Illinois

  • January 15, 2025

    Madigan Testimony Requires Separate Trials, Ex-Friend Says

    Michael Madigan's former longtime friend and political ally on Tuesday renewed his request to be separated from the ex-Illinois House speaker as they defend criminal racketeering and bribery charges at trial, arguing that Madigan's testimony amounts to an attack against the former lobbyist that is impossible for him to fend off.

  • January 15, 2025

    9th Circ. Eyes Undoing Trans Patients' Win In ACA Bias Suit

    The Ninth Circuit seemed inclined Wednesday to strike down a trial court win for patients who challenged Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois' administration of their employer-provided health plans containing gender-affirming care exclusions, with two judges questioning why those employers weren't part of the case. 

  • January 15, 2025

    7th Circ. Wary Of New Bribery Trial Sought Over FBI Interview

    A Seventh Circuit panel appeared skeptical Wednesday of a sweepstakes machine business owner's argument that his roughly five-year bribery sentence should be vacated because his conviction was largely based on audio from an FBI interview that the original jurors shouldn't have been allowed to hear.

  • January 15, 2025

    FTC Brings Right-To-Repair Suit Against John Deere

    The Federal Trade Commission slapped John Deere with a repair monopoly lawsuit in Illinois federal court Wednesday, adding to proposed class actions alleging the company illegally withholds access to needed repair tools from farmers, even in the face of mounting public pressure.

  • January 14, 2025

    Abbott, Novartis Settle HIV Test Patent Beef Ahead Of Trial

    Abbott Laboratories, Novartis and Grifols have reached a settlement in a yearslong battle over a patent covering a method for replicating DNA, putting to rest the litigation less than a month before it was set to go to trial, according to an entry in Illinois federal court posted Monday.

  • January 14, 2025

    Enbridge Beats Ducere's Oil Transport Antitrust Suit

    Enbridge Inc. beat Ducere LLC's suit accusing it of killing a pipeline terminal project to maintain its monopoly over crude oil transportation services in the Chicago area, after an Illinois federal judge pointed out Monday there are several non-Enbridge pipeline routes providing refineries with alternatives for moving oil.

  • January 14, 2025

    Regal Cinemas, 'Vague Laws' Slowed BIPA Case, Judge Says

    An Illinois federal magistrate judge blasted Regal Cinemas for discovery disputes in litigation alleging the movie theater chain violated a worker's rights under Illinois' biometric privacy law by collecting fingerprint scans without informed consent, saying "most if not all" of Regal's objections to her information requests "are completely out of place."

  • January 14, 2025

    ACT Mouthwash Label Poses Risk For Kids, Parents Claim

    Makers of ACT mouthwash deceived consumers into believing its brand of "kids mouthrinse" is safe for preschoolers when it's actually more dangerous due to its candy-like flavors that encourage children to drink it, potentially poisoning or killing them, according to a parent-led proposed class action in Illinois federal court.

  • January 14, 2025

    Cannabist Moves Illinois Oil Potency Case To Federal Court

    The Cannabist Co. Holdings and its affiliated companies have removed to federal court a suit alleging they make products using highly potent cannabis oils without warning consumers that the amounts of THC are illegal in Illinois.

  • January 14, 2025

    Hytera Asks Justices To Check Whether DTSA Applies Abroad

    China-based Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd., which lost a trade secrets trial resulting in a $764 million jury award for Motorola Solutions that has since been reduced, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 can apply extraterritorially.

  • January 14, 2025

    Justices Suggest 7th Circ. Revisit False Statement Decision

    Several U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed ready Tuesday to ask the Seventh Circuit to review a former Chicago alderman's conviction for lying about money he borrowed from a now-shuttered bank under a narrower standard, but the justices appeared skeptical that he would beat the case even with a fresh look.

  • January 13, 2025

    On Cross, Madigan Says He Merely Helped Job-Seekers

    Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan distanced himself Monday from political allies who prosecutors say bribed him for jobs and other benefits, saying his recommendations were just that, and that he thought he was effective in shutting down a former alderman's quid pro quo suggestion.

  • January 13, 2025

    Judge In John Deere Antitrust Case Flags Potential Conflict

    The Illinois federal judge overseeing a proposed right-to-repair class action against John Deere told the parties on Monday that he is facing a potential conflict of interest after finding the name of a "good friend" in documents connected to the case.

  • January 13, 2025

    Hytera Pleads Guilty To Stealing Motorola Trade Secrets

    Hytera Communications Corp. Ltd. pled guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to steal trade secrets from Motorola Solutions relating to its digital mobile radios, avoiding a trial scheduled next month in Chicago federal court.

  • January 13, 2025

    State Farm, Insurance Association Escape Data-Sharing Suit

    An Illinois federal judge dismissed a proposed class action complaint Monday accusing State Farm of improperly sharing personal health information with a consortium of other insurers that allowed them to raise premiums and deny coverage industrywide, finding the conduct wasn't prohibited under the Illinois Insurance Code.

  • January 13, 2025

    Ex-Cook County Assessor Officer Hit With Bribery Charges

    A chief hearings officer for former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios' office accepted bribes, including from a law firm's tax consultant, when handling a property assessment appeal, a new lawsuit in Illinois federal court alleges.

  • January 13, 2025

    McDonald's Sued Over College Scholarship For Latinos

    The same organization that successfully sued Harvard University over its affirmative action policies targeted McDonald's with a lawsuit in Tennessee federal court Sunday over its Latino scholarship program, arguing it violates a federal statute governing equal rights under the law.

  • January 13, 2025

    CFPB Can't Get $43M Fine From Telemarketing Debt Co. Yet

    An Illinois federal judge Friday waited to order the owner of a defunct debt company to pay $43 million for misrepresenting to customers they could eliminate their student loans, pointing to a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding the accused has a right to a jury trial when financial penalties are on the line.

  • January 13, 2025

    3 Firms Build Clearwater's $1.5B Buy Of Enfusion

    Software company Clearwater Analytics on Monday unveiled plans to buy investment management and hedge fund industry-focused software company Enfusion in a $1.5 billion deal built by three law firms.

  • January 13, 2025

    Justices Won't Eye 7th Circ.'s Stay Of Trade Secrets Fight

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review whether the Seventh Circuit correctly paused an Illinois trade secrets case involving a company that sells nail polish while a dispute over who owns the business plays out in New Jersey state court.

  • January 10, 2025

    Up Next At High Court: Porn ID Check & Retiree Discrimination

    The U.S. Supreme Court will return to the bench Monday for a full argument session, in which the justices will debate whether a Texas law requiring pornography websites to verify their visitors aren't minors violates the First Amendment and if retirees have the right to sue former employers for benefits discrimination. 

  • January 10, 2025

    Comcast Urges 2nd Win Over Viamedia Market Shutout Claims

    Comcast and Viamedia clashed Friday over whether an Illinois federal judge should decide if Comcast's platform connecting spot cable providers to advertisers is a one- or two-sided platform as she determines whether Viamedia's market monopoly claims should go to trial, as the Seventh Circuit once envisioned.

  • January 10, 2025

    Real Estate Recap: REIT Activism, Enviro Policy, Power Woes

    Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including one attorney's expectations for shareholder activism at real estate investment trusts in 2025, the environmental policies that are top of mind for attorneys going into the new year, and the impact power constraints may have on data center gains.

  • January 10, 2025

    Blue State AGs Urge Walmart To Reinstate DEI Initiatives

    A group of Democratic state attorneys general sent a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Thursday urging the retail giant to reconsider scrapping diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, saying such programs "are not just good policy, but in many cases are necessary to comply with the law."

  • January 10, 2025

    Health Co. Wants To Quit Nicotine Surcharge Suit

    Nonprofit health system Advocate Aurora Health is urging an Illinois federal judge to permanently toss former employees' lawsuit targeting an allegedly illegal tobacco-use surcharge in its health plan, arguing that after three tries they still have failed to bring a viable claim.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    After Chevron: Various Paths For Labor And Employment Law

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    Labor and employment law leans heavily on federal agency guidance, so the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to toss out Chevron deference will ripple through this area, with future workplace policies possibly taking shape through strategic litigation, informal guidance, state-level regulation and more, says Alexander MacDonald at Littler.

  • Series

    Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • Justices' Bribery Ruling: A Corrupt Act Isn't Necessarily Illegal

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    In its Snyder v. U.S. decision last week, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a bribery law does not criminalize gratuities, continuing a trend of narrowing federal anti-corruption laws and scrutinizing public corruption prosecutions that go beyond obvious quid pro quo schemes, say Carrie Cohen and Christine Wong at MoFo.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • After Chevron

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    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard in June, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 37 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

  • Series

    Glassblowing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I never expected that glassblowing would strongly influence my work as an attorney, but it has taught me the importance of building a solid foundation for your work, learning from others and committing to a lifetime of practice, says Margaret House at Kalijarvi Chuzi.

  • How Associates Can Build A Professional Image

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    As hybrid work arrangements become the norm in the legal industry, early-career attorneys must be proactive in building and maintaining a professional presence in both physical and digital settings, ensuring that their image aligns with their long-term career goals, say Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners and Estelle Winsett at Estelle Winsett Professional Image Consulting.

  • 5 Steps To Navigating State Laws On Healthcare Transactions

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    As more states pass legislation requiring healthcare-transaction notice, private equity investors and other deal parties should evaluate the new laws and consider ways to mitigate their effects, say Carol Loepere and Nicole Aiken-Shaban at Reed Smith.

  • Firms Must Rethink How They Train New Lawyers In AI Age

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    As law firms begin to use generative artificial intelligence to complete lower-level legal tasks, they’ll need to consider new ways to train summer associates and early-career attorneys, keeping in mind the five stages of skill acquisition, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

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