News from April 2018
Legal consultant for Gitmo detainees says should receive $10M for defamation from 'personal vendetta'
A legal consultant for Guantanamo Bay detainees is seeking $10 million in a defamation and libel complaint filed April 25 in Cook County Circuit Court.
Judge delivers two plaintiffs to arbitration, despite TQL's slowness in finding, revealing arbitration clauses
Two plaintiffs who joined a class action suit against an Ohio-based shipping services provider over accusations of not paying overtime to employees are no longer part of the case and their claims could be heading into arbitration, despite the company's tardiness in presenting the court with the employment agreements containing the arbitration requirements.
Judge shuts down tax accounting firm's fraud class action over 2012 tax filing software
A judge has deleted a tax accounting firm's attempt to reopen a class action lawsuit in Chicago federal court against a tax software provider for claims of fraud, saying the accountant can't demonstrate any of the alleged fraud actually took place in Illinois.
Verdict much lower, but AbbVie wants $3.2M award tossed in second testosterone class action test trial
North Chicago-based drugmaker AbbVie is resisting what it is calling a jury's “confused and inconsistent” $3.2 million verdict, after the company lost a second trial in Chicago federal court – one in which it was ordered to pay $147 million less than the first trial – over a man’s claims AbbVie allegedly failed to warn its product AndroGel could bring on a heart attack.
NFL alleges widespread fraud by unnamed plaintiffs lawyers, doctors in concussion settlement; Special investigator appropriate, class counsel says
PHILADELPHIA – If the National Football League has their way, sanctions will be issued and a special investigator will be appointed to the NFL’s $1 billion Concussion Settlement program, as the league alleges an independent claims administrator determined that 23 percent of the claims submitted to it were fraudulent.
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Regulatory immunity no shield for Options Clearing Corp from accusations some investors got tips on price movement
The organization known as the world's largest equity derivative clearinghouse must yet face a lawsuit accusing it of tipping off certain investors to changes in the price of certain options, as a state appeals panel says such private admissions undermine the protections it might otherwise enjoy under regulatory immunity.
SCOTUS says auto service advisors are exempt from fed OT rules, but lawyer warns state law may differ
Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that auto service advisers are exempt from federal overtime pay rules, an Illinois attorney is advising dealerships in Illinois to be careful about requirements under state law.
Chicago massage therapist accuses Stan Lee of inappropriate sexual conduct in hotel room
A Cook County massage therapist is accusing comic book icon Stan Lee of inappropriate conduct during two sessions at a Chicago hotel.
IL Supreme Court suspends law license of Cook County judge convicted of bank fraud
The Illinois Supreme Court has taken the next step in potentially removing from the bench a Cook County judge convicted of bank fraud, suspending the law license of Jessica Arong O'Brien.
Cook Sheriff: Backpage, attorneys owe Cook County for 'hoax' suit over sheriff's credit card squeeze
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart wants a federal judge to penalize Backpage.com for its conduct in ongoing litigation between the online classifieds site and the sheriff’s office, particularly in light of a recent plea deal from a top executive related to sex trafficking through the site.
Illinois unlikely to copy Wisconsin on third-party litigation financing disclosure law, observers say
While Wisconsin has enacted a new law requiring the disclosure of the identity of anyone who lends money to fund a lawsuit, Illinois appears unlikely to follow the lead of its neighbor to the north.
Affiliated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Ltd. allegedly failed to fully pay for equipment
A lender is suing Affiliated Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Ltd. and Stuart Dessner for alleged breach of contract.
IL Supreme Court strikes appellate order requiring comptroller to release hold on city of Harvey's funds
The financially-troubled city of Harvey again has been denied access to more than $1 million in its share of state money it says it needs to pay its current police officers, firefighters and other city employees, but which the board overseeing its retired police officers’ pension fund says state law requires the state to pay to them.
Borrowers claim M&T Bank, Stearns Lending improperly collected 'hundreds of millions' in interest
A pair of putative class actions now pending in Cook County courts accuse M&T Bank and Stearns Lending of improperly soaking up hundreds of millions of dollars in mortgage interest after principals were paid, by substituting their own “misleading” notice forms for the required federally-approved versions.
The Gwen Hotel, others allegedly failed to prevent woman from tripping over plastic strap
A woman is suing the Gwen Hotel, Chicago; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide LLC; and Hei Hotels & Resorts for alleged negligence.
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute LLC, others allegedly misdiagnosed right leg pain
A man is suing Illinois Bone and Joint Institute LLC, Lake Cook Orthopedic Associates, Dr. David Norbeck Jr. and Dr. Mark Gross for alleged medical negligence
The Law Offices of Kevin Rogers accused of legal malpractice in dispute over trust agreement
A man is suing attorney Kevin Rogers and his practice, the Law Offices of Kevin Rogers, for alleged legal malpractice.
Attorney: States will enforce Consumer Financial Protection Bureau standards if feds don't
With the Trump administration pulling back on some traditional consumer protection activities by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, some states, including Illinois, are stepping in to try to continue the work of the bureau, which had been created under former President Obama, ostensiblyas part of the federal response to the Great Recession.
Illinois AG, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab secure consent decree to end action over environmental regulations
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office, for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, has settled a complaint againsy Shirley Ryan AbilityLab on behalf of Illinois residents for the company's alleged violation of the state's environmental regulations.
AMB Tran Group LTD allegedly failed to make payments under stock repurchase agreement
A man is suing AMB Tran Group LTD for alleged breach of contract