Alex Pajic was injured while driving a truck for his employer. Alex contended that another vehicle caused the accident, but left the scene and never was identified. Alex’s lawsuit against his employer’s insurer, Old Republic Insurance, asked for reformation of the underinsured and the uninsured motorist coverages, and for an…
Neil Ehlers worked as a salesman for Sunbelt Rentals, a seller and renter of industrial equipment. After about five years, Ehlers left Sunbelt and went to work for Midwest Aerials & Equipment, a company that competed with Sunbelt. Sunbelt sued Ehlers and Midwest to enforce restrictive covenants in Sunbelt’s employment…
Jerri Blount sued Jovon Broadcasting. She claimed the company fired her because she agreed to testify for another employee who alleged racial and sexual discrimination against the company. After a trial, a jury awarded Blount $3,082,350, $2.8 million of which was for punitive damages. Jovon appealed, and among other things,…
After Eleanor Miller died, Melodee Miller-Hanson became the successor trustee of Eleanor’s trust. Melodee got into a dispute with the other beneficiaries of the trust, and they ended up suing each other. The beneficiaries wanted Melodee removed as trustee; Melodee wanted the beneficiaries disinherited. Melodee’s counterclaim was dismissed. And with…
K4 Enterprises sued Grater, Inc. and James Zavacki During the trial, the parties met with the judge, but without attorneys, to discuss settlement of the case. The case was settled, at least everyone thought so at the time. But over the following weeks, the parties could not agree on the…
This insurance coverage case has a unique twist on when an interlocutory order under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a) may be appealed. John J. Rickhoff Sheet Metal Co. filed a third-party complaint against Meridian Mutual Insurance Co and the Horton Group, Inc. Meridian and Horton asked the trial court to…
The City of West Chicago passed a zoning ordinance that banned certain billboards. Lamar Whiteco Outdoor Corporation sued the city, claiming the ordinance was unconstitutional. Lamar and the city eventually settled: an injunction was entered prohibiting the city from enforcing the ordinance against Lamar, and Lamar withdrew the lawsuit. Lamar…
Elena and Michael Sanfratello were in a disputed divorce case. Michael appealed rulings concerning child support and classification, apportionment, and dissipation of marital assets. Elena cross-appealed (1) whether certain of Michael’s businesses were marital assets and (2) confirmation of a sale to Michael’s parents of the marital home, which was…
The New York Times posted an editorial today agreeing with Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall that “because of budget cuts in tough economic times, state courts across the country stand at “‘the tipping point of dysfunction.’” The piece explains the results of budget cuts in different state…
Cheryl Heiden claimed Craig Ottinger was her daughter’s father. So Cheryl sued Craig under the Illinois Parentage Act, and asked for support payments from Craig. A DNA test of Craig’s blood excluded him as father. But Cheryl claimed Craig’s vial of blood was mishandled, so she sued the DNA Diagnostics…