News from 2024
Amtrak and BNSF Railway Accused of Negligence Leading to Train Derailment
A recent lawsuit filed by Tammy Kamrud accuses Amtrak and BNSF Railway Company of negligence leading to a catastrophic train derailment near Joplin, Montana in September 2021. The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for physical injuries and emotional trauma sustained during the incident.
Plaintiff sues homeowner over severe injuries caused by collapsing ceiling
A woman has filed a lawsuit against a homeowner after being severely injured by falling drywall at his residence due to water damage he allegedly neglected to address. The plaintiff seeks over $75,000 in damages for medical expenses and pain suffered.
Visually-Impaired Plaintiff Sues Online Retailer Over Website Inaccessibility
A visually-impaired plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against an online retailer alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) due to its inaccessible website. Filed in July 2024 in Illinois federal court by ESLIMERARI RAMOS against KAILAS INTERNATIONAL INC., doing business as PAGODA RED, the suit seeks both injunctive relief and damages.
Bike Rental Company Sues Software Partner Over Alleged Contract Breach
Go.Play.Everywhere LLC has filed a lawsuit against its long-time software partner Checkfront Inc., along with Rezdy LLC and Regiondo following a merger between these companies. The suit alleges breach of contract and unfair competition practices that jeopardize GPE's business operations.
Former Executive Accused of Breaching Non-Compete Agreement by Joining Competitor
Surge Staffing LLC has filed a lawsuit against former Executive Vice President Heather O'Brien for allegedly breaching her non-compete agreement by joining competitor SURESTAFF, LLC. The complaint seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief to prevent further misuse of confidential information.
CTA seeks to toss $3M verdict awarded to woman convicted of murdering, dismembering landlord
The Chicago Transit Authority has appealed a jury's verdict in favor of Sandra Kolalou for injuries she claimed she sustained in a bus accident, but who later was convicted of murdering and dismembering her landlady. The CTA says the trial judge wrongly went to "great lengths" to ensure jurors never learned of Kolalou's charges and jailing
Admiral at the Lake senior living facility can't escape biometrics class action over worker face scans
Appeals panel shoots down the legal strategy from the owners of the senior living center and rejected their contention the class action should be disallowed because the named plaintiff is merely a "figurehead" who knows next to nothing about the lawsuit he is supposedly leading
BFKN Named Best Midsize Law Firm in Chicago in 2025 Vault Rankings
BFKN is proud to announce that Vault, an industry leader renowned for providing law firm research to potential job candidates, has recognized the firm once again in 2025.
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP to Participate in Cook County Bar Association's 41st Annual Minority Law Student Job Fair
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is proud to participate in the 41st Annual Minority Law Student Job Fair hosted by the Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) on July 23 in Chicago.
TikToker says Hubbard Inn has 'misled' public about viral incident with bouncer on restaurant's stairs
TikToker Julia Reel, who is being sued for defamation by the Hubbard Inn over a video she posted claiming she was attacked by a bouncer at the club and restaurant in March, has filed a countersuit, alleging the Hubbard Inn publicly shared video of only the end of the incident, allegedly falsely accusing Reel of lying
Asbestos lawyers fight fraud lawsuit with anti-SLAPP motion
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - The major asbestos law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy is hoping to SLAPP down a lawsuit that accused it of cheating its way to billions of dollars.
Aaron Gillett, Nicholas Marcus, and John Kalogriopoulos to Speak at AALL 2024 Annual Meeting and Conference on July 20, 2024
Aaron Gillett, partner in Seyfarth's Corporate department, Nicholas Marcus, counsel in Seyfarth's Corporate Department, and John Kalogriopoulos, associate in Seyfarth's Corporate department will present "Discover Foreign & International Law in The Second City" at the AALL 2024 Annual Meeting and Conference on July 20 in Chicago, Illinois.
Appeals panel: Samsung doesn't need to pay millions to arbitrate biometric privacy claims
Customers could have fronted fees to keep arbitration proceedings alive, the appeals judges said, adding the customers cannot complain now about the terms of an arbitration agreement they attempted to invoke and cash in on
Judge tosses civil rights suit vs Quincy bar owners over attack on Quincy U. women's basketball player
A Springfield federal judge said plaintiff Jazzpher Evans, who was brutally assaulted by the white male former owner of The Barn of Quincy in 2021, did not follow rules laid out in federal and state civil rights laws before filing suit against the owners of the establishment
Vedder Price Secures Significant Defense Judgment Victory in Illinois Appellate Court Ruling
Vedder Price is pleased to announce a full defense judgment victory for its clients before the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District (the “Appellate Court”) arising out of a limited liability company unit redemption agreement.
River Forest man headed back to 'debtors prison' to force him to pay $350K in divorce bills
A Cook County judge ordered River Forest developer Marty Paris back to Cook County Jail after ruling he must pay maintenance and other "court-ordered obligations," including his ex-wife's legal bills. Reporters were not allowed to observe the hearing via Zoom, even though the judge's order appeared to indicate the hearing was on Zoom
SFFA v. UNC/Harvard: Taking Stock One Year Later on July 17, 2024
Join us for Faegre Drinker's three-part series of webinars reviewing the impact of SCOTUS’ decision in the SFFA v. UNC/Harvard case, and its impact on employers, educators and government contractors.
Professor Monica Llorente (JD ’00) and Judge Patricia Logue (JD ’86) Receive Chicago Bar Association’s Vanguard Award
Professor Monica Llorente (JD ’00), Senior Lecturer at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, has received the Vanguard Award from the Chicago Bar Association.
Greenberg Traurig Adds Veteran Gaming Attorney Terence M. Dunleavy in Chicago
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Terence M. Dunleavy as shareholder in the firm’s Gaming Practice in Chicago.
Special prosecutors ask IL Supreme Court to toss Smollett's 'last-ditch' try to overturn conviction
Attorney Dan Webb and his co-special prosecutors said actor Jussie Smollett's bid to overturn his conviction for lying to police about a 2019 hoax attack wrongly relies on Cook County State's Attorney's Kim Foxx decision not to prosecute to sidestep 'overwhelming' evidence against him