News from 2020
Illinois courts named to ATRA's 'Judicial Hellhole' report; BIPA, asbestos and legislature's zeal for lawsuit innovation are factors
Madison, St. Clair and Cook counties have collectively been ranked No. 8 "Judicial Hellholes," as part of the American Tort Reform Association's annual ranking of the most "unjust" court systems in the country, down one spot from 2019.
Nov. 30: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois docket for "446 civil rights: americans with disabilities - other" cases
The following cases categorized as "446 civil rights: americans with disabilities - other" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Nov. 30. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:
Former Amazon distribution facility employee sues over alleged age discrimination
EDWARDSVILLE — A former employee at an Amazon distribution facility run by Jones Lang Lasalle Americans claims he suffered discrimination and termination because of his age.
Nov. 30: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois docket for "555 prison condition" cases
The following cases categorized as "555 prison condition" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Nov. 30. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:
Nov. 30: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois docket for "family and medical leave act" cases
The following cases categorized as "family and medical leave act" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Nov. 30. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: U.S. Department of Labor Reaches Agreement With Baker & Taylor to Resolve Allegations of Hiring Discrimination Found at Illinois Facility
The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Baker & Taylor LLC to resolve allegations of race and gender-based hiring discrimination against Black and male applicants at the company’s Momence, Illinois, distribution facility. While not admitting liability in the investigation, Baker & Taylor LLC agreed to pay $127,375 in back pay and interest to 42 applicants to resolve alleged hiring discrimination at its Momence, Illinois, facility.
Nov. 30: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois docket for "480 consumer credit" cases
The following cases categorized as "480 consumer credit" were on the docket in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Nov. 30. All case details are allegations only and should not be taken as fact:
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois: Actions Taken on Nov. 30
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois reported the following activity on Nov. 30 in the suits below:
ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: Attorney General Raoul Urges Congress to Ensure Equitable Access to Covid-19 Vaccine
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 13 state attorneys general, is urging Congress to take action to ensure all Americans have access to the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.
SWANSON MARTIN & BELL LLP: Patterson Shares How Santa Monetizes His Intellectual Property
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP partner William D. Patterson will share how Santa monetizes intellectual property in a webinar.
IL Inspector General's effort to block access to state hiring reports show IL not ready to lift feds oversight: Court filing
While Gov. JB Pritzker says the state is ready to emerge from federal court oversight of its hiring practices, a new court filing asserts efforts by the Office of the Executive Inspector General to impede court-appointed monitors from seeing certain state hiring reports says otherwise.
Fifth District reverses Kolker finding he improperly treated insurer as defendant
MOUNT VERNON – St. Clair County Circuit Judge Christopher Kolker improperly treated an insurer as a defendant and ordered it to spend more than the value of a lien it tried to enforce, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Dec. 1.
Suit alleges Fairview Heights Police Department, chief denied FOIA request
BELLEVILLE — A lawsuit against the Fairview Heights Police Department and its police chief alleges they violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by denying requests for a list of categories of records under their control.
Man alleges e-cigarette lithium battery exploded, causing third degree burns
BELLEVILLE — A man is suing LG and a Swansea Vape store after a lithium-ion battery in an e-cigarette allegedly exploded and caught fire, causing him to suffer third degree burns.
Illinois Supreme Court reappoints Justice Wharton to Fifth District Appellate Court
The Illinois Supreme Court announced on Friday that retired Justice Milton S. Wharton has been unanimously reappointed as an appellate court justice in the Fifth District.
Gov. Pritzker's accountability issue
Last week, Mike Madigan’s closest confidant, Mike McClain, and three others were arraigned for their alleged involvement in the ComEd bribery scandal. All four plead not guilty and are set to appear again in court on February 16, 2021.
Stobbs, attorneys discuss effects of Covid-19 on asbestos litigation at HarrisMartin conference
Local asbestos attorneys joined Madison County Judge Stephen Stobbs at the virtual HarrisMartin Midwest Asbestos Conference and provided insight into how things have had to adjust in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Man injured in car crash alleges insurer acted in bad faith
EDWARDSVILLE — A man injured in a collision claims his insurance carrier acted in bad faith by failing to timely approve his underinsured motorist claim.
D.C. restaurant group sues Zurich over lockdown losses in St. Clair Co.; Insurer: ‘Forum shopping grounds for sanctions'
EAST ST. LOUIS – Washington lawyers for ten fancy D.C restaurants sued Zurich American Insurance for lockdown losses in St. Clair County, Illinois.
LITTLER MENDELSON PC: Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible impact on the workplace, causing employers to deal with a wave of medical leaves and a shift to virtual workplace.