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News on Cook County Record

COOK COUNTY RECORD

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Latest News


City wants Smollett's counterclaim dismissed; says actor still could be prosecuted for attack hoax charges

By Scott Holland |
The city of Chicago has asked a federal judge to dismiss the counterclaim actor Jussie Smollett filed in response to the city’s suit that seeks to force him to repay its expenses for investigating his assault claims, in part because the city says Smollett has not yet escaped possible criminal charges.

McDonald's scores key wins in 'joint employer' legal battle, but war continues in attempt to unionize franchise shops

By Jonathan Bilyk |
McDonald's scores key wins in 'joint employer' legal battle, but war continues in attempt to unionize franchise shops

Pension fund accuses woman of cashing dead mothers' pension checks for 16 years

By Scott Holland |
Chicago resident allegedly supplied notarized forms to continue obtaining benefits, and pension fund didn't check against public records

Ousted megachurch pastor accuses radio host 'Mancow' of defamation for calling him a 'con man,' fabricating stories

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Harvest Bible founder James MacDonald has accused radio host "Mancow" Muller of smearing his reputation and leading to his termination

Village of Worth lawyers ask judge to sanction ex-hookah restaurant owners in political retaliation lawsuit

By Scott Holland |
Worth says former hookah and restaurant owners didn't produce requested evidence proving the village had 'put them out of business'

Arab-American ex-DePaul professor OK to press racial discrimination case vs university; Bulk of suit dismissed

By Karen Kidd |
An Arab American former DePaul University instructor suing the university alleging he was harmed during investigation of a student's sexual assault claims may continue racial discrimination portions of his case after most of it was dismissed.

Judge trashes blind woman's ADA lawsuit vs Wendy's over late-night drive-thru hours

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The judge said she is denied access to the drive-thru late at night, the same as any other pedestrian attempting to walk through the drive-thru.

Judge says Winn-Dixie can't keep suing chicken producer Fieldale Farms after settlement reached

By Scott Holland |
Grocery chain didn't promptly file opt-out request in chicken price class action, can't keep suing a chicken producer who settled.

'Public nuisance' personal injury suits vs Sterigenics over emissions surge again

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The number of lawsuits has again surged against Sterigenics, even as the company seeks to dismiss them by asserting the public nuisance suits are thwarted by federal and state emissions regulation.

Challenge filed vs judicial candidacy of lawyer who represented Burge, using Irish maiden name on ballot

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Chicago lawyer, who has defended police officers against misconduct charges, including Jon Burge, is seeking election as a Cook County judge, has been accused of attempting to use her Irish-sounding maiden name to confuse voters.

Ex-Valli Produce store worker brings class action, says grocer wrongly made workers scan fingerprints

By Marian Johns |
A former Valli Produce employee is suing the local supermarket chain, alleging the company violated Illinois law in the way it required workers to scan fingerprints to clock in and out of work.

ISBA Mutual Insurance asks to avoid covering Niro IP lawyer being sued in Calif. for breach of fiduciary duty

By The Cook County Record |
Lawyer liability insurance company, The Illinois State Bar Association Mutual Insurance Company, is asking a judge to declare it has no obligation to defend Chicago intellectual property attorney Christopher Niro against a lawsuit in California, accusing him of breaching his fiduciary duty, among other claims.

Court refuses to suspend FOID enforcement while gun rights group's lawsuit vs IL continues

By D.M. Herra |
As a gun advocacy group challenges the constitutionality of Illinois' Firearm Owner Identification law, courts say a preliminary injunction suspending the law is not in the public's best interest.

Facebook: SCOTUS should delete biometrics class action, says plaintiffs weren't harmed by photo tagging system

By Dan Churney |
Facebook wants the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a federal appellate court's ruling allowing a class action worth potentially billions of dollars to continue under an Illinois biometrics privacy law, as the company argues plaintiffs weren't harmed and the case would be too sprawling.

Celeb lawyer Zellner, ex-client Boyd each ask to toss dueling lawsuits over handling of case vs Chicago cops for murder charges

By Scott Holland |
The dispute centers around Zellner's representation of Lathierial Boyd, a man whose conviction for murder was tossed out in 2013, in a civil rights suit Boyd brought against the Chicago Police for $20 million.

Appeals panel bags class action vs Fannie May over 'slack fill' candy packaging

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Saying customers got the chocolate candy they paid for, a federal appeals court has boxed up a class action lawsuit against Fannie May, which had accused the candymaker of under filling its candy packages.

Cook County, with Madison, St. Clair, land at No. 7 on list of America's worst 'Judicial Hellholes'

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Cook County’s courts have again landed on a familiar list, receiving a prime ranking on the list of America’s worst “judicial hellholes.”

Philadelphia now the top-ranked 'Judicial Hellhole'; Massive verdicts, like $8B Risperdal case, cited

By Nicholas Malfitano |
WASHINGTON – In an annual report of “Judicial Hellholes” released today by the American Tort Reform Association, Philadelphia has claimed the No. 1 ranking – in part due to a historic $8 billion punitive damages verdict rendered this year in litigation connected to Johnson & Johnson’s anti-psychotic drug Risperdal.

83-year-old Chicago man alleges neighbor conspired with Chicago PD sergeant to have him falsely arrested

By Marian Johns |
An 83-year-old Chicago man is claiming one his neighbors conspired with the president of his community association, who is a sergeant with the Chicago Police Department, to have him falsely arrested in retaliation for a lawsuit against the board president and the association.

Nationwide antitrust class action alleges Delta Dental colluded to suppress dentists' pay rates

By Scott Holland |
American Dental Association among plaintiffs accusing insurer of unfairly controlling market