News from September 2023
'Sometimes stretch a little too far:' Unusual quick win for FaceTec vs biometrics class action offers guide for others
Earlier this year, facial ID scanning tech vendor FaceTec persuaded a prolific filer of biometrics class action lawsuits to withdraw their lawsuit without even a single proceeding or motion to dismiss, because the company showed the plaintiffs' lawyers that their data scanning tech, collection and policies made the case unwinnable
Lawyers getting $90M of $450M settlement in class action over Kraft Heinz merger
Litigation goes back to 2019, accusing Kraft Heinz and its officers of causing investors to lose big money amid the merger that formed the new food processing giant company in 2015.
Morris Hospital patients sue hospital over data breach
Morris Hospital, in far southwest suburban Morris, has been hit with a class action lawsuit over a data breach amid an attack by Royal Ransomware, allegedly exposing the private information of nearly 284,000 people.
Kayla Siam Encourages students to “borrow lessons” as Governors State University Convocation Keynote Speaker
Kayla Siam, an attorney in Thompson Coburn’s corporate and higher ed practice groups, gave the keynote address at Governors State University’s Annual Convocation on September 7, 2023. Kayla, a GovState Alumna, was joined by faculty and trustees at the event which welcomed new and returning students to the academic school year.
North Central student can continue class action over Covid remote learning shift
The lawsuit claims North Central College in Naperville violated a contract with students when it shifted to online learning in the spring of 2020, while refusing to refund tuition. The claims echo those in lawsuit vs Loyola University, which a federal appeals court allowed
BNSF, truck drivers in apparent deal to end biometrics court fight worth hundreds of millions of dollars
A judge had tossed out a $228M verdict vs BNSF Railway in July in a long-running court battle over claims BNSF had wrongly required truck drivers to scan hand prints when entering secure rail yards in Illinois
What You Need to Know: A Review of Notable Telehealth Tools, Software, and Technology Infrastructure on September 21
In connection with the American Telemedicine Association’s (ATA) Telehealth Awareness Week, partner Eric Sophir, co-chair of the firm’s Data Analytics/Intelligence Area of Focus, will be speaking on the ATA’s Telehealth Technology Special Interest Group’s panel “What You Need to Know: A Review of Notable Telehealth Tools, Software, and Technology Infrastructure.”
Patients sue Blue Cross Blue Shield over data breach
Health insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield has been hit with a class action lawsuit over a data breach that allegedly exposed personal information for more than 192,000 people.
Homeowners can keep up part of lawsuit accusing State Farm of discriminating vs Black homeowners' claims
The class action lawsuit alleges State Farm's claims processing procedure and algorithms have violated the federal Fair Housing Act by allegedly favoring white homeowners' claims
Private Equity and M&A Community (pemacom) Conference on September 19, 2023
pemacom is the successor to the renowned Cross-Border M&A and Private Equity Conference (MuMAC).
Dentists say Chicago Public Health requiring them to pay fees, provide free services through CPS dental care program
The Chicago Association of School Dentists is asking the court to declare the city's rules governing the School Based Oral Health program are illegal
Split appeals panel upholds $47M malpractice verdict vs Advocate Lutheran General, others
Justices agree depositions used by plaintiffs weren't admissible evidence, but majority said defendants failed to show how that would have changed the outcome of the trial
Surprise! Texas judge vacates additional regulations from the No Surprises Act on September 19 2023
The recent No Surprises Act (NSA) ruling in the case of Tex. Med. Ass’n v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Servs. (TMA III) has brought significant changes to the managed care industry, specifically regarding the calculation of the qualifying payment amount (QPA) and independent dispute resolution (IDR) requirements.
Securities Enforcement Forum Central 2023 Directors’ Panel on September 19
Partner Jim Lundy will moderate a panel of distinguished legal professionals at the first-ever Securities Enforcement Forum Central, who will discuss important current issues confronting attorneys and businesspeople in the securities enforcement area.
Lawsuit says White Sox discriminate by making it hard to buy wheelchair accessible seats online
The class action lawsuit, filed by a wheelchair user and a man with limited mobility who uses a motorized scooter, accuses the Chicago White Sox of not allowing people to select and purchase accessible seats online as easily as the team does for standard tickets
Judge: Woman fired for improperly issuing drivers' permit OK to keep suing IL Sec. of State for discrimination
A Black woman who formerly worked for the Illinois Secretary of State's office was fired after improperly issuing a drivers' permit to a friend. She sued for discrimination, in part because her white male colleagues weren't fired for allegedly doing the same thing
10 Tressler Attorneys Selected in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™
Tressler LLP is pleased to announce that Rachel Bassett, Taylor Brewer, Kiera Fitzpatrick, Jamie Gende, Shannon Harvey, Sarah Elizabeth Melendez, Jerome Murphy, Matthew O’Malley, Samantha Shafer and Stacey Wilkins were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.
Dykema Expands Its IP Depth With the Addition of Michael J. Word in Chicago
Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Michael Word as a Member of its Intellectual Property Department resident in the firm’s Chicago office.
Class action: S. IL Healthcare Foundation violated genetic privacy law by asking workers about health history
The lawsuit seeks to include potentially everyone who worked for or applied for a job with Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation in the past five years
Federal judge: Samsung must face 'mass arbitration' of biometrics claims
The electronics giant had argued the collective filing of tens of thousands of individual claims at the same time amounted to an attempt to extract a class action-style settlement, despite arbitration agreements forbidding class actions