News from July 2018
Mandatory e-filing in place in all but three counties in Illinois, Cook live this month
Mandatory court e-filing for all civil cases is operational in all but three Illinois counties, according to a representative of the company charged with introducing the system.
Federal lawsuit: Cook Co. makes it too difficult to appeal big tax bills; state law only enables
A group of property owners have filed a federal complaint challenging the legality, not only of their Cook County property tax assessments, but also of the state law that governs the assessment process and which they said aided the county's efforts to make it overly difficult to effectively appeal tax bills.
Appeals panel: School district knew too much about cheerleader's concussions; summary judgment improper
A state appeals panel has given a lift to a legal action brought against a far northwest suburban school district by the family of a cheerleader, saying the school district may have known enough about the cheerleader’s three concussion events to no longer be protected by state immunity laws.
Class action claims Bank of America charged improper inspection fee
A homeowner has filed a class action lawsuit against Bank of America, alleging she was assessed and forced to pay unauthorized inspection fees on a mortgaged property.
Man claims Kemp & Grzelakowski owe $7.5 million for alleged bad loan advice
A man is suing law firm Kemp & Grzelakowski Ltd. and James Kemp, citing alleged legal malpractice.
Couple accuses Illinois Orthopedic Network, Saint Anthony Hospital of negligence
A couple is suing Dr. Chandrasekhar Sompalli, Illinois Orthopedic Network LLC and Saint Anthony Hospital, citing alleged loss of consortium and negligence.
Lawsuit: Woman says lawyer referred lawsuit vs her to his father while still representing her in related action
A New York woman is accusing her former attorney of improperly referring a lawsuit against her to his father while still representing her in a related action.
Client claims Eckert & Smestad, MPC Law Group, Nykaza mishandled slip-and-fall case
A client is suing Eckert & Smestad LLC, Emily Eckart, Adam Smestad, MPC Law Group, Melissa Casey, the Law Offices of Michael J. Nykaza and Michael Nykaza, citing alleged malpractice.
Parkway Bank accuses BIR Training Center of failing to make note payments
A bank is suing Business Industrial Resources Inc, which does business as BIR Training Center, alleging breach of contract.
Judge trips legal secretary’s discrimination suit v. Winston Strawn, says case doesn’t have ‘leg to stand on’
A Chicago federal judge has tossed a lawsuit by a legal secretary at the Chicago firm of Winston & Strawn, who alleged harassment by fellow employees aggravated her epilepsy, finding part of the suit was barred by statute of limitations and the rest by a faulty “chain of logic.”
PETA: Brookfield Zoo operators should be subject to FOIA, turn over info regarding stingray deaths
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is suing the Cook County Forest Preserve District in hopes of using the Freedom of Information Act to force the Chicago Zoological Society to turn over documents regarding the deaths of dozens of stingrays at the Brookfield Zoo.
ACLU OF ILLINOIS: Chicago Fire Department Paramedic Settles Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit after New Policies Adopted
A Chicago Fire Department (CFD) paramedic’s harrowing experience with pregnancy discrimination and her bravery in stepping forward helped lead to a settlement and new policies governing how CFD treats pregnant employees and mothers who need to express breastmilk at work.
COOK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Two Charged after Loaded Gun, Suspected Heroin Found During Court-Ordered Eviction
Two people have been charged with multiple felonies after a loaded firearm and suspected heroin were found while Cook County Sheriff’s deputies were enforcing a court-ordered eviction, Sheriff Thomas J.Dart announced.
Advocate Christ Medical Center dropped from suit alleging false Medicare claims
A Chicago federal judge has agreed to drop a suburban hospital from a lawsuit brought by a doctor who claimed the hospital had submitted phony claims to Medicare, reversing his prior ruling, and saying he now sees the hospital’s alleged involvement in the alleged scheme was minimal at best and Advocate should have been dropped from the case.
Judge again tosses Napleton Auto Group's RICO claims vs Fiat Chrysler over dealer incentive plan
A federal judge in Chicago has curbed racketeering claims brought by the Napleton car dealership group, as the judge said the dealers still hadn’t presented enough evidence to back its claims accusing Fiat Chrysler of using a sales program to lean on dealers who refused to go along with an alleged scheme to falsify sales figures.
Loop Studio accuses Coast to Coast Designs of breach of contract
An independent furniture sales representative firm is suing Coast to Coast Designs Inc., citing alleged breach of contract, unjust enrichment and violation of the Illinois Sales Representative Act.
Tenants claim Wesley Realty, Chicago Title failed to update lease agreement
Two tenants have filed a class-action lawsuit against property owners Wesley Realty Group Inc. and Chicago Title Land Trust No. 8002377381, citing alleged breach of contract.
Engineer accuses CSX Transportation of defamation of character
A locomotive engineer is suing CSX Transport Inc and James Spencer, citing alleged defamation of character.
Medline seeks payment of $249,001 in breach-of-contract case
A medical supplies manufacturing company is suing Skyline Health Care, LLC, which does business as Highlands of Dyersburg, alleging breach of contract.
Loyola lawsuit: Cook sheriff refused to remove inmate for 4 months; makes hospital 'prison infirmary'
Loyola University Medical Center has filed suit against the Cook County Sheriff, saying the sheriff’s office’s apparent refusal to retrieve an inmate who has been kept under guard at the hospital since April has turned the hospital essentially into an unwilling auxiliary of the Cook County Jail.