News from May 2017
PsycHealth accuses employees of mental health care network of defamation
An Evanston mental health and substance abuse counseling group is suing Keith Kudla, Sheri Stein, James P. Anderson, Robert Currie and Christine Kourouklis, citing alleged defamation.
Forest Preserve PD employee claims colleagues forcibly entered property during personal time off
A police department employee is suing Cook County, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, and three Cook County Forest Preserve District Police officers, including a deputy chief, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress for forcibly entering his property.
Class action says Fannie May bumps box size to ease sales of 7 oz candy boxes for $10
Iconic Chicago candymaker Fannie May has been hit with a class action lawsuit by consumers who claim they overpaid for $10 boxes of candy after discovering the boxes were only about 60 percent full.
Class action fails to rise vs Whirlpool over overheating self-cleaning ovens
A federal judge has denied class certification to Whirlpool customers who said the company sold them defective, overheating ovens, saying their expert witness couldn’t help them establish that all of their oven problems arose from the same source.
CFPB targets tribal lenders for breaking state usury laws, could have far-reaching impact
An expert on consumer financing law says a recent action filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Chicago federal court could have far-reaching effects on tribal lending, and more generally, restrict the availability of some forms of consumer credit.
Appeals court upholds concealed carry license denial to ex-Chicago alderman candidate with 18 arrests
An appeals court has upheld a decision to deny a concealed carry firearm license to a former Chicago alderman candidate who court documents said had been arrested 18 times, and had been accused of several violent acts, including threatening to put an employee “in a wood chipper and six feet underground."
Class action: Animals chewing through soy-based insulated wires in Honda cars
While noting the product may be better for the environment, a new class action lawsuit asserts automaker Honda hasn’t done enough to stop mice and other small animals from persistently nibbling through its cars’ electrical wires, which are coated with a soy-based insulation.
California company must pay $7 million-plus award to Hyatt for violating franchise agreement
CHICAGO – A federal court in Illinois confirmed that a hotel builder will have to pay Hyatt a more than $7 million arbitration award for failing to honor their franchise agreement.
Pet food maker Evanger's says Wisconsin supplier sold contaminated meat, leading to recall
A pet food company has demanded $5 million from meat distributor Bailey Farms LLC, alleging in a class action lawsuit that Bailey Farms delivered contaminated meat, which forced the pet food maker to recall some of its products.
Court grants class status in case of Illinois inmates claiming substandard health care
A group of Illinois prison inmates will be allowed to move forward with their class action suit claiming health care provided to inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections violates constitutional standards.
Dialysis patient claims uneven carpet at Fresenius Kidney Care led to fall, injuries
A woman is suing Fresenius Kidney Care, citing alleged liability, negligence and that insufficient measures were taken to maintain safe premises.
Estate sues Renaissance, Symphony for injuries suffered by former resident
An estate administrator is suing Renaissance at 87th Street and Symphony at 87th Street and Symphony of Beverly, citing alleged insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries and negligence.
Suit says Westchester Health and Rehabilitation responsible for resident's injuries
A woman is suing Westchester Health and Rehabilitation Center on behalf of a deceased relative, citing alleged insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries and negligence.
Woman alleges she fell at Metro South Medical because of uneven concrete stairs
A woman is suing Metro South Medical Center, alleging alleging the hospital failed to keep their premises reasonably safe for the plaintiff, resulting in her falling from a concrete stairway in 2015.
Suit claims Alden-Orland Park failed to recognize, prevent multiple health issues
A woman is suing Alden-Orland Park Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Inc., a nursing facility, on behalf of a deceased relative who she alleges suffered a fall, as well as an infection, resulting in sepsis and pneumonia, while in care at the nursing home.
Deliveryman alleges negligence by Chicago Buffalo Wild Wings for slip and fall
A deliveryman is suing Buffalo Wild Wings, citing insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries, liability and negligence for an alleged fall on a greasy floor.
Pharmacy accuses insurance claims processor Prime Therapeutics of squeezing it out of business
A family-owned pharmacy serving low-income Chicago residents says in an antitrust lawsuit filed May 9 in federal court in Chicago it’s being squeezed out of business by an insurance claims processor, allegedly to benefit Walgreens.
Ex-St. Charles school staffer says district, schools took her copyrighted computer program, then fired her
A former school district computer lab staffer is alleging the suburban St. Charles school district for which she worked infringed her copyright for a spreadsheet software program, then bullied her into quitting her job after she disputed the alleged infringement.
Appeals panel: IL law applies to asbestos claim, though Alabama drywaller spent only 3-4 months in IL
The family of an Alabama drywall worker who died after contracting mesothelioma will be allowed to return to a jury trial in Cook County over the family’s claims the drywaller’s illness was caused by inhaling asbestos from drywall joint compound dust on job sites on which he worked for just a few months in the Chicago area in 1965.
Judge: Reporters can't moonlight as attorneys and expect to be shielded in court
Protections for reporters do not permanently extend to lawyers moonlighting as filmmakers, according to a federal judge in Chicago.