lawsuits is suing LifeBeam Inc., based in New York.

Man says Chicago Archdiocese, Catholic Bishop responsible for priest's sex abuse

By Louie Torres | Jul 12, 2017

An individual is suing The Archdiocese of Chicago and The Catholic Bishop of Chicago, alleging battery and sexual abuse by a member of the clergy.

Expert: Companies' anti-discrimination policy should be part of culture

By Mike Helenthal | Jul 12, 2017

A recent $1.9 million settlement by Rosebud Restaurants with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is just one more example of why businesses should proactively adopt strategic hiring rules, an expert on discrimination law says.

Class action claims vs Blistex over lip ointment packaging 'defies common sense,' judge says

By Jonathan Bilyk | Jul 12, 2017

A Chicago federal judge has shelved a California woman’s class action lawsuit against the Oak Brook-based maker of Blistex lip ointment, saying her claims the company smears its customers by selling their product in tubes that leave a quarter of the ointment inaccessible “defies common sense.”

Suit alleges Robbins Supportive Living failed to stop inappropriate sexual contact

By Louie Torres | Jul 12, 2017

A woman is suing Robbins Supportive Living LLC, a nursing facility, alleging negligence for failing to prevent inappropriate sexual contact.

Woman says Northwestern Medical, doctor failed to prescribe anti-seizure drug

By Louie Torres | Jul 12, 2017

A woman is suing James Chandler M.D.; Northwestern Medical Group; and Radford Green at Sedgebrook, alleging negligence for failing to prescribe a necessary anti-seizure drug.

Tadros sues Crain's, demands $38M for alleged defamatory 'hit piece' article

By Scott Holland | Jul 12, 2017

Bow Truss Coffee founder Philip Tadros is back in court, now seeking $38 million from Crain’s Chicago Business in a self-filed defamation lawsuit over a July 2016 Crain’s article he called a “hit piece.”

CFPB's new rule 'large gift for class action lawyers'; Court challenges coming

By John O'Brien | Jul 13, 2017

As the director of a federal consumer protection agency seemingly fights for his job, he has gone ahead with plans to finalize a controversial rule – and a court challenge seems imminent.

Home caregivers ask SCOTUS: Can IL force union representation?; Potential ramifications far-reaching

By Jonathan Bilyk | Jul 13, 2017

A group of Illinois child care providers and in-home care providers for those with disabilities have asked the nation’s highest court to step in to their dispute with a prominent labor union, arguing the state’s decision to force the care providers to allow the Service Employees International Union to serve as their bargaining representative as a condition of accepting payment through state assistance programs violates their constitutional rights.

First District appeals court reinstates woman's wrongful demolition case against Chicago City Hall

By Chandra Lye | Jul 13, 2017

A woman has been given another chance to press her claim that the city of Chicago unlawfully demolished a property she co-owned, after a state appeals court reversed a decision by a Cook County judge to dismiss her case.

Ex-CPS teacher: Board of Ed fired her for publicly criticizing Chicago special ed cuts

By Scott Holland | Jul 13, 2017

A teacher who dramatically criticized special education cuts, by, among other things, presenting Chicago’s mayor with a mock arrest warrant, said Chicago Public Schools improperly fired her in retaliation.

Chicago judge calls electronic firm's suit against ex-attorneys 'bizarre,' dismissal motion pending

By Dan Churney | Jul 14, 2017

A Chicago federal judge has voiced reservations about a suburban electronic company's court action, which alleges its former attorneys short-circuited its defense against a $9 million trademark infringement suit, saying the company and its counsel have a "good deal of explaining to do to support the maintenance of this action."

SCOTUS rules patent owners exhaust rights with sale, leaving questions for manufacturers, innovators

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 15, 2017

The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court’s decision finding consumers and even small businesses have the right to resell products without it being considered an infringement on the rights of the original manufacturer. And the 7-1 decision could leave manufacturers and others to explore precisely what this decision may mean for their businesses and their products.