Hot Topics
Springfield Diocese: New IL abortion discrimination law tramples religious freedoms
A new lawsuit, led by the Springfield Diocese, accuses Illinois of essentially using a new law to strip religious organizations of their constitutional autonomy by forbidding them to speak against abortion or hire based on their beliefs concerning abortion or other "reproductive health" choices
Federal Court
Plaintiffs in Caseyville flood suit: 'We're going after CSX as landowner who just happens to be railroad company'
Federal Court
St. Louis man sentenced to 12 years in scam involving online private car sales totaling $1.7 million
Lawsuits
Lawsuit: Champaign abortion doc left 'half of pre-born baby' in woman's body post-abortion
An Ohio doctor, who runs an abortion clinic in Champaign, has been accused of severely injuring a woman during an abortion, by allegedly perforating her uterus and leaving half of the unborn baby lodged in her pelvis, and then ignoring her requests for help amid the complications
From Cook County Record
Judge: Fed transportation law doesn't shield paratransit company from IL genetic privacy class action
A federal judge ruled employers can follow federal rules on screening prospective drivers without violating Illinois' genetics privacy law, meaning transportation companies can't use federal law and regulations to beat potentially costly class action lawsuits for asking about drivers' family medical histories.
From Cook County Record
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker used his annual State of the State Address to lash out at President Donald Trump and his supporters - potentially including more than 40% of all Illinoisans - calling them all 'Nazis.' Such rhetoric was as irresponsible as it was inflammatory, stoking only more hatred and division, said Mark Glennon
From Cook County Record
Lawsuits
Man sues Casey's over slip-and-fall injury
A man has filed a lawsuit against Casey's Retail Company in Madison County Circuit Court, alleging he sustained severe injuries after slipping and falling on ice at Casey's Wood River store.
Lawsuits
Ex-SIU staffer hits school with discrimination suit for denying her work-from-home for anxiety, depression
A former employee of SIU has filed a lawsuit against the university's Board of Trustees, alleging discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Lawsuits
Female flight nurse says Carle Foundation wrongly fired her after she became pregnant
Shelby Scholes, a former flight nurse, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Carle Foundation Hospital, alleging wrongful termination due to her pregnancy.
Lawsuits
Belleville Boot Co. hit with transgender discrimination suit
A transgender employee has filed a lawsuit against Belleville Boot Company alleging discrimination and harassment based on gender identity.
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
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
Plaintiff seeks recognition of rural road as public amid property dispute
Ross E. Shepard Jr.'s legal battle over access rights to his landlocked property hinges on whether Tamarack Road is deemed public through prolonged use or if he can secure an implied easement by necessity.
Lawsuits
Class action accuses Bob Evans of not properly paying workers
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Bob Evans Restaurants, LLC, alleging that the company failed to properly compensate its employees for overtime work.
Lawsuits
Lawsuit: Grafton Skytour operators cut pregnant worker's hours, then ultimately terminated her
A woman has filed a lawsuit against the operators of Grafton Skytour, alleging that her employer reduced her working hours and eventually terminated her employment after she disclosed her pregnancy
Lawsuit: Champaign abortion doc left 'half of pre-born baby' in woman's body post-abortion
An Ohio doctor, who runs an abortion clinic in Champaign, has been accused of severely injuring a woman during an abortion, by allegedly perforating her uterus and leaving half of the unborn baby lodged in her pelvis, and then ignoring her requests for help amid the complications
Judge: Fed transportation law doesn't shield paratransit company from IL genetic privacy class action
A federal judge ruled employers can follow federal rules on screening prospective drivers without violating Illinois' genetics privacy law, meaning transportation companies can't use federal law and regulations to beat potentially costly class action lawsuits for asking about drivers' family medical histories.
Appeals court: D189 broke law by refusing to bus Catholic school students like public school students
A state appeals court said a St. Clair County judge got the law wrong and East St. Louis District 189 must bus students from Bowman Catholic school just as it buses students from D189's schools.
Ex-SIU staffer hits school with discrimination suit for denying her work-from-home for anxiety, depression
A former employee of SIU has filed a lawsuit against the university's Board of Trustees, alleging discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Female flight nurse says Carle Foundation wrongly fired her after she became pregnant
Shelby Scholes, a former flight nurse, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Carle Foundation Hospital, alleging wrongful termination due to her pregnancy.
Springfield Diocese: New IL abortion discrimination law tramples religious freedoms
A new lawsuit, led by the Springfield Diocese, accuses Illinois of essentially using a new law to strip religious organizations of their constitutional autonomy by forbidding them to speak against abortion or hire based on their beliefs concerning abortion or other "reproductive health" choices
Justice Department to support effort to strike down IL law pushing 'diverse' nonprofit boards
The Justice Department under President Trump has moved to intervene in the lawsuit brought against the state by the American Association for Equal Rights, seeking to overturn Illinois' law requiring nonprofits to report on the races and genders of their board members and staff. They say the law promotes intentional discrimination
New filing: Illinois has constitutional authority to ignore immigration law, complicate deportations
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded to the Trump administration's lawsuit vs Illinois' 'Sanctuary' laws, arguing the U.S. Constitution and past court decisions allow the state to pass laws forbidding police from cooperating with nearly all federal immigration enforcement 'schemes'
Ex-IL House Speaker, Dem leader Madigan convicted of bribery, wire fraud
Michael J. Madigan, who used his position as state House Speaker and chairman of the state Democrats to amass sweeping influence across all levels in Illinois for decades, was convicted by a federal jury. Reform advocates and GOPers say it should serve as a "wake-up call" for more extensive reforms in the notoriously corruption-plagued state
'This ends today:' DOJ asks court to block IL, Chicago from using 'Sanctuary' laws to hinder deportation of criminals
Federal lawsuit from the Trump administration asserts the state of Illinois, city of Chicago and Cook County are unconstitutionally using state laws and local ordinances to shield illegal immigrants - and particularly, illegal immigrants who have been convicted of other, violent crimes - from being removed from the U.S.
Alton attorney Patrick King appointed to fill Stobbs' vacancy
SPRINGFIELD - Patrick King of the Miller King firm in Alton will fill the vacancy Circuit Judge Stephen Stobbs created by retiring.
Illinois election results by county: How Harris compared to Pritzker's '22 popularity
ILLINOIS - Counties with the fewest black residents liked Vice President Kamala Harris more than they liked Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022, but Cook County with more than a million black residents liked Pritzker more than Harris.
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
Asbestos bankruptcy judge denies move by claimants to exclude alleged fraudulent cases from trial
CHARLOTTE - Bankruptcy Judge Laura Beyer ruled against asbestos lawyers who asked her to exclude 221 case files that Georgia Pacific entity Bestwall offered as evidence of fraud.
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.
Fifth District affirms decision denying Brighton man's forfeiture claim
MOUNT VERNON - William Laird of Brighton tried to secure a court order protecting himself from tax delinquency and forfeiture of property but Fifth District appellate justices found he failed to show an actual controversy.
St. Louis man sentenced to 12 years in scam involving online private car sales totaling $1.7 million
EAST ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a vehicle sale scheme using fake cashier’s checks and targeting victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties.
The Next Battles: BIPA changes will spark new debates, but may not alter field for other rising class action causes
Lawyers who filled Illinois courts with thousands of class actions under the IL Biometric Information Privacy Act have also generated scads of big money claims under the state's Genetic Info Privacy Act. But while the claims are similar, BIPA reforms may not translate into reduced risk for IL businesses under GIPA
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