Federal Court
'Centreville Citizens' say 'enhanced' opportunities to comment on sewer dysfunction 'embellished'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Centreville Citizens for Change claim that opportunities to comment on sewer improvements in Cahokia Heights can’t substitute for intervention in judicial approval of a consent decree.
Federal Court
Rosenstengel says Santander class action belongs in federal court, not St. Clair County
Federal Court
USA seeks dismissal of Honduran national's lawsuit claiming damages for the year she was expelled during Covid
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. attorney Rachelle Crowe moved on Feb. 7 to dismiss a complaint of a person in Caseyville who claims the U.S. should have granted her asylum upon her illegal entry from Mexico on the 11th day of the lockdown.
State Court
FOID cards unconstitutional, White County judge rules
CARMI - Requiring Illinois citizens to obtain firearm cards for guns they keep in their homes violates the U.S. Constitution, Circuit Judge Scott Webb ruled on Feb. 10.
From Cook County Record
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was convicted of misusing his public office for his own power and profit. Not only should his public pension be halted, he should repay the nearly $600,000 taxpayers already paid the felon.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
IL high court to decide if state can force people to challenge laws only in Chicago, Springfield courts
Justices heard arguments over the constitutionality of HB3062, which forces all Illinoisans to only file constitutional challenges to state laws in courts in Cook County and Sangamon County. Democrats passed the law in 2023 after a blitz of lawsuits challenged a litany of controversial state laws and executive orders
Lawsuit: IL law requiring nonprofits to disclose leaders' race, gender promotes discrimination
The American Association for Equal Rights has filed another suit against the state, now seeking to strike down a Pritzker-backed law forcing nonprofits to disclose their leaders' race, gender and other 'demographic classifications.'
IL biometrics claims multiplied again in '24, helping to fuel big class action payouts nationwide
A new report from defense law firm Duane Morris said class action settlements again totaled more than $40B in 2024, with attorneys raking in many of those billions for themselves in fees. In Illinois, much of the action was driven by hundreds of new claims under the Illinois biometrics privacy law, despite reforms
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 upholds $3.3 million lung damage verdict against Lewis and Clark Fleeting
MOUNT VERNON - Madison County Circuit Judge Sarah Smith properly preserved a trial that a witness nearly spoiled and her jury properly awarded Kevin Mogensen $3,310,000 for lung damage, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Feb. 4.
Belleville lawyer pleads guilty to wire fraud charges
EAST ST. LOUIS - Jason Caraway of Belleville, whose spending of client funds caused the Illinois Supreme Court to disbar him last year, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud at U.S. district court on Feb. 13.
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