Latest News
Federal Court
Class action alleges Auffenberg dealerships profit from reducing commission values
A class action filed in U.S. District Court alleges Auffenberg dealerships “skimmed” fees from used car sales before calculating commissions for employees.
Federal Court
Proposed statewide class action in Southern District court challenges constitutionality of tax deed foreclosures
EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois counties violate the U.S. Constitution when they hold and sell liens on properties with overdue taxes, former homeowners and a business in East St. Louis alleged at district court on April 10.
Federal Court
Judge: Title IX plaintiffs can use IL law to retroactively demand 'emotional distress' damages
The Illinois law, known as the Civil Rights Remedies Restoration Act, was enacted this year specifically to restore the ability of certain plaintiffs to use "emotional distress" claims to boost their potential payouts under civil rights lawsuits, in defiance of a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to limit the ability to do so
Federal Court
Epic Games seeks sanctions over 'frivolous' Fortnite addiction suit filed days after gaming account was created
EAST ST. LOUIS - Marion County parent Cynthia Jiminez sued Epic Games for addicting her child to video game Fortnite three days after the child created an account, Epic Games claims at U.S. district court.
Federal Court
Video game makers oppose MDL for suits alleging exploitation of minors
EAST ST. LOUIS - National consolidation of six video game addiction suits in three states makes no sense and probably won’t happen, argued defendants in the only suit at Southern Illinois District Court.
Federal Court
Apple users seek class certification in suit alleging Photos App violates BIPA
Apple product users are asking U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel to certify a class action against the tech giant on allegations that it collected and stored their biometric identifiers through the PhotosApp.
Federal Court
Dugan dismisses suit against AriZona Beverages over 'Lite' labeling; Plaintiff knew of nutrition facts but continued to purchase
U.S. District Judge David Dugan dismissed another deceptive labeling lawsuit filed by New York attorney Spencer Sheehan against AriZona Beverages, finding the consumer knew of the tea’s nutritional facts despite its “Lite” labeling but still chose to continue purchasing the beverage.
Federal Court
Amazon can't escape potentially huge biometrics class action over virtual try-on tool
A federal judge has cleared a Cook County woman and her Chicago lawyers to proceed with a class action under Illinois' biometrics privacy law. The same woman and her lawyers failed in 2022 in their bid to target an online eyewear seller over similar claims
Federal Court
Agriculture offices, universities subpoenaed in Paraquat litigation
EAST ST. LOUIS - Mass action lawyers who claim weed killer paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease responded to an order for individual discovery by serving subpoenas on 48 agriculture offices from Idaho to Georgia and two universities.
Federal Court
EEOC files rare lawsuit against pig weaning company Sis-Bro for allegedly discriminating against transgender employee
EAST ST. LOUIS - Employment regulators claim pig weaners Clare Schilling of New Athens and Drew Schilling of Smithton constructively discharged a transgender employee after transition from male to female.
Federal Court
Dugan rejects Cahokia Heights' report on sewer system
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge David Dugan rejected a report by Cahokia Heights on progress toward a consent decree for better sewers and decided to measure it for himself.
Federal Court
Beatty denies summary judgment for Flora School District in suit alleging autistic twins were severely bullied
Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty concluded that autistic twins James and Jacob Pennington provided enough evidence of severe and pervasive bullying by students and staff at the Flora Community Unit School District No. 35 to defeat the district’s motion for summary judgment.
Federal Court
Judge: Litigation financier Burford can seize control of Sysco's claims in chicken prices lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin rejected poultry producers' attempts to shut down Burford Capital's move to step into court in place of Sysco, saying poultry producers need to accept that third party lawsuit funders can take control of lawsuits to protect their investments and maximize profits
Federal Court
Trademark violation suit over shuttered Hofbrauhaus in Belleville settles
BENTON - Owners of American rights to the brand of Germany’s Hofbrau beer and a receiver for the vacant Hofbrauhaus on Route 15 in Belleville settled a suit over its failure.
Federal Court
Plaintiffs seek MDL for claims that minors became addicted to video games
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lawyers who claim in federal courts of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas that video games damage young minds seek consolidation of their cases by the Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation.
Federal Court
Meta Platforms to appeal arbitration denial in unfair competition suit
BENTON - Meta Platforms posted notice on March 22 that it would appeal denial of arbitration for an unfair competition claim that 107.1 FM owner Metroplex Communications of Alton brought in U.S. district court.
Federal Court
Cahokia Heights disputes residents' claims about the sewer system's capacity
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cahokia Heights claims residents suing for better sewers filled a brief about a possible consent decree with inaccuracies, misstatements, and misrepresentations.
Federal Court
S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination
Federal Court
Yandle finds claims against Honeywell were not timely filed; Metropolis residents claim uranium processing caused cancer
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle granted summary judgment for Honeywell on claims that its uranium processing caused cancer.
Federal Court
Seventh Circuit: Barge company not liable after crewmember went overboard, became trapped under barge in freezing temps
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Magistrate Judge Reona Daly’s ruling that American River Transportation Company LLC (ARTCO) did not owe a duty to a crew member who plunged into freezing water and briefly became trapped under the barge.