News from February 2022
DeVore: Pritzker engaged in 'mental gymnastics' to justify appeal of Grischow TRO vs guv's school COVID orders
Attorney Tom DeVore urged a Springfield appeals court to reject Pritzker's attempt to block enforcement of a restraining order issued by a Springfield judge against his school COVID orders, noting 6 other judges already sided with Judge Grischow's reasoning
Gardiner can't end lawsuit from 45th Ward residents who say the alderman illegally blocked them on Facebook
Judge says Gardiner's Facebook page could be considered a protected public forum
Appeals panel: Japanese billionaire owes law firm Bartlit Beck $54M in fees from $2.6B settlement
7th Circuit agrees Okada pulled himself from arbitration hearing, can't cry foul after the fact
Ex-Morton College inspector gen drops racketeering claims vs college over his firing; Faces suit over alleged bid rigging
The former inspector general at Morton College has asserted he was wrongly fired in retaliation for uncovering alleged misconduct by college leaders. The college, though, claims he helped rig a bid for a contractor to land a $2 million deal.
The Future of Noncompetes and What It Means for the Protection of Your Workforce and Trade Secrets: Part 3 on February 10, 2022
The Future of Noncompetes and What It Means for the Protection of Your Workforce and Trade Secrets: Part 3 on February 10, 2022.
Pritzker asks appeals court to slap mask mandates, other COVID restrictions, back onto schools
Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul asked a state appeals court to move quickly to block a Springfield judge's temporary restraining order that voided emergency rules two state agencies used to impose mask mandates and other COVID-related restrictions on schools and students statewide.
Appeals panel says city not liable for Chicago paramedic accused of private sexual assault
Allegations involve incident at private home, while city worker was on call, but off duty
David A. Neiman named Partner at Romanucci & Blandin
David A. Neiman named Partner at Romanucci & Blandin.
Freeborn & Peters LLP Elects Joseph L. Fogel to the Firm’s Executive Committee
Freeborn & Peters LLP Elects Joseph L. Fogel to the Firm’s Executive Committee.
IL hiring watchdogs: Pritzker administration refusing to certify that political hiring isn't happening in state govt
In a new filing in a court fight over whether to continue federal court oversight over Illinois state government hiring practices, reform advocates allege Gov. JB Pritzker's administration won't agree to certify under oath that they have no knowledge of continued politically motivated hiring
Appeals panel: No pension benefits for ex-Chicago cop Anthony Abbate, convicted in videotaped beating of female bartender
Appellate judges said the evidence shows Anthony Abbate didn't fear arrest and tampered with investigation of attack on bartender, boosting the pension board's decision to invalidate his pension
McDonald's reaches $50 million preliminary BIPA settlement; Class members have until Feb. 9 to file claim or opt out
The deadline for individuals to file a claim or opt out of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action against McDonald’s is Feb. 9.
Quinn Emanuel Welcomes New Of Counsel Class
Quinn Emanuel Welcomes New Of Counsel Class.
Freeborn & Peters LLP Elects Steven D. Pearson as Co-Managing Partner
Freeborn & Peters LLP Elects Steven D. Pearson as Co-Managing Partner.
Pritzker to ask Springfield judge to keep school COVID mandates in place, pending appeal of order blocking his rules
The Illinois Attorney General, representing Pritzker, said he expects the appeal to be decided within two weeks
Apple should pay because Powerbeats headphones don't charge fully, don't always connect, lawsuit says
The class action lawsuit in Cook County court accuses Apple of misleading and deceptive advertising about the performance of Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones
Springfield judge slaps hold on IL statewide school mask mandate; Pritzker's powers not 'endless,' judge says
The judge issued a temporary restraining order on Pritzker's authority to force school districts to require students to wear masks and to exclude children suspected of being exposed to COVID from school without due process
Springfield judge denies class certification in mask, vaccine mandate cases
The judge has continued to hold off her ruling on plaintiffs' request for restraining order against the mandates. But she says there is too much uncertain about these cases to allow them to proceed as class actions at this time.
Judge nixes Exelon request to get legal questions answered on appeal in shareholder suit over alleged Madigan bribes
A federal judge ruled granting Exelon's request for an appeal to answer potentially important legal questions in the case could slow the litigation
IL Supreme Court: Workers comp law doesn't stop big money class actions vs employers over worker fingerprint scans
The high court said workers' claims under the Illinois biometrics privacy law aren't actual workplace injuries, and employers should look elsewhere for relief from the massive potential liability under the biometrics law