News from November 2021
Republicans, Latino advocates file proposed map to 'correct constitutional defects' of Dems' state districts
The proposed new map, filed with federal judges, would nearly triple the number of majority Latino state House and Senate districts, compared to plan approved by Democrats and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in September
Appeals panel: IL Dept of Revenue misapplied state sales tax law, double-taxed certain car dealers
The state had improperly denied refunds to a Rockford used car dealer who had sought credit for taxes paid on car sales that ultimately ended in repossession.
Devore sues Pritzker for defamation for calling him a 'grifter' for suing Pritzker over COVID mandates
Attorney Tom Devore has represented clients in a string of lawsuits vs Gov. JB Pritzker since May 2020 over Pritzker's use of executive powers and COVID-related mandates
17th Annual IP Conference on November 12, 2021
17th Annual IP Conference on November 12, 2021.
Faegre Drinker Life Sciences Month 2021 on November 11, 2021
Faegre Drinker Life Sciences Month 2021 on November 11, 2021.
IL biometrics class action: OnlyFans improperly scanned faces of content creators to verify ID, age
A new class action lawsuit vs the parent company of OnlyFans says they violated Illinois' biometrics privacy law in the way it scanned and stored face IDs of content creators
Two dozen unions ask Cook County judge to block Lightfoot's Chicago city worker COVID vax mandate
The unions are seeking a court order similar to one granted to Chicago's police union, ordering the city to halt enforcement of the vaccine mandate until arbitration between the city and union can be completed over Mayor Lori Lightfoot's Dec. 31 COVID vaccine mandate.
Wrongfully imprisoned man can't sue city of Chicago after getting $7.6M from earlier suit vs Chicago cops
A judge has refused to let a man wrongfully imprisoned a quarter century, who already successfully sued Chicago police, now sue the city of Chicago, saying the city already compensated the man when it paid a $7.6 million judgment against the officers.
Not Just for Tech: Why the Retail and Hospitality Industries Need to Pay Attention to Data Privacy and Cybersecurity on November 11, 2021
Not Just for Tech: Why the Retail and Hospitality Industries Need to Pay Attention to Data Privacy and Cybersecurity on November 11, 2021.
Employee Owned 2021 Conference on November 10-12, 2021
Employee Owned 2021 Conference on November 10-12, 2021.
Appeals panel scraps $8M penalties, cleanup order vs landowner, company accused of illegal dumping in Ford Heights
Split appeals panel said judge was wrong to order total cleanup of Ford Heights property, work that the landowners estimated would cost $100 million or more.
The OSHA ETS – What Employers Need to Know (And Do) on November 8, 2021
The OSHA ETS – What Employers Need to Know (And Do) on November 8, 2021.
Challenges incoming to Dems' COVID vax-related changes to IL Right of Conscience Law?
Unusual bid by the current Democratic majority in Springfield to not only strip away conscience protections from COVID vaccine mandate objectors, but declare what lawmakers meant decades earlier when the IL Conscience Act was approved, may open those changes to the law up to legal challenges.
Judge: Paramedics who posted pics to Snapchat of man who lost arm in fireworks mishap didn't violate his rights
Cicero man sued the town of Cicero and two paramedics, who posted the pics with the caption "Feeling blessed."
Chicago cop says superior officers wrongly accessed his private info, retaliated against him for complaining
A Chicago narcotics officer says a sergeant and lieutenant used the Accurint service to glean some of his personal information online, and then retaliated after he allegedly refused to help cover it up and reported it to Internal Affairs.
Judge says Conscience Act protects Catholic nurse who refused to handle birth control, abortion referrals
A Rockford judge has ruled the Winnebago County Health Department was wrong to deny continued employment to a Catholic nurse who objected to the department's contraception and abortion referral services, saying the agency could have done more to accommodate her conscience.
Teacher seeks to keep up lawsuit claiming Evanston elementary schools are racially hostile to white people
An Evanston middle school teacher has fired back vs an attempt by Evanston/Skokie District 65 to dismiss her lawsuit, which claims anti-racism programs in the district turned the schools into a racially discriminatory hostile work environment targeting white people.
SCOTUS refuses school workers' claims unions unconstitutionally took dues after they tried to leave
Two Chicago teachers and a Moline custodian claimed their unions ignored the Supreme Court and the Constitution by limiting their ability to leave the union only to one "escape period" each year.
Attorney accuses Pritzker of 'judge shopping' in try to move mask mandate suits to Cook County, Springfield courts
Attorney Tom Devore, who is representing many people suing Gov. JB Pritzker and school districts over student mask mandates, says the governor broke a deal and is "judge shopping"
Vending machine operator Compass Group to pay $6.8M to settle fingerprint scan class action
Lawyers who brought the consequential class action under the Illinois biometrics law will seek at least $2.2M from the deal.