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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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Maag files expert witness list disclosure in challenge to 'assault weapons' ban

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Wood River attorney Thomas Maag filed an expert witness disclosure on behalf of the Langley plaintiffs in their constitutional challenge to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s law banning so-called “assault weapons.”

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Raoul asks IL Supreme Court to dismiss cross-appeal on claim that firearm liability law violated the three readings rule

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
In response to a challenge to the state's firearm liability law, Attorney General Kwame Raoul is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to dismiss Wood River attorney Thomas Maag's cross-appeal on the three readings rule for lack of jurisdiction.

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Chevron seeks to take Chicago's climate change 'disinformation' suit to federal court

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The filing by Chevron says the city's lawsuit is dangerous and misguided, as it would seek to impose Chicago's left-wing policy goals across the globe, and upset a "balance" established by federal regulation that has allowed oil and gas to fuel the modern life enjoyed by everyone in Chicago and worldwide

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Illinois Supreme Court: Appellate Court erred in affirming Judge Hooks' decision giving convicted cop killer a new trial

By W.J. Kennedy |
The appellate court erred in 2019 when it affirmed Cook County Judge William Hooks' decision that led to a new trial—a third one— for convicted cop killer Jackie Wilson, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled.

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Chicago City Hall sues Glock, says gunmaker to blame for exacerbating city's 'epidemic' of gun violence

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The administration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has partnered with anti-gun activists to sue firearms manufacturer Glock under Illinois' new consumer fraud law specifically allowing gunmakers to get sued. Glock becomes latest company to be blamed in lawsuits for Chicago's societal woes

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IL Supreme Court asked to hear cross-appeals on judge’s order declaring forum law unconstitutional

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald Foster’s order declaring Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law is unconstitutional for plaintiffs residing or injured outside of Cook and Sangamon Counties has been appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court by both parties for separate reasons.

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Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions

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Foster declares Pritzker's venue law unconstitutional, refuses to transfer firearm liability challenge to Sangamon County

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald J. Foster Jr. declared Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law favoring Cook and Sangamon County is unconstitutional and denied Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s motion to transfer an Alton gun store’s constitutional challenge to both the venue law and the firearm liability law.

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Opponents to Chicago property sales tax hike referendum ask IL Supreme Court to step in

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Business groups argued an appellate court's decision reinstating the referendum on the ballot would effectively allow the Chicago City Council and other lawmaking bodies across the state to place any referendum questions on any ballot they wish, regardless if the questions are constitutional

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Judges: Courts must 'remain on sidelines' on school 'gender support' policies until parents' rights are violated

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A federal appeals panel has dismissed a lawsuit brought against Wisconsin school district by parents who say the district's new "gender support guidance" for school staff will inevitably lead to school staff violating their constitutional rights as parents to direct the upbringing of their children

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Fourth District: Constitutional challenge to Pritzker's COVID-19 emergency orders declared moot

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
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.

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IL's federal chief judge declines to answer senators' questions about S. IL judges' alleged discriminatory orders

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Senators Cruz and Kennedy had sought answers from Seventh Circuit Chief Judge Diane Sykes about the courts' response to a complaint over orders issued by three southern Illinois federal judges which establish a preference to hear oral arguments from "newer, female and minority" lawyers

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Counties say Supreme Court decision chastising forced home sales over unpaid property tax bills shouldn't apply in IL

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A group of Illinois counties, including DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will, argued that a class action lawsuit over "equity theft" should be tossed, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that appears to declare sales of entire homes to satisfy delinquent property tax bills to be unconstitutional takings

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Chicago sues oil companies over climate 'disinformation'; Lawsuit 'set up for failure,' industry warns

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The lawsuit is backed by some of the same organizations and law firms behind dozens of other similar lawsuits across the U.S., which critics say are politically motivated and designed to bankrupt the industry that fuels the U.S.

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Parents' lawsuit says Chicago Teachers Union should pay $250M for Jan. '22 work stoppage

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The lawsuit says CTU and its leaders should pay for calling an 'illegal strike,' which caused a public nuisance and cost CPS students and their families time and money, while causing irreversible learning loss, over fear of Covid

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Maag argues self incrimination claims support partial summary judgment in gun ban challenge

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Wood River attorney Thomas Maag supports his motion for partial summary judgment in one of four consolidated gun ban lawsuits filed in the Southern District of Illinois, arguing that the registration requirement violates gun owners’ Constitutional privilege against self-incrimination.

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'Once and for all': SCOTUS asked to strike down IL 'assault weapons' ban, end 'defiance' from states, courts

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Three petitions were filed on behalf of Illinois gun owners, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to send a message to defiant courts and state lawmakers, who have all but thumbed their noses at SCOTUS' Second Amendment rulings in passing and upholding new gun restrictions in Illinois and elsewhere

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McGlynn moves forward with gun ban litigation, says he won't wait for gov to figure out what they actually passed

By Steve Korris |
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn told Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wells he won’t wait for the state to explain the choices legislators made in the weapon ban they passed last year.

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Yandle rejects lifetime disarmament for felons, finds the law unconstitutional

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle concluded that the law precluding felons from possessing a firearm is unconstitutional in the same way that gun owners argue the state’s “assault weapons” ban violates the Second Amendment.

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'Political winds:' Biz groups urge judge to nix power grab by City Hall in metal yard permit case

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Business advocacy groups warned of dire consequences for Chicago and its economy if City Hall is allowed to use "public health" to justify changing the rules midstream when evaluating industrial development permits, as it did when denying $80M Southside Recycling project