News from March 2022
Appeals panel: No obligation for insurer to cover Medline vs ethylene oxide lawsuits; emissions began before policy
An appeals court has ruled a Chicago insurer does not have to defend a suburban medical sterilizer company, against a suit claiming plant emissions caused cancer, saying the emissions began before the policy took effect.
Judge pops deceptive marketing class action vs Kellogg's over strawberry Pop-Tarts filling
Kellogg's says label doesn't imply strawberry is the only fruit in red filling
The State of Black Attorneys on March 7, 2022
The State of Black Attorneys on March 7, 2022.
Six more biometrics class actions target employers over worker fingerprint scans
The lawsuits seek potentially big money from eight defendants, including Altitude Health Services; the Kindred Hospital system; HBS Management; GMP Chicago; Congress Plaza Hotel; Wexford Home Corp.; and Vyse Gelatin.
Federal judge tosses lawsuit challenging Chicago's COVID vax passport order
A lawyer claimed the city's vaccine orders violated his constitutional rights and his contractual rights as a season ticket holder for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, because he was blocked from using the tickets he had purchased at the beginning of the season, months before the vaccine order was issued.
Barack Ferrazzano Partner, Allison N. Powers, Selected for LCLD Fellows Program
Barack Ferrazzano Partner, Allison N. Powers, Selected for LCLD Fellows Program.
Ex-Park District lawyer: Lightfoot owes for forcing him to resign after obscene 'big d***' rant over Columbus statue
Mayor Lori Lightfoot allegedly shouted she had 'biggest d*** in Chicago' and threatened to get the lawyer fired while berating him over a deal with Italian American group to begin resolving lawsuit vs Chicago Park District
Amendment 1 would cement Madigan union deals in Illinois' constitution, perhaps forever
Voters can deal a blow to the legacy of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is indicted on public corruption and racketeering charges, if they defeat Amendment 1 at the polls this fall, says the Illinois Policy Institute
Pritzker fighting to lift federal monitoring for political patronage hiring, system used by Madigan to boost power
Even as he talked with investigators in the federal prosecution that led to the indictment of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, Gov. JB Pritzker has been fighting to lift federal oversight of state hiring practices, a system exploited by Madigan to cement his grip on power statewide
Benesch Adds Litigation Associate to Chicago Office
Benesch Adds Litigation Associate to Chicago Office.
Former House Speaker, IL Dems chair Madigan indicted on racketeering, bribery charges
Federal prosecutors allege Michael J. Madigan, who for 40 years led Illinois Democrats and ruled over much of Springfield and Chicago politics, was the leader of a criminal racketeering enterprise, beginning at least 10 years ago.
Liberty Justice Center accuses River Forest D90 of not following Open Meetings law, singles out Equity committee
"All citizens have the right to know what their government is doing," says nonprofit civil liberties group, about a letter it sent to River Forest District 90, demanding officials provide proper notice and minutes for meetings. The letter particularly noted problems with notice and records for the district's equity and policy committees.
It’s Not Just the Pandemic: What’s Keeping Law Firm General Counsel Awake at Night? on March 2, 2022
It’s Not Just the Pandemic: What’s Keeping Law Firm General Counsel Awake at Night? on March 2, 2022.
Cook County courts to keep mask mandate in place
Cook County's chief judge said the Cook County Department of Public Health tells him COVID transmission rates are still too high to justify lifting courthouse mask mandates, even though Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Supreme Court have said otherwise
DeVore asks Springfield judge to block CPS from forcing students to mask
The attorney who won a restraining order against Gov. JB Pritzker's school COVID rules is now asking the same judge to issue an order vs Chicago Public Schools for 'unlawfully' still requiring student masks
IL Supreme Court won't consider, for now, whether biometrics lawsuits are limited to two-year personal injury time window
The state high court has rejected a petition to bypass a state appeals court on the question of whether potentially ruinous class actions under the state's biometrics privacy law should be restricted to a two-year, rather than five-year, statute of limitations
The Future of Arbitration - Part 1: Analyzing federal legislation precluding arbitration of sexual harassment claims
The Future of Arbitration - Part 1: Analyzing federal legislation precluding arbitration of sexual harassment claims.