News from September 2018
Judge: Lawyers must justify fee requests for investor suits withdrawn vs Akorn over proxy disclosures
A federal judge says a group of lawyers must demonstrate why they should be allowed to collect more than $300,000 in attorney fees for their work representing clients who withdrew a potential class action against generic drug manufacturer Akorn Inc. over its attempted sale to German pharmaceutical company Fresenius.
Judge: Federal court not right place for homeowner's tax assessment discrimination claims vs Cook assessor
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former Chicago Heights homeowner, who claimed he and other homeowners in poor and minority neighborhoods in Cook County were forced to pay more than they should in property taxes because, he said, Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios inflated the taxable value of homes in those neighborhoods.
Leeming committee reports nearly $6K in contributions during second quarter
Committee to Help Elect Timothy John Leeming Cook County Judge reported receiving $5,892.50 from April 1 through June 30, according to its second quarter report to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Cook Sheriff Dart accuses correctional officer of sending emails falsely accusing Dart of domestic abuse, cover up
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has served one of his department’s correctional officers with a defamation lawsuit, saying the Cook County Sheriff’s Office employee and his wife were behind emails sent last year, asserting the sheriff had abused his wife and was covering it up.
Judge: Not enough proof Pur Luv treats caused dog injuries, deaths to let class action vs Sergeants march on
A federal judge has declined to allow a class action lawsuit to move forward, which places blame for dog deaths and injuries on Sergeant’s Pur Luv treats, saying plaintiffs did not present enough evidence showing the treats are unsafe.
Workers seek damages from Metro Water Reclamation District after explosion at Calumet plant
Two workers allege they were injured from an explosion that occurred while they were working at a sewage treatment plant in Chicago.
Ex-Willowbrook residents allege emissions from Sterigenics facility caused health problems
Two former Willowbrook residents allege they and others have suffered permanent health problems as a result of emissions from an industrial plant in which medical devices and other items are sterilized.
Lawsuit alleges Norridge Gardens, Premier Healthcare Management contributed to man's death
An independent administrator alleges a care facility in Norridge failed to provide proper nursing care to a relative, who died.
Man alleges Pinski Dermatology, others failed to treat exposed cranial bone after procedure
A patient alleges a dermatological office and his physicians allegedly failed to recognize he had exposed cranial bone for more than a year after a procedure for skin cancer.
Woman alleges she was injured while traveling in Rush University Medical Center shuttle bus
A wheelchair user alleges she was injured as a passenger in a shuttle bus operated by a medical center when the bus hit a bump in the road in Chicago.
Cook County OKs 8 tax inventive deals for Chicago, DesPlaines, Elk Grove, Lyons, Wheeling, other suburbs
Cook County has awarded eight businesses tax incentives equal to half off their property taxes for the next 12 years, in an effort, a county spokesman said, to either keep businesses and jobs in the county or revitalize vacant sites, add new jobs and return them to the tax rolls.
Rice-Akiwowo committee reports nearly $2K in contributions during second quarter
Citizens to Elect Ashonta Rice-Akiwowo Judge reported receiving $1,500 from April 1 through June 30, according to its second quarter report to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Cook County OK to restrict campaign cash from lawyers, others seeking 'official action,' appeals court says
A state appellate court has again ruled Cook County has the power to make ethics rules that apply to county officers, including the Cook County Assessor, this time finding the County Board did not overstep in prohibiting real estate lawyers and otheers from contributing to the campaign coffers of county officials when they are seeking “official action” from the county.
Third strike: Judge tosses racketeering suit vs Seyfarth Shaw, Northern Trust over tax shelters
Prominent Chicago law firm Seyfarth Shaw, financial services company Northern Trust, and others have sidestepped a racketeering claim brought by a financial services provider who claimed he was misled into investing in an illegal tax shelter that eventually cost him more than $10 million in back taxes, fees, interest and penalties.
Judge parks Bobb Auto Group's RICO, conspiracy suit vs ex-employees, accountants
CHICAGO – A group of former car dealership employees had a lawsuit against them dismissed at court.
Class action: Caputo's Fresh Markets broke law when made workers scan fingerprints for punch clock
Caputo's Fresh Markets has been added to the growing list of employers being sued in Cook County court for allegedly violating an Illinois biometrics privacy law when it required employees to scan their fingerprints for use with the company's employee punch clock.
NorthShore Evanston Hospital alleged to have failed to diagnose deceased patient's surgery complication
An Evanston medical facility is facing a suit from a widow who alleges it failed to diagnose a surgery complication that led to her husband's death.
Widow alleges Advocate Sherman Hospital failed to order appropriate imaging for deceased husband
A widow has filed a suit against Advocate Sherman Hospital over her husband's death.
Gerber committee reports nearly $2K in contributions during second quarter
Elect Judge Mike Gerber reported receiving $1,500 from April 1 through June 30, according to its second quarter report to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Class action challenges legality of more than 2 million Chicago red light camera tickets
Despite a major settlement earlier this year, the city of Chicago is facing further legal action over the validity of its red light camera program.