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A file photo of the United States' Alex Morgan during a 2020 Summer Olympics game against Australia Tuesday in Kashima, Japan. On Friday, the U.S. men’s national team asked a federal appeals court to reinstate wage claims against the U.S. Soccer Federation filed by women’s national team players. – Fernando Vergara/Associated Press

U.S. men ask appeals court to reinstate women’s wage suit

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. men’s national team asked a federal appeals court to reinstate wage claims against the U.S. Soccer Federation filed by women’s national team players.
By The Associated Press
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Pandemic changed the federal court

Her job hasn’t turned out the way she expected it to, Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer said Tuesday.
By Patricia Manson
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Four opioid companies close to settlement

The three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion settlement covering thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids across the U.S., two people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.
By Geoff Mulvihill
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Grayson ready to look toward CBA’s future as president

The Chicago Bar Association is ready to embark on another great year to “celebrate, care and challenge” our members with programs, special initiatives and community outreach.
By Special to the Law Bulletin
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So far, charges say rioters aren’t traitors

Plotted to block the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory: Check. Discussed bringing weapons into Washington to aid in the plan: Check. Succeeded with co-insurrectionists, if only temporarily, in stopping Congress from carrying out a vital constitutional duty: Check.
By Michael Tarm

In Chambers

Nagle brings compassion, professionalism to job

The Social Security Administration “turned on a dime” when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people into their homes, according to U.S. Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Soo Nagle.
By Patricia Manson

Fired employee gets OK to pursue whistleblower suit

A man who alleges he was fired for reporting that his employer was violating one of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 executive orders has stated a claim under the Illinois Whistleblower Act, a federal judge held.
By Patricia Manson

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over ‘Black Widow’ release

LOS ANGELES — Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Co. over its streaming release of “Black Widow,” which she said breached her contract and deprived her of potential earnings.
By Lindsey Bahr and Andrew Dalton

Challenge to in-person group limits tossed

A challenge to a now-defunct executive order issued by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker restricting the size of in-person gatherings is moot, a federal judge held.
By Patricia Manson

Lawyer to probe Cook County state’s attorney office

A former federal prosecutor was named Wednesday to investigate the Cook County state’s attorney’s office for wrongdoing during the aborted re-trial of a man accused of killing two Chicago police officers.
By The Associated Press

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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Pre-suit procedure on auto insurance is flawed

Section 143.24b of the Illinois Insurance Code encourages pre-suit settlements by obligating auto insurers to disclose the liability limits of policies that cover alleged tortfeasors. The statute says insurance companies “shall disclose the dollar amount of liability coverage under the insured’s personal private passenger automobile liability insurance policy” within 30 days of when they receive a certified letter with specified information. But there’s a big problem that needs to be fixed. In a case where an alleged tortfeasor was covered by two State Farm policies — an underlying policy with limits of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident plus a $1 million umbrella policy — the Illinois Appellate Court decided Sec. 143.24b doesn’t “encompass umbrella policies.” Kim v. State Farm, 2021 IL App 200135 (June 30). This means lawyers can’t rely on the statutory procedure to find out whether a tortfeasor has excess coverage.
By Steven P. Garmisa

Insurance Matters

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Insurer bound by judgment in case it was not a party to

The 1st District Appellate Court recently held that an automobile insurer was collaterally estopped from contesting a judgment in another case, to which the insurer was not a party, rescinding a tortfeasor’s liability coverage and thereby triggering the uninsured motorist coverage under the insurer’s policy.
By Don R. Sampen

For the Defense

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Pure comparative fault is solution to Illinois’ fault apportionment system

As articulated over the last year in this space and in the last several weeks in particular, Illinois’ fault apportionment system is beyond repair. Jiggering here or there with the various statutes at issue will not lead to just allocation between at fault tortfeasors nor will it encourage settlements.
By Donald P. Eckler

Workplace Issues

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Plaintiff wins claim for long-term disability benefits

Deciding disability benefit cases can be challenging for federal courts, but in Dwyer v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 2021 WL 2853250 (E.D. Pa. July 8), a federal judge in Pennsylvania was able to cut through the confusion and issue a decisive ruling in favor of the plaintiff.
By Mark D. DeBofsky

Opening Statement

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From the vastness of the universe to the question of God’s existence

Unless you have been living in a cave on an island off the coast of Madagascar, I am sure you are aware of the recent number of news reports about the sightings of UFOs — now designated as “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” by the Pentagon.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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Irish Theatre’s ‘Ghosting’ leaves lasting impression

“Ghosting” is a colloquial term describing a situation where, after starting off or fully into a close relationship, one person, suddenly and without explanation, cuts off all communication with the other person, ultimately disappearing from their life.
By Julian J. Frazin

Sports Marketing Playbook

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Puma backs down on aggressive challenge to Olympic trademarks

If there was ever any doubt, the trademark for “Tokyo 2020” belongs to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). So does “Beijing 2022” and “Paris 2024.” German sportswear giant Puma conceded as much when it withdrew four actions it filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) to void the USOPC’s registrations.
By Douglas N. Masters and Seth A. Rose

Opening Statement

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Stages and screens continue to offer opportunities for Black talent

While it looks like the COVID-19 pandemic is winding to a close, the country still has many problems yet to resolve.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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We are in a communication and entertainment revolution

We are in the middle of a revolution. Well, a couple of them actually.
By Julian J. Frazin
All Contributors

Social Scene

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Rochford announces run for 2nd District Illinois Supreme Court seat

Associate Judge Elizabeth M. Rochford of the 19th Judicial Circuit announced her candidacy for the newly redrawn 2nd District Illinois Supreme Court seat at a press conference July 15 at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard’s office in Waukegan. Rochford will run as a Democrat in the June 28, 2022 primary election. She has been an associate judge in Lake County since 2012. — Photo courtesy of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard
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Illinois Judicial Council hosts President’s Reception

The Illinois Judicial Council hosted its 2021 President’s Reception on July 15 at Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery in Chicago. The IJC say the in-person event was sold out. — Photo courtesy of the Illinois Judicial Council.
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State family law attorneys donate $5K to Illinois Bar Foundation for COVID relief

Grund & Leavitt P.C. partner Adam C. Kibort (right), the president of the Illinois chapter of the American Academy Matrimonial Lawyers, presents a $5,000 check to Illinois Bar Foundation Executive Director Stacey Meehan (left) and IBF President and AAML-IL member Lisa M. Nyuli earlier this month. The donation is the culmination of a month-long, dollar-for-dollar challenge that raised $10,000 for the IBF’s ongoing COVID-19 Lawyers Care Relief Fund. — Photo courtesy of Marc Monaghan
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Salvi II honored by AAJ in Las Vegas

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard Chicago Managing Partner Patrick A. Salvi II was honored with the American Association for Justice’s Above and Beyond Award at Tuesday's AAJ Leadership Luncheon in Las Vegas. The Above and Beyond award recognizes AAJ members who have made exceptional contributions to sustain and strengthen the organization. Salvi previously won the award in 2018. — Photo courtesy of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

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The 2nd class for Salute! Women in Law

Meet the exceptional women in law recognized in our 2nd annual Salute! awards.
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40 Under Forty 2020

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2020

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Photo gallery with Top Stories

A file photo of the United States' Alex Morgan during a 2020 Summer Olympics game against Australia Tuesday in Kashima, Japan. On Friday, the U.S. men’s national team asked a federal appeals court to reinstate wage claims against the U.S. Soccer Federation filed by women’s national team players.
Jul
30
Fri

U.S. men ask appeals court to reinstate women’s wage suit
Rebecca R. Pallmeyer holds her first State of the Court address in person Tuesday at the Chicago Bar Association headquarters since she was named chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Pallmeyer noted how the coronavirus pandemic changed the way her court does its business and how it forced them “into the 21st century.”
Jul
22
Thu

Pandemic changed the federal court
A July 2019 file photo of the McKesson office building in San Francisco. McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, along with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion settlement covering thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids across the United States, two people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.
Jul
20
Tue

Four opioid companies close to settlement
E. Lynn Grayson, a partner at Nijman Franzetti LLP, is installed as the newest president of the Chicago Bar Association after taking the oath administered by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne M. Burke.
Jul
16
Fri

Grayson ready to look toward CBA’s future as president
A Jan. 6 file photo of supporters loyal to then-President Donald Trump try to break through a police barrier at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Key figures in the riot spoke about their desire to overthrow the government, but to date, prosecutors have charged no one with sedition. They could still add the charge, but prosecutors may be reluctant to because of their legal complexity and the difficulty in securing convictions.
Jul
13
Tue

So far, charges say rioters aren’t traitors
A June 2021 file photo of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. As congressional Democrats gear up for another bruising legislative push to expand voting rights, much of their attention has quietly focused on a small yet crucial voting bloc with the power to scuttle their plans: the nine Supreme Court justices.
Jul
12
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Dems craft voting bill; eyeing SCOTUS fight