Campaigns & Elections
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.
Hot Topics
Judges: Reforms to limit harm from IL biometrics law should apply to pending lawsuits, too
Federal Court
Meta challenges Illinois biometric law in Messenger case at SDIL
Federal Court
Failing Venice school district sued over discrimination, hostility claims
BENTON - Former Venice school principal Roshion McKinley and former instructional coach Lakishia Brock allege discrimination, hostility and retaliation against the school district.
Attorneys & Judges
Madison County attorney John Papa dies
John Papa, long time Madison County attorney, died in St. Louis on Nov. 16, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 73.
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
Judges: Reforms to limit harm from IL biometrics law should apply to pending lawsuits, too
Recent rulings from a Chicago federal judge and a Cook County judge are seen as key wins for Illinois businesses, as they begin the work of answering a key question that could decide the fates of potentially hundreds of lawsuits with many millions of dollars at stake
Constitution doesn't block Indiana's ban on gender transition procedures for kids: Appeals court
A divided federal appeals panel said the Indiana ban on surgeries, puberty blockers and other care do not violate parent's rights to direct their children's medical care nor the speech rights of doctors, dissolving a lower court's injunction blocking enforcement of the law
'Unconstitutional affront:' Federal judge strikes down Illinois 'assault weapons' ban
Saying the law falls far short under the Constitution, U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn entered an injunction which would block the state from enforcing Gov. Pritzker's ban on so-called 'assault weapons.' The ruling is stayed for 30 days, pending an expected appeal from the state
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
Madison County attorney John Papa dies
John Papa, long time Madison County attorney, died in St. Louis on Nov. 16, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 73.
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
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.
Madison County chief judge to retire Dec. 31; Stobbs has presided over asbestos docket 11 years
Third Circuit Chief Judge Stephen Stobbs announced Thursday he will retire on Dec. 31.
Failing Venice school district sued over discrimination, hostility claims
BENTON - Former Venice school principal Roshion McKinley and former instructional coach Lakishia Brock allege discrimination, hostility and retaliation against the school district.
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