News from February 2022
Dissent: IL Supreme Court should have decided whether Pritzker broke the law in imposing school COVID mandates
Two Republican justices said the state high court's Democratic majority had erred in passing on the chance to determine whether a Springfield judge had properly blocked Gov. JB Pritzker from enforcing his school mask, testing and exclusion rules
Gov. Pritzker falsely claims victory after Supreme Court ruling then surrenders on statewide school mask mandate
The Illinois Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Pritzker Administration’s request to appeal a lower appellate ruling, thereby effectively ending the statewide school mask mandate. Individual school districts became free across Illinois to decide for themselves on school masks. After the ruling, Pritzker said his mandate will end on Monday, a mandate he has claimed is legal and still effective despite lower court rulings to the contrary.
Appeals panel: IL hospital workers can sue over systems requiring fingerprint scans to access drug lockers
Hospitals argued HIPAA should shield them from class actions brought under Illinois' biometrics law by workers who needed to scan their fingerprints to access locked medicine dispensary systems
Suit alleges pedestrian was fatally injured in Metropolis collision
EAST ST. LOUIS - The driver of a Waste Path Sanitary Landfill truck allegedly fatally struck a pedestrian as she was crossing a Metropolis intersection.
Troy homeowners claim pool company failed to complete project
EDWARDSVILLE - Troy homeowners claim a pool company damaged their septic line and then failed to complete the backyard project.
Woman alleges Equifax included false information on credit report
EAST ST. LOUIS - A woman claims her credit report has been wrongfully affected by false information by Ford Motor Credit Company.
Suit alleges officers showed up at wrong house for suicide call
EAST ST. LOUIS - Two individuals claim they were illegally detained after Cumberland County officers were sent to the wrong residence for a call involving a suicidal man.
Illinois Supreme Court Amends Order on Courthouse Mask Policy Effective Feb. 28
Illinois Supreme Court Amends Order on Courthouse Mask Policy Effective Feb. 28.
IL Supreme Court denies Pritzker appeal over school mask mandates as moot, vacates restraining order
Gov. JB Pritzker warned he may attempt to impose mask mandates again in the future, if he believes they are needed
TorHoerman Law files wrongful death suit against U.S. Olympic Committee on behalf of bobsledder who suffered from 'sled head'
Edwardsville firm TorHoerman Law filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey on behalf of the estate of an Olympic bobsledder who committed suicide in 2020 after allegedly suffering from “sled head.”
Nine more parents bring suit against formula makers after infants develop NEC, resulting in four deaths
EDWARDSVILLE - Several parents claim their premature infants developed necrotizing enterocolitis after they were fed Similac and Enfamil infant formula, resulting in four deaths.
Parents sue formula companies after infants develop NEC
EDWARDSVILLE - Several parents claim their infants developed NEC after they were fed baby formula, resulting in the death of one of the children.
Suit alleges baby boy died from NEC after consuming infant formula
EDWARDSVILLE - The parents of a premature infant claim their child developed necrotizing enterocolitis after being fed Similac or Enfamil infant formula, resulting in his death.
Sangamon County judge dismisses Haine's lawsuit over court gerrymandering; Haine will appeal
Sangamon County Judge Ryan Cadigan on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a law adopted in January that gerrymandered Madison County's judiciary.
Cyclist claims brake failure caused crash
EDWARDSVILLE - A woman is suing a bicycle manufacturer and the shop she bought the bike at after the brakes allegedly malfunctioned, causing her to crash.
Motorist alleges injuries from collision with Utley employee.
EAST ST. LOUIS - A motorist claims he suffered injuries from a collision caused by a Utley employee.
Troy bar and grill sued after intoxicated man allegedly attacked patron
EDWARDSVILLE - A patron at the Time Out Bar and Grill in Troy is suing the establishment after allegedly being attacked by an intoxicated man.
US seeks to replace hospital, physicians as defendant in mother's suit alleging negligent care caused infant's death
After removing a medical malpractice lawsuit to federal court, the U.S. seeks to be replaced as defendant in a mother’s suit alleging she was discharged from the hospital at 39 weeks pregnant despite signs of preeclampsia, resulting in the death of her unborn baby.
Union workers' biometrics claims belong in arbitration, not in class actions, because of CBA: Appeals panel
A Cook County judge had ruled workers' claims over fingerprint scans were separate from their union contract. But a state appeals panel said they would not break with a decision set by a federal appeals court on the question.
As many as 160,000 fewer workers: Illinois' poor jobs record continues during COVID
Illinois’ taxes, corruption, unfriendly business environment and high labor costs continue to take a toll on the state’s economic recovery. And job prospects for many Illinoisans, particularly in the leisure and hospitality industry, have been made even worse by the state’s COVID policies, some of the nation’s strictest.