A couple will be allowed to continue suing tobacco companies and Walgreens in Cook County court after a federal judge found they did not fraudulently add Walgreens as a defendant in the lawsuit merely as a legal tactic to keep their lawsuit out of federal court and in Cook County’s famously plaintiff-friendly courtrooms. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis sided with…
A chemical company with a manufacturing plant in north suburban Gurnee has agreed to pay to settle hundreds more lawsuits claiming emissions from its manufacturing process caused people living nearby in Lake County to develop cancer. On Aug. 4, attorneys representing hundreds of plaintiffs asked a Cook County Circuit Court judge to sign off on the settlement involving more than…
An Illinois appeals court has agreed a Florida woman isn’t entitled to cut of the proceeds resulting from a settlement paid to her Alabaman father’s estate from an asbestos-related wrongful death lawsuit. The underlying lawsuit began in January 2023 when William Steeves, through the firm of Simmons Hanly Conroy, filed a Madison County lawsuit against multiple corporate defendants regarding a…
Companies that layer multiple contractor safety and risk management programs can substantially reduce serious injuries and fatalities, according to a white paper released Thursday by a company that manages supply chain risk. The findings point to the value of using several safety controls together rather than relying on a single contractor screening or compliance measure, with Avetta identifying the layered…
Paul Johnson sustained severe injuries while using a drain-cleaning machine manufactured by Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Inc. The machine, designed to minimize user risks, included a warning label, an instruction manual, and specially designed gloves. Johnson did not read the manual or use the provided gloves, instead choosing an oversized pair from his employer. While operating the machine, his glove…
Mead Johnson, one of the country’s largest makers of infant formula, can’t use a recent Supreme Court ruling that ended legal claims over weed killer Roundup to similarly pull the plug on an upcoming high stakes trial over claims Mead Johnson’s baby formula was defectively designed and caused babies to become severely ill, a federal judge has ruled. On Aug….
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Friday that makes significant changes to workers compensation medical reviews, insurer assessments and penalties for licensed businesses that fail to maintain coverage. H.B. 5228, which took effect immediately and passed both chambers in April and May, requires that adverse utilization review determinations for services delivered or recommended by a physician be made by a…
An employee of High Performance Alloys, Inc. died while working at the company’s facility. The deceased employee’s estate sued the company for wrongful death, alleging gross negligence, willful and wanton conduct, disregard of safety regulations, and actual intent to cause injury. The complaint referenced prior safety violations, knowledge of hazardous conditions, failure to implement available safety measures, and a claim…
A federal appeals court has affirmed a lower court ruling that an insurer doesn’t have to provide coverage for a Tipton County employer facing wrongful death litigation. High Performance Alloys Inc. is facing a lawsuit from the estate of plant manager Elliot Sullivan over injuries from a 2022 accident at the plant that led to his death. In an opinion…
Injured workers’ prescriptions filled outside pharmacy networks cost an average of 67% more than comparable in-network medications, according to an analysis released Friday by Enlyte. The report analyzed calendar-year 2025 retail pharmacy, mail-order and paper medical bill prescription transactions across workers compensation and auto casualty claims, comparing utilization and spending between in-network and out-of-network channels to provide a broader picture…
