Illinois

  • August 07, 2024

    7th Circ. Says Atty Inadequacy ID'ed Too Late In Asylum Case

    The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday refused to reopen a Mexican family's asylum proceedings despite finding that the family's attorney cost them their case by arriving unprepared at their immigration hearing, saying the family should have flagged the lawyer's ineffectiveness earlier.

  • August 07, 2024

    7th Circ. Keeps 3M PFAS Pollution Suit In State Court

    The Seventh Circuit on Wednesday rejected 3M's bid to send back to federal court a lawsuit brought by the state of Illinois alleging that the company polluted local waters with toxic "forever chemicals," saying a federal government contractor defense would be "wholly irrelevant" to the state's case.

  • August 07, 2024

    Thompson Coburn Adds Willkie Benefits Atty

    Thompson Coburn LLP has brought on an employee benefits litigator from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a partner in Chicago, picking up a lawyer with over two decades of experience advising and representing employers, plan administrators and fiduciaries.

  • August 07, 2024

    Split 7th Circ. Axes Forced Labor Suit Against Salvation Army

    A group of former participants in the Salvation Army's rehabilitation programs didn't show how the work they performed for the organization represented forced labor, a split Seventh Circuit panel ruled, keeping an Illinois federal court's decision tossing their suit.

  • August 07, 2024

    Jury Deadlocks In Third Illinois Zantac Cancer Trial

    An Illinois state judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in a man's lawsuit claiming Boehringer Ingelheim's over-the-counter Zantac caused him to develop prostate cancer, after a jury signaled it could not reach a unanimous verdict.

  • August 07, 2024

    GrubHub Must Face Restaurants' TM Infringement Suit

    Grubhub Inc. must face a proposed class action brought against it in Illinois federal court for allegedly using restaurants' trademarks without permission and listing them on its food delivery app without their consent, even though most of the lead plaintiffs have not registered the marks at issue.

  • August 06, 2024

    7th Circ. Axes Broker's Win In Buccaneers Deal Coverage Suit

    The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday reversed an Indiana federal court's finding that an insurance broker didn't need to indemnify Axis Insurance Co. for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' voluntary settlement with a player, ruling that the insurers' contract clearly calls for Axis to be indemnified.

  • August 06, 2024

    Lensa AI App Creator Shakes Ill. Biometric Privacy Suit

    An Illinois federal judge on Tuesday tossed a proposed class action accusing the developer of a popular "magic avatar" app of unlawfully harvesting biometric data to fuel its service, finding that the plaintiff had failed to show that his information was included in the massive database relied on by the company. 

  • August 06, 2024

    7th Circ. Rejects Lion Air Families' Bid For Boeing Jury Trial

    The Seventh Circuit ruled Tuesday that a more-than-century-old law governing fatal accidents on the high seas does not allow two remaining victims' estates suing Boeing over 2018's Lion Air crash to demand a jury trial.

  • August 06, 2024

    4 Takeaways From Landmark Google Search Ruling

    A landmark ruling in D.C. federal court Monday found that Google illegally maintains its search engine monopoly, and experts say the case could have broad implications for the company as well as the wider internet and shows how existing antitrust laws can apply to modern technology.

  • August 06, 2024

    Ill. Jury Hits Cop With $22.5M Wrongful Conviction Verdict

    An Illinois federal jury awarded $22.5 million on Monday to the estate of a man who served 22 years in prison for a 1995 arson-murder he was later acquitted of committing.

  • August 06, 2024

    7th Circ. Upholds Bitcoin Fraudster's 8-Year Sentence

    The Seventh Circuit on Monday rejected the resentencing bid of a Nigerian man serving eight years in prison for carrying out an $8 million bitcoin fraud scheme, saying a lower court properly considered that he tried but failed to steal more than $51 million in crafting the appropriate sentencing range for his type of crime.

  • August 06, 2024

    Home Depot Hired Cops To Target Migrants, Suit Says

    A union representing Latino workers sued the city of Chicago and Home Depot in Illinois federal court Tuesday, alleging that city police officers moonlighting as store security subjected migrants seeking day labor work near the home improvement store to excessive force and racist insults in violation of their civil rights.

  • August 06, 2024

    Jones Day Slams Ex-Client's Bid To Exit $2M Fee Fight

    Jones Day wants to prevent former client Soverain Software LLC from exiting a decade-long spat over $2 million in unpaid legal fees, telling an Illinois state court that Soverain's bid to bring the litigation to a close "is a house of cards that collapses with the slightest breeze."

  • August 06, 2024

    Frigidaire Dishwasher Defect Suit Tossed For Lack Of Proof

    An Illinois federal judge has thrown out claims from seven plaintiffs alleging that Frigidaire-brand dishwashers made by Electrolux Home Products Inc. are defective, saying none of them have put forth proof that any design defect exists, let alone that the company had a duty to warn them of it.

  • August 05, 2024

    Manufacturer Can't Get Coverage For BIPA Class Action

    An Illinois federal judge awarded a win to an insurer Monday in a suit over coverage of underlying Biometric Information Privacy Act litigation, finding a contractual exclusion prevented coverage for a machine and plastics manufacturer accused of failing to secure employee data.

  • August 05, 2024

    NC Cigarette Co. Challenges $11M In Denied Drawback Claims

    A North Carolina-based cigarette distributor is challenging a decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in which its request for more than $11 million in drawback duties on cigarette imports was denied, saying the refund claims were timely filed.

  • August 05, 2024

    BCBS Asks 9th Circ. To Undo Trans Patients' Win In Bias Suit

    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois urged the Ninth Circuit to reverse summary judgment in favor of trans patients who argued its exclusions for gender-affirming treatments violated the Affordable Care Act's anti-discrimination mandate, arguing Friday it is a third-party administrator that didn't design the exclusion nor exercised any control over it.

  • August 05, 2024

    GSK Wins Second Ill. Trial On Zantac Cancer Claims

    A Chicago jury held Monday that GlaxoSmithKline is not liable for a woman's colorectal cancer, handing the drugmaker a second straight trial victory in hundreds of Illinois suits targeting Zantac heartburn medication and its generic counterparts.

  • August 05, 2024

    BIPA Reform Becomes Law, But Damages Concerns Persist

    The Illinois Legislature heeded a call from the state's Supreme Court to shield business from potentially ruinous damages under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, but lawyers say the new protections can still leave large employers facing hefty verdicts.

  • August 05, 2024

    Hillrom's 'Intrusive' Funding Probe Needs To Stop, Rival Says

    Hospital bed maker Linet has urged an Illinois federal court to block Hill-Rom Holdings Inc.'s "increasingly intrusive" bid for litigation funding documents in its antitrust suit targeting allegedly anticompetitive supply agreements, arguing that the records are off limits because they're irrelevant and legally protected.  

  • August 05, 2024

    7th Circ. Backs Insurer's Win In Family's Autism Claims Fight

    The Seventh Circuit on Monday affirmed a win for a Wisconsin health insurer in a family's dispute over coverage for autism therapies, finding that the insurer's denials of speech therapy to treat autism for a minor child were valid under a policy exclusion for treatments that weren't evidence-based.

  • August 05, 2024

    Google Abused Monopoly Over Search Market, Court Finds

    A D.C. federal judge ruled on Monday that Google is a monopolist in the general search market and has violated antitrust law by paying billions of dollars to make its search engine the default on devices made by Apple, Samsung and others.

  • August 05, 2024

    7th Circ. Says Sanctions Not Needed In Metal Workers' OT Suit

    A group of metal workers presented enough evidence to dodge sanctions related to their now-defunct overtime suits, a split Seventh Circuit panel ruled, affirming a lower court decision to turn down a company's bid for punishment. 

  • August 05, 2024

    3 Firms Guide $1.75B Thoughtworks-Apax Deal, Stock Soars

    Chicago-based Thoughtworks said it will be sold to British private equity firm Apax Partners LLP at a roughly $1.75 billion enterprise value, a deal that sent the technology consultancy's stock soaring more than 25% on Monday morning.

Expert Analysis

  • ESG Investing Caught In Culture War Crosshairs In 2023

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    As 2023 draws to a close, ESG investing remains a raging battleground in the U.S. culture wars, as illustrated by the array of legislative efforts across the country aimed variously at restricting or promoting the use of ESG investing — but it remains to be seen what practical impact, if any, these laws will have, say Amy Roy and Robert Skinner at Ropes & Gray.

  • How Clients May Use AI To Monitor Attorneys

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Artificial intelligence tools will increasingly enable clients to monitor and evaluate their counsel’s activities, so attorneys must clearly define the terms of engagement and likewise take advantage of the efficiencies offered by AI, says Ronald Levine at Herrick Feinstein.

  • Series

    The Pop Culture Docket: Judge D'Emic On Moby Grape

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    The 1968 Moby Grape song "Murder in My Heart for the Judge" tells the tale of a fictional defendant treated with scorn by the judge, illustrating how much the legal system has evolved in the past 50 years, largely due to problem-solving courts and the principles of procedural justice, says Kings County Supreme Court Administrative Judge Matthew D'Emic.

  • The Key To Defending Multistate Collective FLSA Claims

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    Federal circuit courts are split on the reach of a court's jurisdiction over out-of-state employers in Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions, but until the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review the question, multistate employers should be aware of a potential case-changing defense, say Matthew Disbrow and Michael Dauphinais at Honigman.

  • Insurance Considerations For Cos. Assessing New AI Risks

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    Because no two businesses will have the same artificial intelligence risk profile, they should consider four broad risk categories as a baseline for taking a proactive approach to guarding against AI-related exposures, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • Ill. Temp Labor Rules: No Clear Road Map For Compliance

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    While the delay of a particularly thorny provision of the Illinois temporary worker law will provide some short-term relief, staffing agencies and their clients will still need to scramble to plan compliance with the myriad vague requirements imposed by the other amendments to the act, say Alexis Dominguez and Alissa Griffin at Neal Gerber.

  • Series

    Performing Music Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The discipline of performing live music has directly and positively influenced my effectiveness as a litigator — serving as a reminder that practice, intuition and team building are all important elements of a successful law practice, says Jeff Wakolbinger at Bryan Cave.

  • Breaking Down High Court's New Code Of Conduct

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    The U.S. Supreme Court recently adopted its first-ever code of conduct, and counsel will need to work closely with clients in navigating its provisions, from gift-giving to recusal bids, say Phillip Gordon and Mateo Forero at Holtzman Vogel.

  • Opinion

    Legal Profession Gender Parity Requires Equal Parental Leave

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    To truly foster equity in the legal profession and to promote attorney retention, workplaces need to better support all parents, regardless of gender — starting by offering equal and robust parental leave to both birthing and non-birthing parents, says Ali Spindler at Irwin Fritchie.

  • Series

    Writing Thriller Novels Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Authoring several thriller novels has enriched my work by providing a fresh perspective on my privacy practice, expanding my knowledge, and keeping me alert to the next wave of issues in an increasingly complex space — a reminder to all lawyers that extracurricular activities can help sharpen professional instincts, says Reece Hirsch at Morgan Lewis.

  • What Lawyers Must Know About Calif. State Bar's AI Guidance

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    Initial recommendations from the State Bar of California regarding use of generative artificial intelligence by lawyers have the potential to become a useful set of guidelines in the industry, covering confidentiality, supervision and training, communications, discrimination and more, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Industry Must Elevate Native American Women Attys' Stories

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    The American Bar Association's recent research study into Native American women attorneys' experiences in the legal industry reveals the glacial pace of progress, and should inform efforts to amplify Native voices in the field, says Mary Smith, president of the ABA.

  • Understanding Discovery Obligations In Era Of Generative AI

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Attorneys and businesses must adapt to the unique discovery challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence, such as chatbot content and prompts, while upholding the principles of fairness, transparency and compliance with legal obligations in federal civil litigation, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

  • An Overview Of Circuit Courts' Interlocutory Motion Standards

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    The Federal Arbitration Act allows litigants to file an immediate appeal from an order declining to enforce an arbitration agreement, but the circuit courts differ on the specific requirements for the underlying order as well as which motion must be filed, as demonstrated in several 2023 decisions, says Kristen Mueller at Mueller Law.

  • 3 Rulings Illustrate Infringement Hurdles For Hip-Hop Plaintiffs

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    Three district court decisions dismissing hip-hop copyright claims recently came down in quick succession, indicating that plaintiffs face significant hurdles when they premise claims on the use of words, phrases and themes that are common in the genre, say Benjamin Halperin and Shiara Robinson at Cowan DeBaets.

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