Reform News
Reform
Bill that would increase interest on civil court judgments on Governor's desk; ICJL and ATRA urge veto
Civil justice reform groups say that if Governor J.B. Pritzker signs into law a bill that increases the amount of interest successful personal injury plaintiffs can collect, it could increase the cost of doing business and owning a home or car in Illinois.
Reform
Pritzker urged to veto trial lawyer sponsored bill that would increase interest on civil court judgments
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) and Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) are urging Governor J.B. Pritzker to veto House Bill 3360 which passed the Illinois State House at 3:08 a.m. Wednesday.
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Reform
IL Supreme Court to decide if taxpayer can sue state over constitutionality of $14B bond issues
The Illinois Supreme Court granted the Illinois Attorney General's petition to appeal a lower court's ruling that a taxpayer should be allowed to move ahead with a lawsuit accusing state lawmakers of borrowing $14 billion to pay pensions and overdue bills in violation of state constitutional limits.
Reform
Illinois courts named to ATRA's 'Judicial Hellhole' report; BIPA, asbestos and legislature's zeal for lawsuit innovation are factors
Madison, St. Clair and Cook counties have collectively been ranked No. 8 "Judicial Hellholes," as part of the American Tort Reform Association's annual ranking of the most "unjust" court systems in the country, down one spot from 2019.
Reform
IL Inspector General's effort to block access to state hiring reports show IL not ready to lift feds oversight: Court filing
While Gov. JB Pritzker says the state is ready to emerge from federal court oversight of its hiring practices, a new court filing asserts efforts by the Office of the Executive Inspector General to impede court-appointed monitors from seeing certain state hiring reports says otherwise.
Reform
House Speaker Michael Madigan implicated in ComEd bribery scheme
Federal prosecutors said Madigan, through his associates, demanded "old fashioned patronage" for his associates and allies in exchange for supporting legislation that steered hundreds of millions of dollars from electrical customers to ComEd.
Reform
'This should keep you up at night': $550M Facebook settlement could spark yet more IL biometrics class actions
Attorneys urge employers to beware of lawsuits, address company policies and push Illinois officials to 'seek changes' to the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Reform
Report says employment lawsuits down, but class action success rate highest ever; Cost businesses billions
Plaintiffs' lawyers are securing class action nods at 80% clip, and settlements are still totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, a report from Seyfarth Shaw says
Reform
Pritzker says IL pension reform would be shot down by U.S. Constitution, but that's far from certain, experts say
Illinois faces many billions in debt and tax demands for pensions. Gov. Pritzker says amending the state constitution won't help
Reform
Appeals brief: Judge wrongly cut short taxpayer suit vs IL over constitutionality of $14B bond issues
An Illinois state appeals court has been asked to decide if a judge in Springfield improperly ducked the question of whether state lawmakers illegally borrowed billions of dollars to pay down bills, when such actions may be forbidden by the Illinois state constitution.
Reform
City of Alton betting on Fifth District to nullify big fine on taxpayers in suit over apartment building permit
ALTON – Taxpayers of this casino city have bet $47,500 that Fifth District appellate judges will overturn an order to issue a building permit for 40 apartments.
Reform
Survey says: Illinois has worst legal system in U.S.; Chicago courts 'least fair'
The environment in courts in Cook County and Madison County have earned IL the bottom spot, according to the survey from the Institute for Legal Reform
Reform
ICJL: Tort tax study shows $200 million in annual costs to metro-east consumers
The Illinois Civil Justice League (ICJL) has released new regional analysis on the economic impact of the state's tort system that shows almost $200 million in annual direct tort costs to metro-east consumers, equaling $439.61 per resident.