Elections
Stuart beats Keeven to retain 112th District IL House seat; Elik cruises; Schmidt poised to win
The race was marked by a concerted effort by powerful Democrats to block former Edwardsville Police Chief Jay Keeven from placing his name on the ballot to challenge incumbent Democratic State Rep. Katie Stuart in the seat representing portions of Madison and St. Clair counties
Hot Topics
Judge mostly tosses effort to force IL elections authorities to make voter rolls more accurate
Federal Court
Caseyville opposes CSX motion to dismiss flood lawsuit; 'Tracks are knowingly inoperable'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Caseyville claims CSX railroad can’t plead that the village’s lawsuit over a flood interferes with railroad operations when it hasn’t used the track since the flood.
Federal Court
Former St. Clair County HR director claims Chairman Kern, others defamed him
EAST ST. LOUIS - Former St. Clair County human resources director Frank Bergman claims county board chairman Mark Kern defamed him and improperly terminated his employment.
From Cook County Record
Illinoisans should watch out for the next try at a progressive income tax on the November ballot in the name of property tax relief, says reform advocacy group Wirepoints
Lawsuits
IDOT worker sues trucker over construction zone accident
An Illinois Department of Transportation worker has filed a lawsuit against a truck driver over an accident in a construction zone near Macoutah.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Utility Company Violated Federal and State Laws
Shawnte' Spates has filed a lawsuit against Ameren Corporation alleging violations of FMLA and ADA among other claims. The suit seeks $3 million in damages along with other compensatory reliefs.
State Court
Trustee Accuses Co-Trustees of Fraudulent Transfer in Longstanding Mineral Rights Dispute
A prolonged legal conflict over mineral rights between two trusts escalates as one trustee appeals recent court decisions requiring sequestration of sale proceeds amid accusations of fraudulent transfers.
Federal Court
County Sheriff's Office Accused of Negligence Leading to Inmate's Death
A new lawsuit has been filed alleging negligence by a county sheriff's office leading to an inmate's death while detoxing from fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. The plaintiff seeks over $75,000 in damages along with punitive measures against involved officers.
Federal Court
Healthcare Employee Alleges Racial Discrimination Against Major Hospital Network
Timothy Porter has filed a lawsuit against Southern Illinois Healthcare Enterprises alleging racial discrimination and wrongful termination after years of dedicated service. The case details incidents where Porter's career advancement was hindered due to racial bias while less-qualified White colleagues received preferential treatment.
State Court
Defendant accused of Negligence
A recent court filing reveals Jeffery M. Dillon’s allegations against Christie Clinic LLC and physical therapist Stacy Trulock over negligence during a physical therapy session gone wrong in October 2018.
Federal Court
Groundskeeper Sues Chevron Over Alleged Link Between Herbicide Exposure and Parkinson’s Disease
Richard Schacca has filed a lawsuit against Chevron U.S.A., Inc., claiming that exposure to their herbicide product Paraquat caused him to develop Parkinson's Disease. Filed on June 27th in Illinois federal court by attorney Peter J. Flowers from Meyers & Flowers LLC., Schacca seeks over $75k in damages for medical expenses and suffering due to alleged negligence by Chevron.
Federal Court
Former Employee Alleges Sterling Jewelers Engaged in Systemic Discrimination
Leonard Slaughter has filed a lawsuit against Sterling Jewelers Inc., alleging race-based and sex-based discrimination during his employment at Kay Jewelers. The case highlights claims of unequal treatment in promotions and compensation along with accusations of retaliation following complaints made by Slaughter.
Federal Court
Former employee sues Carrier Mills Nursing & Rehabilitation Center over pregnancy discrimination
A former Certified Nursing Assistant has filed a lawsuit against Carrier Mills Nursing & Rehabilitation Center alleging pregnancy-based discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2023. The plaintiff seeks back pay with interest among other forms of relief.
Pipe maker J-M says big asbestos firm Simmons Hanly shouldn't escape lawsuit fraud claims
J-M Manufacturing is pushing back against efforts by prominent asbestos law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy to end J-M's lawsuit accusing Simmons of a racket of "sham" asbestos lawsuits. The Simmons firm claims such racketeering claims aren't allowed against law firms over such litigation activities
Judge: Speedway will need settlement or trial to end class action over worker fingerprint scans
A federal judge rejected attempts by Speedway to avoid paying out millions of dollars or more to as many as 7,200 workers at its Illinois stores for allegedly wrongly requiring them to scan their fingerprints when punching the clock at work, as part of a class action under Illinois' biometrics privacy law
Highway worker who sued over Mascoutah highway crash doesn't need surgery, after all, attorney says
Shortly after attorneys for an Oregon truck driver moved to take the case from St. Clair County court to federal court, a lawyer representing a highway worker allegedly injured in a construction zone crash says he expects his injuries will be far less costly, so the case belongs back in St. Clair court, not federal
Biometrics privacy claims vs FaceApp must go to arbitration, not class action: Judge
Phone software came used 'hybridwrap' technology to collect user consent
Arbitration agreements may defeat OT wage class action vs retail merchandising biz
A Springfield judge sided with Taylorville-based Driveline Retail Merchandising in dispute with merchandisers from throughout U.S. who accused company of shorting wages and OT under federal and state law
Judge mostly tosses effort to force IL elections authorities to make voter rolls more accurate
A Chicago federal judge said conservative groups don't have standing to sue Illinois state and county election officials for allegedly failing to live up to their obligations under federal election law to remove people who aren't eligible to vote from Illinois voter rolls
Federal judge asked to block IL law that restricts what employers can say to their workers
In a new filing, the Illinois Policy Institute and Technology and Manufacturing Association say the state has unconstitutionally set up a regime to allow labor unions and other political allies to speak, while silencing employers' speech on politics, public policy and religion in the workplace
IL counties can't end lawsuit accusing them of unconstitutionally taking homes over unpaid taxes
A Chicago federal judge said the counties can't beat the lawsuit by claiming they aren't violating the Constitution because state law allows private investors to keep the homes and the profits from the forced sales, not the governments themselves
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
Illinois ban on carrying concealed weapons on transit unconstitutional, judge says
A Rockford federal judge particularly called a legal theory advanced by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx that government can ban guns on all public property "breathtaking, jawdropping, and eyepopping" for the harm it could deliver to constitutional rights everywhere
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.
Circuit judges in Twentieth, Third Judicial Circuits win retention
Circuit judges running for retention in St. Clair County's Twentieth Judicial Circuit and Madison and Bond County's Third Judicial Circuit easily won their seats.
Did IL just try again to ban E-Verify? New law could leave employers facing hard choices, big challenges
The new law could leave Illinois employers facing a choice between abiding by competing state and federal immigrant employment laws and requirements, and leave Illinois facing another day in court defending a law which could stand in defiance to federal laws governing immigrant work eligibility
In protracted GP asbestos bankruptcy, plaintiff lawyers ask for three more years of discovery
CHARLOTTE - Lawyers who for five years have resisted efforts of Georgia Pacific entity Bestwall to expose crooked asbestos suits asked Bankruptcy Judge Laura Beyer for three more years to prove they caused no harm.
Big asbestos law firm accused of cheating its way to billions
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Fraud drove asbestos lawsuits at the prominent plaintiffs firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, J-M Manufacturing Company is alleging in a new racketeering lawsuit.
Nursing homes can use Pritzker Covid orders to block suits over Covid deaths
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled trial lawyers can't entirely sidestep emergency orders issued by Gov. JB Pritzker at the onset of the Covid pandemic to hit nursing homes with lawsuits over Covid deaths, even though the governor's orders appeared to protect them from such lawsuits
Former St. Clair County HR director claims Chairman Kern, others defamed him
EAST ST. LOUIS - Former St. Clair County human resources director Frank Bergman claims county board chairman Mark Kern defamed him and improperly terminated his employment.
Rep. Schmidt donates legislative pay raise he opposed to food pantries; 'I put my money where my mouth is'
Illinois State Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) is donating the legislative pay raise he voted against to community food pantries within his district each month.
Judicial Inquiry Board: Appeals judge Sheldon Harris talked with other judges about nephew's case, testified falsely
The Illinois state board tasked with investigating misconduct accusations against judges has asked the Illinois Courts Commission to discipline First District Appellate Justice Sheldon A. Harris, who has announced he is retiring later this year