News from May 2018
SCOTUS employee arbitration decision could have profound effects on employment law, costly class actions
One of the most recent decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court could have the greatest impact on employment and class action law of any case in years.
Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch says Arizona second-hand asbestos exposure ruling could have impacts elsewhere
A recent ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court that found that companies should not be held liable for damages related to second-hand asbestos exposure is “common sense” and could affect similar cases in other states, according to Travis Akin, the executive director of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch.
Lakeview Rehab & Nursing Center allegedly failed to prevent patient from falling
A man is suing Lakeview Rehab & Nursing Center and BM of Chicago Ridge LLC for alleged breach of duty and negligence.
Married couple accuses several doctors, nurses of failing to properly perform knee surgery
A couple is suing Dr. Mark Gonzalez, Dr. Nancy Burk, Dr. Frank Bohnekamp, Dr. Matthew Simons and two nurses for alleged medical negligence and loss of consortium.
West Suburban Medical Center, doctors sued over baby's death during labor and delivery
A woman is suing West Suburban Medical Center, Dr. Nathalie McCammon-Chase and Dr. Justine Parker for alleged medical negligence.
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, others allegedly failed to properly perform hernia surgery
A woman is suing Dr. Rami Lutfi, Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, S.T. Surgical Consultants S.C. and the Chicago Institute of Advanced Surgery for alleged medical negligence.
IL Bar Assn: State overreach threatens ability of property tax lawyers to work; State: Lawyers can't be appraisers
A Cook County judge could soon weigh in on a legal fight between Illinois’ largest association of lawyers and a state regulatory agency, over the question of whether that state agency has the authority to effectively bar Illinois property tax lawyers from offering estimates of a property’s value when representing property owners before a state or county property tax appeal board.
Appeal judges mull 'troubling' questions on potential fallout from $3M verdict vs GSK over lawyer's suicide
With one judge saying he found “troubling” the potential harm to patients from decreased incentives for drug makers to develop new breakthrough medications, a federal appellate panel in Chicago hashed out some of the legal questions surrounding the appeal of jury’s verdict ordering GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3 million to the widow of a Chicago lawyer who committed suicide, and whose family has accused the pharmaceutical company of failing to warn that a generic version of its drug Paxil could raise a patient’s risk of suicide.
Trial lawyer panel: Plaintiffs' lawyers adapting strategies to fit post-BristolMyersSquibb legal landscape
While the U.S. Supreme Court's Bristol Myers Squibb ruling has resulted in some big wins for businesses targeted by the plaintiffs' bar, new strategies and theories deployed by plaintiffs' lawyers may be blunting the further impact of that decision, despite high hopes from some it would largely thwart the ability of out-of-state plaintiffs to sue out-of-state defendants in a favorable court forum.
After being tossed in Florida, TV warranty lawsuit hopes to find a forum in IL; Best Buy asks dismissal
A couple whose lawsuit against Best Buy already failed in Florida is trying again in Illinois, claiming the tech retailer’s Geek Squad service plan failed to meet the legal requirements of a warranty.
IL appeals panel: Email from Chicago lawyer doesn't mean court fight between OH firm, NV biz belongs in Cook County
A state appeals court has shot down a Cook County judge's ruling, finding the judge was wrong to assert Chicago was the proper venue for a law firm headquartered in Ohio to sue a company based in Nevada, even though an email sent from Chicago was the only connection the defendant claimed it had in Illinois.
IL Supreme Court: Government can't use change in law to deny info requests filed before law changed
The Illinois Supreme Court has overruled lower court judges who had decided an Illinois state agency could wait until after a law is changed to use the change in the law to deny a public information request submitted before the law changed.
Ex-Backpage lawyers ask court to unplug Cook Sheriff's demand for sanctions over free speech lawsuit
Saying the move could chill future defenses against overreaching government officials, attorneys who represented Backpage.com in litigation against the Cook County Sheriff’s Office’s attempts to shut down the classified ad site linked to sex trafficking, are asking a Chicago federal judge to reject Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s request they, too, be sanctioned for allegedly furthering Backpage’s alleged attempt to mislead the court.
States' lawsuit vs Trump over car emissions rules could alter industry, set precedent for future executive actions
An attempt by a group of state attorneys general to bar the Trump administration from undoing Obama administration rules related to vehicle fuel economy could have far-reaching implications for the future of the auto industry, while also establishing legal precedent over the ability of succeeding presidential administrations to implement policies, particularly if they differ wth environmental bureaucratic rules made by the EPA.
The Estates of Hyde Park LLC accused of failing to take measures to prevent woman from falling
A woman is suing the Estates of Hyde Park LLC for alleged negligence.
Lexington of Streamwood, others allegedly failed to prevent woman from falling
An estate administrator is suing Lexington of Streamwood, Royal Management Corporation and a nurse for alleged negligence.
Judges: Ex-Hinsdale school board member can't cite emotional well-being to thwart exam of bullying accusations
A federal appellate panel has ruled that an investigation into an alleged incident in which a former Hinsdale Township school board member was accused of allegedly bullying a student did not violate the school board member's constitutional rights, as judges said the U.S. Constitution does not require government officials to take into account the feelings or emotional well-being of those subjected to a government action.
Cook County Board approves tax incentives for industrial development in select areas of the county
The Cook County Board of Commissioners has officially put its stamp of approval on four proposals from the county’s Bureau of Economic Development that would grant tax incentives to select local businesses.
Judge OKs Chicago 'cloud tax' on Netflix, other streaming services; plaintiffs vow appeal over far-reaching implications
Saying he believes Illinois law gives the city of Chicago the power to slap a 9 percent tax on people who pay to use Netflix, Spotify, Xbox Live and other streaming services, a Cook County judge has said plaintiffs need to pull the plug on a challenge to Chicago’s so-called “cloud tax.” Plaintiffs, however, said they intend to appeal, because the decision has more far-reaching implications for the ability of revenue-hungry Illinois governments to impose similar taxes throughout the state.
Judge: Not enough evidence to support ex-teacher's age discrimination suit vs Catholic bishop
A federal judge has rejected a former Catholic school teacher's age discrimination lawsuit, saying she failed to provide evidence suggesting she was fired because of her age, and noting she was replaced by teacher only seven years younger.