News from March 2018
Judge: Pensioners fired from adjunct faculty posts not protected by age discrimination law, pensions clause
A Chicago federal judge has given a failing grade to an attempt by a group of former adjunct faculty who sued the suburban community college who fired them rather than pay a state penalty for employing retirees drawing pensions from the state’s university pension fund, with the judge ruling neither federal age discrimination laws nor the Illinois state constitution’s pensions protection clause gives the instructors a legal claim.
Nicor sued over 2016 Homer Glen home explosion caused by gas leak
A couple is suing Nicor, also on behalf of their daughter, alleging the utility should be made to pay for severe injuries the father and his daughter sustained when their house in Homer Glen exploded, when their furnace ignited natural gas they say had accumulated in their home because of work Nicor was doing on a nearby natural gas line.
Landlord allegedly failed to return final month's prepaid rents to tenant; class action filed
A woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Michael Kopplin, a landlord, for alleged breach of contract and violations of Chicago city ordinance.
Vaperz accused of making device battery that exploded, burned man
A man is suing Vaperz and Samsung SDI America Inc. for alleged design defect, liability, negligence and product liability.
Lawsuit alleges man's cancer caused by exposure to toxins at BNSF Railway worksite
A man is suing BNSF Railway Company for wrongful death and for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Bud's Ambulance allegedly scanned employee fingerprints without consent
An employee has filed a class-action lawsuit against Bud's Ambulance for allegedly violating state law.
Employee suing Jimmy John’s alleges franchise agreements violate antitrust law, suppress wages
Sandwich shop franchise chain Jimmy John’s is once again the target of a labor class action lawsuit.
Cook County Clerk's office launches online marriage license application, saving users, staff time
The Cook County Clerk's office has added an online marriage license application feature to the clerk's website, allowing couples getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County to fill out the application online before going to the office in person, saving over half the time it takes to do the entire process in person.
Judge: Allstate must answer class action alleging intentionally lowered risk standards, hurt profitability
A federal judge in Chicago has cleared a group of investors to continue their class action against insurer Allstate for allegedly hurting the company’s value by allegedly lowering underwriting standards to add higher-risk customers.
Man says he fell while being transferred to CT machine at NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital
A man is suing NorthShore University HealthSystem Corporation and Glenbrook Hospital for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Warren Barr Gold Coast allegedly failed to prevent man from falling
A woman is suing Warren Barr Gold Coast for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Johnson & Johnson, others accused over cancer allegedly caused by talcum powder
An estate administrator is suing Johnson & Johnson and Walgreen Co. for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Johnson & Johnson, others allegedly liable for cancer caused by talcum powder
An estate administrator is suing Johnson & Johnson and Walgreen Co. for allegedly taking insufficient measures to prevent injuries.
Urban Education Institute, others allegedly let Woodlawn School security guard throw student to ground
A woman is suing Urban Education Institute, the University of Chicago Charter School Corporation, the University of Chicago, Allied Universal Security Service and a security guard at Woodlawn School for alleged negligence.
Attorney says 7th Circuit ruling in exploding grain bin case could narrow property damage coverage
A recent federal appeals court decision could reduce future property damage coverage provided by commercial general liability insurers in Illinois and other states, according to an attorney experienced in such cases.
Appeals panel: Law firm can't use medical practice's tax accounting practices to escape malpractice suit
An anesthesiology practice will have a second chance to argue that its law firm cost it profits by not including restrictive clauses in employment contracts, leaving two anesthesiologists free to form a competing practice and take a profitable client with them, after a state appeals panel said their lawsuit should not be precluded over tax accounting decisions.
Appeals panel: 'Harsh' law forced state to yank nurse's license over 1975 'forcible felony' conviction
An Illinois appellate panel has refused to overturn the state's decision to retroactively revoke a Cook County man's nursing license, because of a 40-year-old attempted murder conviction which pre-dates his nursing career, saying a 2012 law clearly, if “harshly,” demands revocation.