News from 2024
Michael Parks Speaks on Key AI Trends for 2024
Thompson Coburn partner Michael Parks was a featured panelist at the Chicago Innovation event AI+IQ.
Illinois Supreme Court sets new standard on when convicted felons can credibly claim 'torture' by cops
A divided Illinois Supreme Court rejected the attempt by Darrell Fair, who was convicted of murder and armed robbery, but claimed some of his statements while in police custody were coerced by torture. A Cook County trial judge had called such claims "an absolute lie."
Class action accuses Chicago area nursing home group over worker fingerprint scans
The lawsuit accuses the company, which operates several nursing care facilities in the Chicago region, of violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Gonnella says insurance company wrongly refusing to pay for its lawsuit vs ex-worker accused of defrauding company
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring Arch Insurance to fund Gonnella's action against an ex-employee who allegedly teamed with his wife to steer big purchases to a shell company they set up.
Wahl Moderates Women in Music Event at Senn High School
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partner Michelle M. Wahl moderated a panel of women in the music business for Senn High School, hosted by the Women in Music Chicago Chapter.
Aziz Huq Writes About Supreme Court Agreeing to Hear Trump’s Immunity Claim
To understand how truly remarkable it is that the Supreme Court has agreed to consider former President Donald Trump’s demand for absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, it is necessary to have some sense of how the court treats other criminal defendants.
Race for Cook County State's Attorney dead heat, new poll says
A poll from survey firm M3 Strategies says retired judge Eileen O'Neill Burke, who has pledged to undo many of the perceived soft on crime policies of current Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, is tied at 21% with attorney Clayton Harris III, who is endorsed by allies of Foxx and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Supreme Court boots ballot challenges to Trump, says states can't block presidential candidates under 14th Amend
The unanimous ruling strikes down rulings from Democratic judges in Colorado and Cook County, which had declared individual states have the power under the Fourteenth Amendment to block "insurrectionists" from seeking federal office
Alasauskas and Mosnick to Volunteer for Chicago Women in IP's Girl Scouts Patch Event
Associates Amanda J. Alasauskas and Emily R.S. Mosnick will volunteer for the Girl Scouts IP Patch Event, hosted by Chicago Women in IP (CHiWIP) and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana on March 10 in Chicago.
Alasauskas to Guest Lecture at Columbia College Chicago
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Associate Amanda J. Alasauskas will serve as a guest lecturer for Columbia College Chicago’s “Talent Management” class on March 6 in Chicago.
Michael Vargas Joins Tressler's Government Practice Group
Tressler is proud to welcome Michael Vargas as an associate in the Government Practice Group in our Chicago office.
Michael and Juliet Gray honored with Humanitarian Award from Illinois Holocaust Museum
Michael and Juliet Gray were honored with the 2024 Humanitarian Award by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center on February 27.
Jerico Matias Cruz sues Illinois State Board of Elections and Kent Sinson for disqualification from running for office
The lawsuit filed by Jerico Matias Cruz against the Illinois State Board of Elections and Kent Sinson in the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District (Case ID: 1-24-0333) was decided on March 11, 2024.
Judge OKs Cook County 'assault weapons' ban, agrees that bans only apply to guns not protected by 2nd Amend
A Chicago federal judge became the latest to uphold a ban on so-called "assault weapons," saying she was bound by a 2023 appellate ruling which declared weapons labeled by lawmakers as "dangerous," "military-grade" weapons aren't protected by the Second Amendment and can be banned
Class action: ERC Specialists allegedly scammed small businesses seeking CARES Act tax credits
The lawsuit asserts the defendant allegedly misled businesses over the question of whether they could qualify for employee retention tax credits under the federal law.
Cubs sue shuttered jet club Aerovanti, say they left Cubs holding bag worth millions on sweepstakes offer
The Chicago Cubs have lodged a lawsuit against the now-defunct private jet club, Aerovanti. The baseball team alleges that Aerovanti owes them millions for purportedly "ghosting" the Cubs on a sweepstakes promotion, thereby leaving the Cubs to deal with the fallout.
BNSF to pay $75M to settle truckers' fingerprint scan class action; Lawyers could get $27M
The settlement would end the court fight in the first class action under the Illinois Biometrics Information Privacy Act to go to trial. A federal judge last summer tossed out a $228 million jury award secured by plaintiffs.
Fourth District: Constitutional challenge to Pritzker's COVID-19 emergency orders declared moot
The Fourth District Appellate Court affirmed Sangamon County Associate Judge Jennifer M. Ascher’s order finding a lawsuit filed by a group of Illinois educators moot because the COVID-19 emergency orders they were challenging are no longer in effect.
Baird & Warner accused in class action of allegedly conspiring to force home sellers to pay buyers' agents, brokers
The class action accuses Baird & Warner of allegedly violating Illinois' state antitrust and consumer fraud laws.
Judge slams door on class action vs. city over impounded cars
The lawsuit had claimed the city should face the class action because plaintiffs still faced a risk of having their cars impounded, unless the city's policies are undone. A federal judge said that is not enough to allow them to move forward with the class action now.