News from July 2018
Groupon, 3rd party sellers can't be required to offer ADA accessible seating, lodging options: Judge
A federal judge has shut down a disability discrimination lawsuit against Groupon, saying the online bargains site should not be considered a place of public accommodations, and so can’t be required to sell tickets for event seating or vouchers for hotel rooms accessible to those with disabilities.
Lawsuit: City rules allow Ald. Burke to turn Chicago Workers Comp office into patronage 'army'
Saying the mayor’s refusal to wrest control of the city’s workers compensation division has allowed Chicago’s most powerful alderman to turn the office into a political patronage “army,” giving preferential treatment to loyal city workers, a lawsuit brought by a city worker who helped expose the Hired Trucks scandal has asked a federal judge to declare unconstitutional Ald. Ed Burke’s management of the office that handles Chicago city workers’ workers comp claims, and force Mayor Rahm Emanuel to oversee operations there, despite city rules delegating the task to Burke.
Federal court dismisses long-running bankruptcy fee-fixing claim vs BMS, perhaps for last time
CHICAGO - The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed a claim that a company providing software services in bankruptcy proceedings was involved in a fee-fixing conspiracy, according to a July 2 ruling.
Lawsuit: Expedia partner scheduled nonrefundable hotel reservations on wrong dates
A Wisconsin man is suing travel website Expedia and its partner Eventblocks, claiming nonrefundable hotel reservations made through the sites cause users’ reservations to land on incorrect dates, causing them to miss the events, such as the Taste of Chicago, which had prompted them to book in the first place.
Lawsuit: Abbvie's after-hours share offer adjustment cost investors $100M
A group of Abbvie investors who say they and others like them collectively lost more than $100 million when the pharmaceutical giant used an after-hours press release to adjust a share price tender offer, has sued the company in a federal securities class action filed July 26 in Chicago.
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: Former Financial Analyst for North Suburban Medical Waste Management Company Charged with Insider Trading
“Dreamers are students, workers and taxpayers, and they are vital to economic growth in Illinois,” Madigan said.
SALVI, SCHOSTOK & PRITCHARD: Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard moves to new chicago office location
Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. announced the firm has moved Chicago office locations from 22 West Washington Street, Suite 1600, to a new headquarters located a few blocks away at161 North Clark Street, Suite 4700.
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP: Esports Survey Reveals Expectations of Continued Growth and Investment, Amid Myriad Risks Facing the Maturing Industry
Professional esports is expected to see continued revenue growth and investment, driven by a range of factors that have pushed the industry further into the mainstream, according to a new survey conducted by law firm Foley & Lardner LLP and The Esports Observer.
Appeals judges: Cook Forest Preserve's try to get horse ranch in foreclosure not unconstitutional seizure
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a blow to the owners of a horse ranch near Barrington in their property ownership battle with the Cook County Forest Preserve District, as judges said the Forest Preserve’s attempt to use the foreclosure process to acquire the land did not amount to an unconstitutional taking.
Court: Woman's ex-employer can sue her because she told customers she was fired for getting pregnant
A federal judge has determined a woman's former supervisor can sue her for defamation, after the former employee allegedly told customers and others her supervisor had fired her for gettting pregnant.
Court again sides with employee over non-solicitation agreement, part of a pattern, says attorney
A federal court has ruled in favor of an employee involved in a trade secrets and non-solicitation dispute with a former employer, continuing a pattern by Chicago federal judges of overturning, or limiting the scope, of employment agreements, according to a Chicago employment lawyer.
Appeals panel: $15M fees not too big for lawyers behind $76M Caribbean cruise telemarketing settlement
A federal appeals panel will allow a group of Chicago lawyers to keep their potential $15 million to $18 million payday for their work in securing a $76 million settlement from a cruise line and others accused of using nonprofit surveys to mask telemarketing calls, as judges said the size of the fee award doesn’t necessarily mean it is too large.
Harvey, pension funds reach deal on dividing up embargoed state money, end court fight over pension funding
In a deal that could set a precedent for other financially struggling municipalities to follow, the city of Harvey has reached a deal with its police and firefighter pension funds to end a court fight over how much of the money Harvey gets from the state of Illinois the city should be allowed to spend on current day-to-day operations, rather than police and fire department retirees’ pensions.
Former employee says Real Good Juice fired her for using sick leave
A former employee is suing Forest N Oak Holdings LLC, which does business as retailer Real Good Juice, citing alleged retaliation and violation of the Cook County Earned Sick Leave Ordinance.
Estate executor blames Pleasant View Luther Home for patient's death
An estate executor is suing Pleasant View Luther Home, Lutheran Home For the Aged Inc. and Director of Nursing Suzann Armstrong, citing alleged violations of the Nursing Home Care Act, the Illinois Survival Act and the Wrongful Death Act.
Estate administrator blames Palos Community Hospital for patient's death
An estate administrator is suing Palos Community Hospital and Dr. Daniel Pacella, claiming negligence and wrongful death.
Appeals panel revives black workers' hostile work environment claims vs Advocate Christ Medical Center
A federal appeals panel has partially reversed a federal judge's order, which had granted a win to Advocate Christ Medical Center, against claims brought by a group of African American hospital workers who alleged they faced a hostile work environment.
Cook County to get just under $2 million from LCD manufacturers settlement
Cook County will receive about $2 million under a recent settlement with manufacturers of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.
More Cook County towns sue over opioids; Edelson again includes doctors to keep court action local
Another group of Cook County communities have launched a lawsuit, which they want to stay in Cook County rather than federal court, against a number of opioid makers, distributors and doctors, alleging they pushed prescription opioids on the public despite knowing the drugs were dangerously addictive.
Judge dismisses Muslim family's discrimination allegations vs Chicago's Ancona School
A Chicago federal judge has sided with a Chicago private school in a lawsuit brought by the parents of Muslim student, who had claimed the school's decision to essentially disinvite him from reenrolling at the school amounted to religious discrimination.