News from September 2024
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Sues Online Retailer for ADA Violations
Howard Wilson has filed a class action lawsuit against Hobby Enterprises for failing to make its website accessible to visually impaired users. The suit alleges violations of the ADA and seeks a permanent injunction requiring compliance with accessibility guidelines.
MRI Provider Accused of Discrimination Against Wheelchair User
A Chicago man has sued Preferred Open MRI for allegedly refusing him service because he uses a wheelchair. Ramon Canellada claims this denial violates several federal and state laws protecting individuals with disabilities and seeks both declaratory relief and compensatory damages.
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Sues Online Jewelry Retailer Over Website Accessibility
A visually-impaired woman has filed a class action lawsuit against an online jewelry retailer for allegedly failing to make its website accessible under ADA guidelines. The suit seeks injunctive relief requiring compliance with established web accessibility standards.
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Sues Major Cinema Chain Over Website Accessibility
A legally blind woman has filed a class action lawsuit against Cinemark USA Inc., alleging their website is inaccessible for visually impaired users in violation of the ADA. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief requiring the company to make their site compliant with established web accessibility guidelines.
Software Company Accused of Negligence Leading to Massive Data Breach
Nearly one million individuals have had their sensitive personal information compromised due to a data breach at a prominent software company. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Young Consulting LLC for failing to secure this data adequately.
IL Baptists plan to appeal ruling that IL abortion coverage mandate doesn't violate religious rights
A Springfield judge agreed with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul that the state's abortion health insurance coverage mandate doesn't violate religious objectors' rights because they can still buy health insurance from other states
Former Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Led to Wrongful Termination by State Agency
A former employee has sued the Illinois Student Assistance Commission for racial and gender discrimination that led to his wrongful termination in August 2022.
Traveling CNA Alleges Discrimination and Wrongful Termination Against Senior Home Facility
Karen Y. Beckman has filed a lawsuit alleging severe discrimination based on age, national origin, and sexual orientation during her brief employment at Samaritan Bethany Senior Home in Minnesota. The case involves multiple defendants including local police officers accused of conducting a biased investigation leading to wrongful termination and criminal charges against Beckman.
Former Deli Clerk Sues Grocery Chain for Sex-Based Discrimination
Chantelle Walker has filed a lawsuit against Jewel Food Stores Inc., alleging sex-based discrimination and retaliation after reporting harassment at work. The case highlights serious allegations involving workplace misconduct and seeks various forms of relief including back pay and damages.
Former Employee Alleges Age Discrimination Against Manufacturer
Robert Murphy has filed a lawsuit against Semler Industries alleging wrongful termination due to age discrimination under federal and state laws. Represented by Michael A. Faccenda from Faccenda Law Group LLC., Murphy seeks compensatory and punitive damages among other reliefs.
Former Employee Alleges Discrimination and Retaliation Against Nonprofit Organization
Norecia Williams has filed a lawsuit against Safer Foundation alleging severe racial discrimination and retaliation during her employment. Filed in federal court on September 3rd, Williams seeks damages for emotional distress and lost wages due to what she describes as an intolerable work environment exacerbated by discriminatory practices.
Meet the Class: Daniel Caicedo, LLM, ‘25
Daniel Caicedo, ’25, joins the Law School this fall from Ecuador, where he earned a law degree from Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil and a master’s degree in procedural law from Universidad Espíritu Santo.
Shook Partners Named in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators
Lawdragon has selected 27 Shook partners for The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America.
Jury awards $50M to man who said was wrongly imprisoned as accomplice to murder
Marcel Brown had been sentenced to 35 years as an accomplice in a 2008 murder, after he drove an accused gunman to a city park to take part in a feud among rival groups. Cook County prosecutors dropped charges 10 years later, saying Brown was denied a lawyer during questioning that led to a confession
Walgreens Accused of Selling Cancer-Causing Generic Mucinex
A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Walgreens sold generic store-brand Mucinex containing benzene—a chemical linked to cancer—without warning consumers. Filed by Miriam Birdsong and Cheryl Mikel on behalf of all affected customers, the suit seeks damages for those who unknowingly purchased the contaminated product between May and August 2024.
Parents Sue Medical Entities Over Alleged Negligence During Childbirth
Rachael and Paul Adamian have filed a lawsuit against multiple medical entities alleging professional negligence during their son Dylan's birth at Good Samaritan Hospital in DuPage County. The Appellate Court has now ordered the case transferred from Cook County back to DuPage due to jurisdictional appropriateness.
Driver Alleges Race-Based Discrimination Against Former Employer TForce Logistics
Nicola Hadwah has filed a lawsuit against TForce Logistics alleging race-based discrimination and harassment during his tenure as a driver from January to July 2024. The suit seeks redress under multiple civil rights laws and aims to proceed as a collective action for similarly affected employees.
Plaintiff alleges local government entities liable for wrongful imprisonment due to clerical error
Stephen Durr's appeal regarding wrongful imprisonment due to a clerical error was dismissed by the Illinois Appellate Court for lack of jurisdiction. His initial complaint targeted local government entities for damages after being detained beyond his sentence because of an incomplete mittimus form.
Defendant accused of Property Encroachment
A recent Illinois Appellate Court decision underscores the necessity for timely legal actions in property disputes involving boundary encroachments between neighbors Hattie Jackson and Sabrina Hunter.
Retainer agreement arbitration clause can't defeat malpractice claim vs attorneys, IL appeals panel says
Panel rules an Independence, Missouri, firm never explained contract details to client who sued over chemical exposure allegations