Federal Court
Yandle takes jurisdiction in downtown Highland development dispute
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle decided to exercise jurisdiction over a claim that developers of a project in downtown Highland failed to honor a construction contract.
State Court
IL high court: State OK to restrict constitutional challenges to state laws solely to Chicago, Springfield courts
Federal Court
Paraquat plaintiffs and defense ask for stay at Seventh Circuit while discussing settlement
Hot Topics
Counties ask judge to rope IL state govt, private 'tax buyers' into class action over property tax 'takings'
Suburban counties of DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane, along with three downstate counties, say they can't be forced to wear the blame and foot the bill for unconstitutional takings under a property tax system the state created and private investors are allowed to profit from
State Court
St. Clair Co. judge reversed over improper jury trial and leaving out necessary party
MOUNT VERNON - Retired St. Clair County Judge Julie Katz held a jury trial she had no business holding and left a necessary party out of it, according to an April 15 decision of Fifth District appellate judges.
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
New filing: 'Whistleblowers' can back fraud, racketeering claims vs Simmons, other asbestos lawsuit firms
L.A.-based pipemaker J-M Manufacturing wants to revive its lawsuit against Simmons Hanly Conroy and now other prominent asbestos plaintiff firms. J-M claims to have a raft of whistleblowers who can back their allegations that much of the multi-billion dollar asbestos litigation industry is allegedly a fraudulent racket
Judge pulls plug on class action vs GameStop over selling opened 'new' video games
Two men had sued the video game retailer, claiming the company misled customers by opening the games and keeping the discs behind the counter as an anti-theft measure, while charging full price for "new" games.
Post Cereals can't entirely dump suit over how much cereal is in boxes of Fruity, Cocoa Pebbles
Judge Stephen McGlynn said more proceedings are required before Post can end the class action lawsuit over claims the company misled consumers about the quantity of cereal in its boxes.
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.
Counties ask judge to rope IL state govt, private 'tax buyers' into class action over property tax 'takings'
Suburban counties of DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane, along with three downstate counties, say they can't be forced to wear the blame and foot the bill for unconstitutional takings under a property tax system the state created and private investors are allowed to profit from
Judge blocks Trump Labor Dept anti-DEI funding rules
A Chicago federal judge blocked the Labor Department under President Donald Trump from enforcing Trump's executive orders requiring organizations receiving grants through the DOL to certify they are not supporting DEI, if they wish to continue collecting federal money. The judge said the orders "chill" free speech
23 states: IL, Chicago 'sanctuary' laws incentivize illegal immigration, 'spills' burden onto other states, rest of U.S.
Attorneys general from 23 states have sided in federal court with the Trump Justice Dept.'s challenge vs Illinois' and Chicago's 'Sanctuary' policies and laws. They argue IL, by shielding illegal immigrants from feds, is violating the constitutional compact among the states and increasing the burden on everyone
Illinois can't force doctors to tell patients about abortion 'benefits,' judge rules
A federal judge has struck down a portion of an Illinois state law that would have stripped certain legal protections for doctors, other medical pros who refuse to tell patients about the "benefits" of abortion. The state can force docs to refer women to abortion providers, however. The case is headed to appeal
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
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
St. Clair, Madison counties retain top spots for asbestos lawsuit destinations in U.S.: New report
Consulting firm KCIC reported Madison, St. Clair, Cook counties collectively accounted for nearly half of all asbestos lawsuit filings in 2024. St. Clair County continued its rapid ascent and could equal or eclipse Madison County for the country's No. 1 destination for asbestos claims in coming years
Bestwall says asbestos sample paints picture of 'questionable conduct by plaintiffs and counsel'
CHARLOTTE - From 430,000 asbestos suits Georgia Pacific entity Bestwall selected 221 to support its theory that plaintiffs inflated settlements by concealing evidence of other exposures.
St. Clair Co. judge reversed over improper jury trial and leaving out necessary party
MOUNT VERNON - Retired St. Clair County Judge Julie Katz held a jury trial she had no business holding and left a necessary party out of it, according to an April 15 decision of Fifth District appellate judges.
Paraquat plaintiffs and defense ask for stay at Seventh Circuit while discussing settlement
CHICAGO - About 5,600 plaintiffs who claim weed killer paraquat caused Parkinson’s disease joined with defendants Syngenta and Chevron in a motion to stay proceedings at U.S. Seventh Circuit for 60 days to settle almost all claims.
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