News from January 2018
IL Supreme Court disbars three lawyers, suspends five others in January discipline orders
A lawyer who was accused of mishandling about $700,000 in client funds has been disbarred, along with two others, according to the latest round of attorney disciplinary actions announced by the Illinois Supreme Court. The state high court also suspended five lawyers, including a lawyer accused of representing the city of Berwyn when she was not properly registered with the court to practice law.
Church's fired gay music director tries harassment claim to negate church's 'ministerial exception' defense
A man who lost his federal lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Chicago, which claimed the church wrongly fired him from his music director job at a suburban church for marrying another man, is back in court for another try, arguing the church's ministerial exception defense doesn't apply, because the harassment he allegedly suffered was not ecclesiastical in nature.
Contract: Simmons, Meyers firms to split 25 percent cut of Cook County's take from any opioid lawsuit payment
Lawyers hired by Cook County to help press the county’s case against drug companies over the proliferation of opioid painkillers stand to pocket at least a quarter of Cook County’s cut of any settlement or dollar amount awarded by a court.
Ex-Motor Werks salesman's costly sale of rare Land Rover reason for termination, not age discrimination: Judge
A Chicago federal judge has shown the door to counts of discrimination, interference and retaliation brought against sububran auto dealer Motor Werks of Barrington by a former salesman, who claimed the company wrongly fired him amid a flap over the sale of a rare Land Rover vehicle that cost the dealership money.
PI counter sues for $25M claiming defamation involving Alstory Simon, Northwestern University saga
Nearly a year after his first attempt to sue was rejected by Chicago federal judge, private investigator Paul Ciolino has returned to court, this time in Cook County, claiming former Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez defamed him, partnered with others to ruin his career and set a murderer free to settle a score with Northwestern University.
U.S. district judge rejects negligence lawsuit against PQ Corp.
A federal judge has rejected a truck driver's lawsuit against a company he claimed was responsible for chemical burns to his feet.
Park House Nursing allegedly failed to protect man from worker's sexual abuse
A man is suing Park House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC, Park House Ltd. and Little Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center LLC, and a male Park House employee, citing alleged assault and negligence.
Cermak Produce No. 7 Inc. allegedly failed to prevent supervisor's sexual harassment
A woman is suing Cermak Produce No. 7 Inc. and her male supervisor for alleged sexual harassment.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital allegedly discharged woman with pressure ulcers
A woman is suing Northwestern Memorial Hospital for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Warren Barr North Shore LLC allegedly failed to prevent woman from falling
A woman is suing Warren Barr North Shore and Warren Barr North Shore LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
University of Chicago Medical Center, doctor allegedly failed to properly perform spinal fusion on child
A woman is suing Dr. Christopher Sullivan and the University of Chicago Medical Center for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent her daughter's injuries.
ManorCare at Oak Lawn East allegedly failed to properly treat infected surgical wound
A woman is suing ManorCare at Oak Lawn East for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Petition: SCOTUS should undo rulings letting union keep $32M collected from caregivers unconstitutionally
Saying a union’s unconstitutional seizure of $32 million in fees from non-union home care providers via the state of Illinois was legally not much different than picking a pocket on the street, a group of those personal assistants have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and overturn lower courts’ decisions allowing the union to keep the money, even the high court had determined the union had no right to collect the money in the first place.
Appeals court says Children's Hospital of Illinois responsible for doctor contractors in malpractice case
A Downstate appeals panel has reversed a Peoria judge's dismissal of a malpractice suit against Children's Hospital of Illinois, the suit alleging the facility was at fault for the loss of a baby's vision, saying the hospital could be liable for actions by doctors, even though the doctors were contractors to the hospital, because the hospital presented them as employees.
Appeals Court upholds $250K verdict vs Metra for man who broke hip after ticket agent bumped him
The Illinois First District Appellate Court has upheld a $250,000 verdict for a man who claimed he broke his hip after he was knocked over by a Metra ticket agent.
Chicago Public Schools, others allegedly failed to prevent high temperatures in middle school classroom
A woman is suing the city of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Stanton Mechanical Inc., Aramark Services Inc. and Sodexomagic LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Evergreen Living and Rehabilitation Center LLC allegedly failed to prevent patient's skin breakdown, sepsis
A woman is suing Evergreen Living and Rehabilitation Center LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc., others allegedly failed to prevent man from falling
A man is suing DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc., DaVita Inc., Little Village Dialysis and 1st Response EMS Inc. for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Peoples Gas settles lawsuit over alleged gas leak
Peoples Gas Light & Coke Company and Honore Properties LLC have settled a lawsuit brought by two people, accusing the companies of negligence.
Tab Service Company accuses individual of stealing funds
A company is suing Sharon B. Hughes for alleged breach of duty and fraud.