News from April 2022
Appeals panel tosses court order blocking CPS from enforcing COVID vax mandate vs workers
For second time in less than a week, Springfield appeals court says COVID vaccine-or-test mandates are "workplace safety rules," not illegal public health orders that violate workers' rights
Judge Williams recognized for role as chair of the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary
Judge Williams recognized for role as chair of the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.
Lawsuit: 'Cartel' of politically connected, wealthy Chicago families, including Pritzkers, dominate IL marijuana market
True Social Equity in Cannabis accuses the Pritzker, Wrigley and Kovler families of using political connections and influence to monopolize the state's regulated marijuana dispensary markets
DuPage SWAT officer injured in training exercise gets to keep $7.5M from trial against maker of shotgun shells
Federal judge upholds jury verdict for failure to adequately warn that the shells, specially designed for breaking in doors and locks, pose a danger to people because they don't dissolve into powder unless they hit something made of metal
Sheppard Mullin Named a Leader in Providing Value for the Dollar by BTI Consulting
Sheppard Mullin Named a Leader in Providing Value for the Dollar by BTI Consulting.
Father sues Villa Park school district, says conspired against him with ex-wife to 'promote' child's gender transition
The man's complaint accuses School District 45 of violating his constitutional parental rights in assisting and promoting the 12-year-old's gender transition, over the father's objections
Appeals panel reinstates lawsuit vs Fiat Chrysler over airbag failure in rollover crash
Front airbag failed to deploy in a Chrysler vehicle in a 2015 rollover in western Illinois. An expert testified the vehicle was traveling fast enough to trip system, but a judge ruled in favor of Fiat Chrysler.
Breaking Fintech’s Glass Ceiling: Women in Fintech Networking Series on April 20, 2022
Breaking Fintech’s Glass Ceiling: Women in Fintech Networking Series on April 20, 2022.
Lawsuit accuses Smithfield Fresh Meats of shorting OT pay for thousands of wokers amid pandemic
The plaintiffs say Smithfield paid workers a $5 per hour "Responsibility Bonus" during the early days of the COVID pandemic, but did not include that bonus when calculating workers' OT pay
Judge reprimands feds, says Obama-era bad-faith actions in case vs Kraft 'troubling for future' settlement talks
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission violated a confidentiality provision in its settlement with Kraft and Mondelez to end a regulatory action over alleged wheat market manipulation, to score political PR points. The agency says its commissioners aren't bound by any such deals
Students smack down Chicago 'Disinformation' Conference panelists, exposing far more than apparent about media
Traditional media beclowned itself last week at a Chicago conference on “disinformation.” That’s a story in itself, but the bigger story is how they covered up even that story, peddling disinformation about a conference on disinformation. The guilty include Illinois media, which is further guilty of still suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story that is part of what sparked the fireworks at the conference.
Reform watchdog: Fed court can look into state's hiring of unqualified COVID lab techs, contrary to Pritzker's claim
A state hiring watchdog is contending he has not conceded, as "misconstrued" by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, that two dozen allegedly unqualified temporary lab techs hired to help with Covid-19 tests, are outside the watchdog's federal mandate because they were hired off the street rather than promoted from within government.
Littler’s SOAR Program Takes Off
Littler’s SOAR Program Takes Off.
$17.3M deal could end investor class action vs in-flight wifi provider Gogo; Lawyers to get one third
Investors allege company downplayed concerns about how aircraft de-icer hampered internet signal for Gogo's new 2Ku global satellite system.
Cozen O’Connor attorney Argionis honored by Maine Township for exceptional community service
Cozen O’Connor attorney Jim Argionis, a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in Chicago, has been named the 2022 recipient of the Sgt. Karen Lader Memorial Good Citizen Award.
Kirk Dillard Reappointed to Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission
Kirk Dillard Reappointed to Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.
Appeals court: No state law blocks Pritzker from ordering public workers to get vaxxed or get fired
Dissenting Fourth District Appellate Court justice says his colleagues ignored Illinois Supreme Court precedent and other legal precedents in declaring the state's Right of Conscience law only forbids discrimination against conscientous objectors in an "unconventional sense"
Dolton mayor accused of illegally using cops as personal security, directing staff to ignore public info requests
Two lawsuits were filed against Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard by Dolton's elected village trustees and village clerk asking the courts to order Henyard to comply with the law
DeVore lawsuit: Pritzker, IL Dept of Corrections COVID vax or test mandate illegally tramples workers' rights
The lawsuit argues neither state law or any union-related negotiation or arbitration should allow Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Corrections to ignore due process rights afforded to IDOC workers under the state's public health laws
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