News from January 2018
Appeals panel: Lawyer who defended Wheatland Bank officers can't force bank's insurer to pay $113K in fees
A state appeals court has again turned aside an attempt by an attorney who represented two top officers at a failed bank to stick the bank's insurance company with a six-figure legal services bill, saying a trial judge was correct to side with the insurer, who argued the stiffed lawyer should have been suing the bank officers he represented.
GOP state lawmakers join Supreme Court brief asking to reject challenge to compulsory union fees
A group of nine Republicans currently serving in the Illinois General Assembly, including two rookie state lawmakers, have signed their names to a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the court to uphold the state’s ability to allow unions to extract fees from government employees who don’t wish to join a union, arguing the country’s founding federalist principles should allow the 50 states to decide such policy questions for themselves.
Student loan holders accuse FedLoan Servicing of mishandling accounts, costing borrowers big bucks
Three Illinoisans have filed a class action complaint accusing student loan lenders of improperly cancelling loan repayment plans, misprocessing applications to income-driven repayment programs and improperly applying delinquency forbearances, causing borrowers to incur interest and potentially pay much more to repay their loans they otherwise should have.
Makers of Taxotere breast cancer drug hit with lawsuit over hair loss allegedly caused by drug
Several consumers are suing Sanofi U.S. Services Inc. f/k/a Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc.; Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC d/b/a Winthrop U.S.; Hospira Inc.; Hospira Worldwide LLC f/k/a Hospira Worldwide Inc.; McKesson Corporation d/b/a McKesson Packaging; Sandoz Inc.; Accord Healthcare Ltd.; Accord Healthcare Inc.; and Does Inc. for alleged breach of implied warranty, design defect and product liability.
Autumn Leaves, others allegedly failed to prevent woman from falling
A woman is suing Autumn Leaves, the LaSalle Group Inc. and TLG Family Management LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Northshore University Health System, others allegedly failed to properly maintain handicapped door
A woman is suing Northshore University Health System, Colliers International and Colliers International Asset and Property Management Services LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
With regulation in flux, litigation over website accessibility for the blind, other ADA rules, could also remain unsettled
In the wake of the Trump administration's decision to stop drafting new regulations on the accessibility of "websites, furniture and non-fixed equipment," a labor and employment attorney says this area of law could remain open for a while, as the courts work through the questions in a patchwork of judicial decisions.
Lawsuit blames University of Chicago Medical Center, others in leukemia patient's death
A mother is suing the University of Chicago Medical Center, Dr. John Cunningham and eight other individuals for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries in her deceased son.
The Grove at the Lake blamed for woman's pressure ulcers, wrongful death
A woman is suing Grove at the Lake Skilled Nursing Facility LLC and related entities for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries and wrongful death.
Man says was injured by falling panel at S. Halsted Dunkin' Donuts restaurant
A man is suing Dunkin' Donuts of Illinois Inc. and affiliated corporate entities for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Heritage Manor - Walnut, others allegedly failed to prevent woman from falling
A woman is suing Heritage Health - Walnut, Heritage Enterprises Inc. and Heritage Operations Group LLC for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Rush University Medical Center, doctors allegedly failed to diagnose spinal cord injury
A woman is suing Dr. Ricardo Fontes, Dr. Richard Byrne, Dr. Carter Gerard, Rush University Medical Center and University Neurosurgery for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Ex-girlfriend, mother of son of Bears legend Urlacher files $125M defamation suit over ex-husband's death
The ex-girlfriend of Chicago Bears legend Brian Urlacher is seeking $125 million in a defamation lawsuit filed Jan. 12 in Cook County Circuit Court.
Chicago chief federal judge: Local federal courts can maintain full functions til Feb. 8, despite shutdown
Should partisan politicial fighting lead to a shutdown of the federal government, as many expect, Chicago’s chief federal district judge says the courts will remain open – for now.
Chicago law firm the first to file lawsuits over Washington Amtrak derailment
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) – A Chicago attorney says several factors may have led to the derailment of the Amtrak train near Tacoma, Washington, on Dec. 18. He is representing some of the plaintiffs who are suing Amtrak over the incident.
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National frat off hook for NIU pledge's alcohol hazing death, but chapter can be sued: IL Supreme Court
A local fraternity chapter and certain women from a different sorority at Northern Illinois University can be held liable for a pledge’s 2012 alcohol-related death amid hazing during an initiation ritual, but the national organizations can’t be held responsible for the “criminal conduct” of the NIU chapter and its officers, the Illinois State Supreme Court has ruled.
Southeastern US grocery chain joins court fight vs chicken producers over alleged price collusion
A major grocery chain is the latest company to allege leading poultry producers manipulated chicken prices. Bi-Lo Holdings LLC, which also operates Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., filed a complaint Jan. 12 in federal court in Chicago, alleging producers and related businesses “conspired and combined to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of” broiler chickens, which constitute roughly 98 percent of all chicken meat sold in the United States.
Dunkin' Donuts can't sidestep class action over blueberry content in donuts
Dunkin' Donuts will need to try again to poke holes in a lawsuit claiming it deceived consumers about how much blueberry is actually in a blueberry donut, after a Chicago federal judge refused to toss the class action.
Tri-State Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Inc. sued over patient's pressure ulcers, wrongful death
An estate administrator is suing Tri-State Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Inc. and related entities for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries and wrongful death.
Poppie's Dough of Illinois allegedly retaliated against worker who allegedly refused to forge safety records
A man is suing Poppie's Dough of Illinois Inc. for alleged retaliation.