News from September 2018
Amended Illinois law requires employers to grant new moms paid nursing breaks
Nursing mothers in Illinois will now be granted "reasonable" paid breaks in the workplace to nurse a baby or express milk for up to a year following the birth of a child, under a new law.
Judge lets Cook Sheriff's Merit Board leave lawsuit over alleged anti-African American jobs discrimination
A Chicago federal judge has, for now, blocked four African American men from pressing discrimination claims against the panel responsible for reviewing hiring and firing decisions at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, saying the men lacked standing to continue their suit alleging the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board engaged in a pattern of discrimination when the sheriff's office declined their applications to become Cook County correctional officers.
The lawsuit against the Cook County Sheriff, however, continues.
Glenwood Healthcare accused of failing to properly supervise blind resident who was injured in falls
Glenwood Healthcare & Rehab Inc., Glenwood Terrace and Certified Health Management Inc. are accused of violating the OBRA/Nursing Home Care Act in a lawsuit involving a nursing home resident who allegedly suffered several falls and was injured.
Couple accuses doctor of improperly performing penile implant, treating infection
A Chicago surgeon faces a lawsuit by a couple alleging that he improperly performed a penile implant and allowed an infection to develop that caused permanent injuries, according to court documents.
City of Chicago sued in pregnant woman's death, injuries to newborn
The city of Chicago and Chicago paramedics are being blamed in the death of a pregnant woman and permanent injuries to her child, after they allegedly failed to "timely transport" the unconscious woman "to the closest emergency facility," according to court documents.
South Suburban Rehabilitation Center accused of negligence, wrongful death
South Suburban Rehabilitation Center, Extended Care Clinical and Extended Care Consulting have been named in a wrongful death lawsuit involving the care and treatment of a nursing home resident.
IL Supreme Court: State law granting hospitals property tax exemption constitutional
Hospitals in Illinois have secured a key win in a longrunning court fight over whether they should be required to pay property taxes, as the Illinois Supreme Court has upheld as constitutional a state law allowing hospitals to remain tax exempt.
Federal judge undoes potential class action deal to end litigation over 2014 Neiman Marcus data breach
A federal judge has sided with objectors who want to undo a class action settlement involving a five-year-old Neiman Marcus data breach, saying the leading plaintiffs do not adequately represent the entire group.
Appeals court OKs IL abortion funding, despite 'problematic' lack of revenue estimate; Appeal to IL Sup Ct vowed
A group of pro-life organizations seeking to undo Illinois legislation mandating taxpayer funding of abortion services has pledged to appeal their case to the Illinois Supreme Court, after a state appeals court opted not to compel the state of Illinois to account for where the money to pay for the abortions would come from.
California boardroom gender quota bill is something for businesses in IL, elsewhere, "to watch," attorney says
A bill passed in California setting gender quotas on the boards of public companies could generate significant legal challenges, which likely would need to be resolved before other states move to copy it, an attorney following the legislation believes.
Judge: Plaintiffs' lawyers could face sanction for ignoring key precedent in debt collection case
Saying a plaintiff’s attorneys' actions stood as an “egregious violation” of conduct rules, potentially punishable by sanction, a Chicago federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against a collection agency, which alleged the agency tried to mislead a debtor with an allegedly bogus offer to settle their debt by a certain date.
$10M lawsuit: Aurora Health cut real estate firm from buyback deal worth millions; Aurora: No contract breach
The largest health care system in Wisconsin is asking a federal judge to toss a commercial real estate agency’s $10 million lawsuit over claims the health system allegedly cut it out of a potentially lucrative deal.
Ex-Cook Sheriff's deputy loses bid to use Merit Board controversy to boost lawsuit over termination
A federal judge has taken down a fired Cook County Sheriff's deputy's attempt to use controversy surrounding the sheriff's Merit Board to keep alive his lawsuit over his termination.
Lurie Children's Hospital, doctor sued by mother over alleged false child abuse accusation
A mother and her minor daughter are suing Children's Hospital of Chicago, as well as physician Norell Rosado and Tierney Stutz, citing medical malpractice and other allegations.
Wentworth Rehabilitation accused of wrongly harassing, firing worker for filing workers comp claim
An employee is suing Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Inc., a transitional care service provider, citing an alleged violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act, retaliatory discharge and violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Class action: Amcor Plastics violated IL privacy law by scanning employeee fingerprints
Packaging maker Amcor Rigid Plastics USA is among the latest companies to be hit with a class action lawsuit alleging they violated an Illinois biometrics privacy law by improperly scanning their workers' fingerprints.
Appeals panel: IL law OK letting committees controlled by legislative leaders give unlimited campaign cash
Brushing aside assertions the law allows party leaders to consolidate power statewide, a federal appeals panel has upheld an Illinois campaign finance law which restricts what individual donors can give to political campaigns, while allowing unlimited contributions from legislative caucus committees controlled by partisan leaders within the state's House and Senate.
Appeals court: IL doesn’t usurp feds’ power by making coal, gas burners subsidize Illinois nuke plants
A federal appellate court has affirmed a Chicago federal judge’s ruling that switched off suits by a group of electricity producers and Chicago-area power consumers, which sought to invalidate a state law requiring coal and gas burning electricity companies buy credits to prop up two failing Exelon nuclear plants, saying the law doesn’t infringe on federal regulatory prerogatives.
Tinley Park to pay $410K to settle legal storm over handling of low-income housing project plan
The village of Tinley Park has settled a legal imbroglio over claims the village discriminated against predominantly black low income residents when it stalled approval of a controversial housing project planned for the community’s downtown area – a situation the village blamed in part on its ex-planner, who will get $360,000 under a proposed settlement.
McKenna committee reports nearly $13K in contributions during second quarter
Committee to Elect Scott McKenna for Judge reported receiving $12,753.28 from April 1 through June 30, according to its second quarter report to the Illinois State Board of Elections.