2023 Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals Case Law
Date: June 7, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2819
Justia Opinion Summary: Two sisters accused Bell, a family friend, of sexually assaulting them. There was no physical evidence. Bell did not testify. Bell’s attorney sought to undermine the sisters’ credibility, suggesting that the girls had…
Date: June 6, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1732
Justia Opinion Summary: While an Illinois State Police (ISP) lieutenant, Dunn was assigned to the Illinois Gaming Board. According to ISP, federal agents informed the ISP that he was implicated in a federal criminal investigation into mortgage…
Date: June 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2003
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2014, Stacy was convicted of bank fraud. The district court sentenced him to a term of imprisonment and ordered Stacy to pay $1,495,689.60 in restitution jointly and severally with a codefendant. Though payable to the…
Date: June 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2577
Justia Opinion Summary: When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Froedtert Health faced overwhelming demand to provide lifesaving care, which required substantial investments in personal protective equipment, waste disposal mechanisms, and cleaning…
Date: June 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2696
Justia Opinion Summary: Salazar, at a Peoria bar, posted a video of himself online, which Peoria police officers saw. Salazar had an active arrest warrant for traffic violations. Officers went to the bar. Security cameras and body-worn cameras…
Date: May 31, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2148
Justia Opinion Summary: Arias and her sister, Maria, sold tortillas in El Salvador. Months after their business opened, a note was slipped under their door, demanding they pay $50 per week and enclose a piece of intimate clothing. The note…
Date: May 30, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1290
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2018, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) hired Bronson as a treatment center teacher. Bronson was assigned to Lurie Hospital. Bronson and another teacher assigned to Lurie (Cooper), are Black; the third teacher, Lee, is…
Date: May 30, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1835
Justia Opinion Summary: Baldwin and her then-husband Taylor, sexually exploited four girls, including her daughters and her niece. They conspired to produce and distributed explicit videos—some secretly recorded—of the girls. She sexually…
Date: May 30, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2381
Justia Opinion Summary: Combs suffers from several physical and mental impairments. An ALJ found that she suffers from lumbar spondylosis, asthma, migraines/headaches, chronic pain syndrome, diabetes with diabetic polyneuropathy, obesity,…
Date: May 23, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1896
Justia Opinion Summary: Police found Miller lying on the sidewalk, bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound. An officer rendering aid removed a vehicle key fob from Miller’s hand, dropping it on the ground. A car, parked 15-20 feet from Miller,…
Date: May 22, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3412
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2007, Njos pleaded guilty to six federal crimes arising from robberies, and for attempted escape and assault of an FBI agent after his arrest. During his term of supervised release, he tested positive for illegal…
Date: May 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2653
Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiffs asserted that CWT violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by calling class members using prerecorded messages. Plaintiffs moved to certify a nationwide class of people who had received VVT’s…
Date: May 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3379
Justia Opinion Summary: Beechler and Turner, both serving home confinement through Marion County Community Corrections (MCCC), reported separate residences. An FBI Task Force was conducting a wiretap investigation involving individuals…
Date: May 15, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3303
Justia Opinion Summary: Fox TV obtained permission from Superintendent Dixon to film scenes for the television series, Empire, at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Fox used the Center’s outdoor yard, visitation room, medical…
Date: May 10, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2660
Justia Opinion Summary: Howard was charged as a felon in possession of a weapon. Before his trial, the government struck the only three Black jurors on the 39-person venire panel. The judge had admonished the jurors that they could not use the…
Date: May 10, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2205
Justia Opinion Summary: Sherrod and Johnson were fiduciaries of a retirement plan that Sherrod had set up for herself and other employees of her medical practice. The Secretary of Labor brought this civil enforcement action alleging that both…
Date: May 8, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1764
Justia Opinion Summary: Northrop laid off workers in 2012 and did not provide them all with severance benefits. Its Severance Plan provides that a laid-off employee regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours a week will receive severance…
Date: May 8, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2007
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2013, Kinsella, working for Baker, suffered work-related knee injuries that left him unable to work for three years. He received disability benefits. In 2016, his physician deemed him fit to work in sedentary jobs. …
Date: May 4, 2023
Docket Number: 20-1875
Justia Opinion Summary: Kitterman is a frequent litigator in Illinois federal and state courts, in response to Illinois authorities' insistence that he is required to register as a sex offender. Kitterman believes that this obligation has…
Date: May 4, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1579
Justia Opinion Summary: Sunny sold seasonal merchandise to Walgreens, with Envision as an intermediary. From 2007-2012 Sunny shipped goods directly to Walgreens but routed documents through Envision. Every year Sunny sent documents calling for…
Date: May 4, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3400
Justia Opinion Summary: Ingram contends that, while confined in the Terre Haute Penitentiary, he was attacked and beaten by guards, after which the medical staff denied him necessary care. A magistrate concluded that Ingram failed to exhaust…
Date: May 4, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2247
Justia Opinion Summary: After a high school student died from a fentanyl overdose, Kenosha police investigated the source of the fatal drugs. That investigation led them to Uzorma Ihediwa, who had sold Percocet pills to the student’s neighbor.…
Date: May 3, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2697
Justia Opinion Summary: Courtney was sentenced to three years in state prison followed by one year of supervised release for violating an earlier term of parole by failing to register as a sex offender. Courtney’s supervised release was revoked…
Date: May 3, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3075
Justia Opinion Summary: The 2005 Medicare amendment, launching prescription drug coverage, raised concerns that patient assistance plans could violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b, and the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729, by…
Date: May 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1593
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2001, Sylvester Wince, who is Black, began work as a Hospital maintenance mechanic. In 2010 the Hospital contracted with CBRE. Wince kept his job under the title of Stationary Engineer. Wince is a licensed Stationary…
Date: May 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2203
Justia Opinion Summary: Thirteen’s building suffered fire damages covered by Foremost’s policy. Thirteen retained Paramount as its public adjuster and general contractor for repairs. Paramount was “to be [Thirteen’s] agent and representative to…
Date: May 1, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2615
Justia Opinion Summary: Curtis was convicted in 2000 for his part in a crack-cocaine distribution enterprise, including related shootings. The indictment included drug conspiracy counts, firearm counts, and an 18 U.S.C. 924(c) count for…
Date: May 1, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2486
Justia Opinion Summary: Bridges and Cunningham filed a putative class action, alleging that Blackstone (the owner of Ancestry.com) violated Section 30 of Illinois’s 1998 Genetic Information Privacy Act, which provides that no person or company…
Date: April 27, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1704
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1998, Evans was charged with murder. While awaiting trial, Evans asked his cellmate to kill two witnesses. The cellmate secretly recorded those conversations for the authorities. State charges followed for soliciting…
Date: April 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1122
Justia Opinion Summary: Jam produces and hosts live events at Chicago-area venues. Over six years ago, Jam’s employees voted to certify the Union as their bargaining representative. Jam filed an objection to the election results, which the…
Date: April 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2150
Justia Opinion Summary: The Indiana Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) requires sex offenders who study, work, or reside in Indiana to register with the state. Indiana residents who committed sex offenses either before the Indiana General…
Date: April 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2282
Justia Opinion Summary: Caldera-Torres, a citizen of Mexico in the U.S. without permission, sought cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4), 1229b(b)(1). To be eligible for that relief an alien must show that he has not been convicted…
Date: April 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2500
Justia Opinion Summary: Jelena filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Trustee sued her mother, Jorgovanka, in a “turnover” proceeding, 11 U.S.C. 542, to recover a stake in a company registered in Jorgovanka’s name. The Trustee successfully argued…
Date: April 26, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3131
Justia Opinion Summary: Pucillo, an Indiana resident who formerly used the last name Lock, had previously leased an apartment from Main Street. He filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 201, and listed as a debt past‐due rent he allegedly owed…
Date: April 26, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1562
Justia Opinion Summary: independent-expenditure political action committees (super PACs) do not give money directly to candidates, party committees, or ballot-initiative movements. They spend money themselves to advocate for or against…
Date: April 25, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3268
Justia Opinion Summary: Police released the footage of a bank robbery to the media. Several tipsters identified Garcia as the robber. Garcia was arrested without a warrant. Two days later Detective Spano submitted a “Probable Cause Statement…
Date: April 24, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2417
Justia Opinion Summary: Officers executing a warrant at Johnson’s address found a rifle and drugs. He spoke with police in a recorded proffer session on the condition that it be inadmissible except for purposes of impeachment. In April 2020,…
Date: April 24, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2312
Justia Opinion Summary: Police discovered a loaded firearm, cocaine, and more than 800 methamphetamine pills on Jones’s person and in his car during a traffic stop. Federal charges followed. Counsel declined to make frivolous challenges to the…
Date: April 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3169
Justia Opinion Summary: Thomas was wanted by Indiana officials and warrants had been issued for his arrest. Thomas obtained fake identification documents, including one issued by North Carolina under the name “Alredius”. Using that fictitious…
Date: April 18, 2023
Docket Number: 20-2739
Justia Opinion Summary: People working part-time may qualify for weekly unemployment benefits, but must accurately report their income so the Indiana Department of Workforce Development can reduce their benefits accordingly. A claimant who…
Date: April 17, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2935
Justia Opinion Summary: Hise was charged with two counts of wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. 1343. Hise was employed by the victim's construction company as an office manager and bookkeeper for more than 12 years. An FBI investigation revealed that Hise…
Date: April 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1212
Justia Opinion Summary: Williams was a key facilitator in a years-long cocaine trafficking scheme. In 2001, he was convicted of federal drug and conspiracy charges, 18 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), 846 and given life sentences. Williams appealed the denial…
Date: April 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2167
Justia Opinion Summary: Vivirito solicited sexual images and videos from young girls. Minor A, then age 12, expressed reluctance to provide videos; Vivirito threatened to expose their sexual text exchanges unless she complied. He also…
Date: April 12, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2560
Justia Opinion Summary: In March 2020, Bradley University closed its campus and canceled in-person activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It canceled one week of classes as it migrated to remote learning. Bradley resumed classes virtually…
Date: April 10, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2032
Justia Opinion Summary: Dr. Bounds was hired for one year beginning in July 2019 as an at-will employee. In February 2020, Dr. Scott stated that Scott would recommend that Bounds's contract be renewed. Scott notified Bounds and others on March…
Date: April 7, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2475
Justia Opinion Summary: Brownsburg Community School Corporation requires its high school teachers to call all students by the names registered in the school’s official student database. Kluge, a teacher, objected on religious grounds to using…
Date: April 7, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3278
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2012, Trahanas began working as a technologist in Dr. Schwulst’s laboratory at Northwestern's School of Medicine. Trahanas claims Schwulst made demeaning remarks about her work, mental health, and sexual orientation…
Date: April 7, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1166
Justia Opinion Summary: During the 2008 recession, Chicago faced a $150 million shortfall in revenue and sought an alternative to raising taxes. The city awarded a 75-year Concession over designated parking spaces to the private firm CPM, which…
Date: April 6, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1194
Justia Opinion Summary: In July 2013, Koger began serving a 300-day sentence in Cook County Jail. While incarcerated, he received 42 books by mail. Per Jail policy, contained in the Inmate Information Handbook, inmates can keep no more than…
Date: March 31, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2386
Justia Opinion Summary: Sullivan registered copyrights for two “illustration collections,” comprising 33 individual illustrations, and sued Flora for infringing those copyrights, 17 U.S.C. 504(c)(1). A jury found that Flora willfully infringed…
Date: March 30, 2023
Docket Numbers: 21-3393, 21-2858
Justia Opinion Summary: Two California hardware stores (Craftwood) are part of the Do It Best (DIB) hardware industry cooperative and wholesaler. Generac supplies goods to DIB for purchase by hardware retailers in the cooperative. Generac had…
Date: March 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1741
Justia Opinion Summary: At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, IIT, a nonprofit higher education institution, suspended all in-person instruction, moved all classes online, and restricted access to campus facilities. IIT did not…
Date: March 24, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1925
Justia Opinion Summary: The primary source of incriminating information against Taylor was “Doe,” a woman with whom Taylor and his wife were intimately involved. Law enforcement presented a warrant application to an Indiana judge, seeking to…
Date: March 23, 2023
Docket Number: 18-2569
Justia Opinion Summary: Participating employees can contribute a portion of their salary to their Retirement Plan account and Northwestern makes a matching contribution. Employees participating in the Voluntary Savings Plan also contribute a…
Date: March 22, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1607
Justia Opinion Summary: Ron and Lorrie Meier investigated the purchase of a life insurance policy for Ron through Monarch Solutions. While they considered a policy offered by Lincoln, a nurse assessed Ron’s health and prepared a “Medical…
Date: March 22, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1611
Justia Opinion Summary: Another detainee threw hot coffee on King while the assigned tier officer, Szul, was gone, assisting another officer. When Szul returned, King stated that he needed medical attention. King was not examined until the next…
Date: March 22, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1653
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2016, Gill ran as an independent candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois’s 13th Congressional District. He was 2,000 signatures short of qualifying for the general election ballot. Gill sued…
Date: March 17, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1714
Justia Opinion Summary: Crain, a Black woman, became the Chief of the Environmental Management Service at the VA Center in July 2014, subject to a year-long supervisory probationary period, with a GS-12 pay grade. Before Crain applied, she was…
Date: March 16, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2910
Justia Opinion Summary: Officer Sandoval encountered inmate Hacker, who is almost totally deaf, and ordered him to return to his bed. Hacker, unable to hear, did not comply. Sandoval shoved Hacker, who awoke handcuffed to a bed. He filed an…
Date: March 15, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2427
Justia Opinion Summary: Serving a 262-month sentence for heroin-related crimes, Vaughn has repeatedly, unsuccessfully, sought compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1). He argued in his latest petition that his health conditions (asthma,…
Date: March 14, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3373
Justia Opinion Summary: In a custody dispute between Hadzi-Tanovic and her former husband, Pavlovich, an Illinois state court ordered that Hadzi-Tanovic’s parenting time with her children be supervised. She filed suit in federal court under…
Date: March 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1417
Justia Opinion Summary: Two men entered the bank, wearing masks. One, wearing a black Pacer’s hat, presented a demand note. The other had a gun. They used zip ties to bind the employees and stole over $67,000. Surveillance footage shows the…
Date: March 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1981
Justia Opinion Summary: Williams sought compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(1), citing as “extraordinary and compelling” circumstances the fact that a district court treated him as having a prior conviction for unlawful drug…
Date: March 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2236
Justia Opinion Summary: Bakke, a Wisconsin beef farmer, began suffering from serious back pain in 2017. He has had temporary relief from epidural steroid injections, spinal fusion surgery, physical therapy, and pain medications. Bakke sold his…
Date: March 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2855
Date: March 10, 2023
Docket Number: 18-1774
Justia Opinion Summary: The Seventh Circuit three times ordered Neises to bargain with the Union that represents its employees. After reaching numerous tentative agreements on articles to be included in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA),…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2751
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2007, Llanos was convicted for possessing heroin with intent to distribute it in March-July 2007. While serving his sentence for that conviction, he was indicted for dealing heroin between 2006 and April 2007. In…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3158
Justia Opinion Summary: Alley, working at Penguin Random House’s warehouse, was promoted to the management position of Group Leader. Penguin required all managers and supervisors to report sexual harassment allegations and provided clear…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Numbers: 22-1004, 21-3328
Justia Opinion Summary: GEFT, a billboard company, sued under 42 U.S.C. 1983 because Monroe County did not allow the installation of a digital billboard along I-69. Receiving a sign permit required compliance with size limits, height…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1271
Justia Opinion Summary: Xiong is Hmong and speaks English as a second language. He joined the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh as its Director of Affirmative Action in 2018, reporting to Kuether, Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1314
Justia Opinion Summary: Scott was suspected of shooting and killing Bishop. Scott claims he asked for an attorney during his arrest, but no questioning occurred at that time. Approximately four hours later, Scott was taken for an interview.…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1472
Justia Opinion Summary: Robinson let Solorzano, stay at his Chicago home. The two frequently exchanged coded text messages about cocaine deals. Robinson drove to Indiana to pick up Solorzano after a transaction ended with Solorzano getting…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1901
Justia Opinion Summary: Fetting, 50 years old and suffering from back pain, headaches, depression, and anxiety, unsuccessfully applied for supplemental security income. During an administrative hearing, a vocational expert (VE) testified to…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2208
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2018, Escamilla was stationed at Fort Drum. During an on-base medical appointment, he complained of hearing voices that were telling him to commit suicide. He agreed to seek treatment at Samaritan Hospital, where he…
Date: March 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2501
Justia Opinion Summary: Peraica represented Dordevic in her Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding and submitted a Statement of Financial Affairs (Rule 2016 disclosure) in which he reported that Dordevic had paid him $5,000. As the Trustee learned…
Date: March 8, 2023
Docket Number: 18-1713
Justia Opinion Summary: Perry died from gunshot wounds sustained during a fight with Shirley. In 2008, Shirley was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide. Shirley uses a prosthetic device below his knee. Although he can walk, during his…
Date: March 7, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3145
Justia Opinion Summary: To claim the research tax credit under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code, a taxpayer must demonstrate that at least 80 percent of its research activities for a business component constituted elements of a process…
Date: March 6, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2534
Justia Opinion Summary: Police discovered a gun in Hatley’s possession during a Gary, Indiana traffic stop. Hatley pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), which ordinarily carries a statutory maximum of 10…
Date: March 3, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1724
Justia Opinion Summary: Kimball entered annexation agreements with Illinois municipalities and contracted separately with Fidelity as a surety to issue bonds securing performance on those obligations. Fidelity required Kimball to indemnify…
Date: March 2, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2950
Justia Opinion Summary: Worthen, Darryl, and Harris planned to rob a gun store and, if necessary, shoot the store owner, Maxie. During the robbery, Darryl shot and killed Maxie. Worthen was charged with Hobbs Act robbery, 18 U.S.C. 1951(a), and…
Date: March 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1336
Justia Opinion Summary: Stant is a manufacturer of products for automobile suppliers and automobile manufacturers, including vapor management systems, fuel delivery systems, and thermal management systems. The spread of COVID-19 in early 2020…
Date: March 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1587
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1998 Williams, a leader of the Gangster Disciples, was indicted under 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), 846. Convicted, Williams was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 240 months on two counts and a life sentence on a third…
Date: March 1, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1799
Justia Opinion Summary: At St. Vincent Hospital, police spoke to Banks. He told them he had been shot three times in the hip. Roland explained that he drove Banks to the hospital in his Buick, which was in the parking lot.” Officers found…
Date: February 28, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1933
Justia Opinion Summary: Fun's warehouse had a functional sprinkler system with a working water supply. In 2016, an inspector from Legacy found no problems. In 2017, the inspector found the system had no water pressure. South Bend Water Works…
Date: February 27, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2413
Justia Opinion Summary: In May 2020 Rehm expressed concern that Haven was not doing enough to protect her and other employees from COVID. Dillett, Haven’s Director of Operations and co-owner, did not appreciate Rehm’s suggestions. Rehm sent a…
Date: February 27, 2023
Docket Numbers: 22-2311, 22-2300
Justia Opinion Summary: Selective denied coverage of Creation's insurance claim. Creation sued for breach of contract and won. Creation then pursued costs and fees for Selective’s vexatious and unreasonable delay under the Illinois Insurance…
Date: February 24, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2358
Justia Opinion Summary: Chicago police officer Miedzianowski was convicted of conspiring to participate in racketeering activity from 1985-1998, conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine,…
Date: February 24, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2081
Justia Opinion Summary: Ross worked as a sales representative for First Financial until 2018. Ross sued First Financial and two of its senior executives for sales commissions he claimed he was owed. Under the terms of his employment contract,…
Date: February 23, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1793
Justia Opinion Summary: Bailon accompanied Aguila on a trip to purchase cocaine. The seller was a DEA confidential source. DEA agents arrested both men and searched Aguila’s car, recovering a pistol. The agents questioned Bailon inside a DEA…
Date: February 23, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1976
Justia Opinion Summary: Pierner-Lytge, a Second Amendment supporter, walked to a public park near Walker Elementary School that contains a playground and a baseball field. Many children and families were reportedly present that evening.…
Date: February 17, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3160
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2000, Britkovyy, a Ukrainian citizen, entered the U.S. through Mexico and twice stated that he was born in the U.S. The following day, Britkovyy—through an interpreter—explained that he had misunderstood the question…
Date: February 17, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1690
Justia Opinion Summary: Richardson was the driver and sole occupant of a car that was stopped for a traffic violation. He gave the police false names. Trying to identify him, officers conducted an inventory search and uncovered a firearm…
Date: February 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1312
Justia Opinion Summary: Banks posted a Snapchat video of himself barbequing on his porch with a gun on the grill’s shelf. Springfield police officer Redding saw the post and knew Banks to be a convicted felon. Within minutes, Redding and other…
Date: February 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2489
Justia Opinion Summary: In the late 1930s, Milwaukee County built a dam on the Milwaukee River in Estabrook Park, an urban green space that runs along the east bank of the river where the City of Milwaukee borders suburban Shorewood and…
Date: February 7, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1191
Justia Opinion Summary: Klund purports to supply electrical parts. In 1991 and in 1993, he was convicted for fraudulent misrepresentations involving defense contracts. Disqualified from the award of government contracts, from 2011-2019, Klund…
Date: February 3, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3047
Justia Opinion Summary: Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Officers found Smallwood unresponsive in his prison cell. When he awoke, Smallwood assured a nurse that he had not taken any drugs, and reminded her that he is diabetic. …
Date: February 3, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1845
Justia Opinion Summary: The government is investigating Doe for suspected criminal violations of the Clean Water Act. With a search warrant, agents conducted a day-long search of Doe’s premises. An hour into the search, agents ordered Doe to…
Date: February 3, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1903
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2013, University Park hired Bradley as chief of police; in 2014 it renewed his contract for two years. In 2015, after new elections changed the balance of political power, Bradley was fired without notice or an…
Date: February 2, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1562
Justia Opinion Summary: The Fund appealed the dismissal of its challenge to Indiana’s prohibition on corporate contributions to political action committees (PACs) for independent expenditures. Following oral argument, the Fund filed a “Motion…
Date: February 1, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3156
Justia Opinion Summary: While investigating a heroin distribution network involving Triplett and Collins, investigators obtained court-authorized wiretaps on 12 phones, 18 U.S.C. 2510. In copying files containing the recordings onto optical…
Date: February 1, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1442
Justia Opinion Summary: Sevec filed for disability social security benefits, alleging an onset of disability in 2014. At the time of her hearing, Sevec was 60 years old and suffered from knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Sevec stated that…
Date: February 1, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1715
Justia Opinion Summary: Suspecting that Troconis-Escovar was involved in the illegal drug business, the DEA searched his vehicle. Agents found $146,000 in cash, which they believed represented drug proceeds. DEA notified Troconis-Escovar that…
Date: February 1, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1872
Justia Opinion Summary: While working as a standup forklift operator, Anderson hit a bump and fell onto the floor. The forklift continued moving and ran over her leg; the resulting injuries necessitated its amputation. Anderson sued the…
Date: January 31, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1199
Justia Opinion Summary: The Partnership filed a contract claim in a Chinese court against Wan, his company, and his brother. The Chinese court entered a default judgment against Wan after he failed to appear. A year later, the Partnership filed…
Date: January 31, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1469
Justia Opinion Summary: A collective bargaining agreement (CBA), covered employees at United’s Indiana distribution center, prohibiting strikes and lock-outs during the life of the agreement. Negotiations over a successor agreement were…
Date: January 31, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2122
Justia Opinion Summary: Wirth was employed as an RLJ office manager, paid on an hourly basis, and required to clock in and out. RLJ closed its offices every day from 1−2 pm and did not schedule patients during that time. Employees were expected…
Date: January 27, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1165
Justia Opinion Summary: Auto sears can be installed into semi-automatic guns to make them fully automatic. The National Firearms Act defines a machine gun as any gun that can shoot more than one shot “by a single function of the trigger,” 26…
Date: January 26, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1139
Justia Opinion Summary: Benner was a 43-year-old high school coach. P.A., 17, hoped to use basketball to obtain a college scholarship. A sexual relationship between the two began after Benner resigned from his position but promised to continue…
Date: January 25, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2724
Justia Opinion Summary: Alt, age 26, sent a message to a Grindr account operated by an undercover FBI Agent. The account included a picture of a youthful-looking boy and listed his age as 18. The boy responded to Alt after Alt sent two more…
Date: January 25, 2023
Docket Numbers: 22-1109, 21-2953
Justia Opinion Summary: From 1993-2017, Chicago treated O’Hare Airport aviation security officers as law-enforcement personnel, able to make arrests while employed and carry concealed firearms after retirement. The officers were unarmed and…
Date: January 24, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1637
Justia Opinion Summary: Smartt had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old runaway (S.S.) and traveled around the country with her while working as a trucker. He took sexually explicit photos of her. When she got pregnant, he returned her to…
Date: January 24, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1642
Justia Opinion Summary: Cruz‐Velasco entered the U.S. without inspection in 1999. He has remained continuously present, raising his American‐born sons as a single father after the death of his partner. In 2014, Cruz‐Velasco was convicted of…
Date: January 24, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2297
Justia Opinion Summary: Butler downloaded, distributed, and shared child pornography via internet chat rooms. After tracking him online, investigators obtained a search warrant and seized ten electronic devices from his home, which contained…
Date: January 24, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1660
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1993 the Village of Channahon approved the plat of a residential subdivision lying within the DuPage River Special Flood Hazard Area. The Village subsequently issued permits for the construction of houses in this…
Date: January 24, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1798
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2000, Von Vader pled guilty to distributing methamphetamine in Wisconsin and was sentenced to 270 months’ imprisonment; the court concluded he was a “career offender.” He did not appeal. Von Vader later pled guilty…
Date: January 23, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1402
Justia Opinion Summary: Williams was shot and killed in 2009, and two other men were injured. A Wisconsin jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that Wilson was the gunman. After exhausting state remedies, he appealed the district court’s denial…
Date: January 23, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2695
Justia Opinion Summary: Joy Global and Komatsu agreed to merge. Joy sent its investors disclosures required under the Securities Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C. 78n. Subsequent suits contended that Joy violated the Act by not disclosing some internal…
Date: January 23, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3339
Justia Opinion Summary: Sanchez filed a whistleblower complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) against his former employer, DuPage Regional Office of Education. Sanchez claimed that, after he made…
Date: January 23, 2023
Docket Number: 22-2000
Justia Opinion Summary: Oregon and his wife divorced; his ex-wife retained custody over their two children. After his divorce, Oregon failed to file and pay taxes for three years. When he ultimately filed his late tax returns, he mistakenly…
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Numbers: 21-1775, 21-1925, 21-1926, 21-1776, 21-1927, 21-1928
Justia Opinion Summary: Sandstone operated large-scale swine farms in Scott County. Its owner also owned Red Oak. In 2007-2008, Westfield insured Sandstone. After 2008, Indemnity insured Sandstone. Star provided insurance to Red Oak. Sandstone…
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1776
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1925
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1926
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1927
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1928
Date: January 19, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1096
Justia Opinion Summary: Department of Labor regulations required the administrator of an employee benefit plan to give a claimant, “upon request,” copies of “all documents, records, and other information” that the administrator considered in…
Date: January 17, 2023
Docket Number: 21-2913
Justia Opinion Summary: After completing an orientation program for newly licensed nurses, Bragg was denied a full-time position at Community Hospital, which is operated by Munster. Community transferred her to Hartsfield, another Munster…
Date: January 13, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1002
Justia Opinion Summary: Humphrey was a Riteway driver. His trips began in Illinois, often ending in another state. In 2013 Humphrey drove a truck to Indiana. After he delivered the freight, Riteway directed him to another site in Fort Wayne.…
Date: January 12, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1414
Justia Opinion Summary: Michael has worked for FCA for more than two decades. In 2014 he married Becky, also a veteran FCA employee at the company’s Kokomo, Indiana transmission plant. In 2017 they submitted medical certifications from their…
Date: January 11, 2023
Docket Number: 21-1840
Justia Opinion Summary: Behning, an Illinois prisoner, claims that prison guards violated his constitutional rights while responding to his altercation with a prison guard. After the incident Behning was taken to the emergency room, was…
Date: January 11, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1421
Justia Opinion Summary: Traders set up accounts with Trean, a Chicago Mercantile Exchange introducing broker, managing the customer side of the futures-trading business. Stone handled the trading side. The traders engaged in naked…
Date: January 9, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1733
Justia Opinion Summary: Bankruptcy trustees can recover some transfers made to outside parties during the 90 days before the debtor files a petition, 11 U.S.C. 547(b)(4)(A). Warsco, the trustee in the Harris bankruptcy, discovered that about…
Date: January 6, 2023
Docket Number: 21-3141
Justia Opinion Summary: Baker ran from police officers, took a loaded firearm out of his waistband, and threw it over a fence into a residential backyard. He pled guilty as a felon in possession of a firearm. The district court added two…
Date: January 6, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1722
Justia Opinion Summary: Baro was an ESL teacher for Waukegan Community School District in 2019 when she signed a union membership form—a contract to join the union that represents teachers in the District. The form authorized the District to…
Date: January 5, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1781
Justia Opinion Summary: Porosh, a citizen of Bangladesh, claims he joined a political party, Jamaat in 2012, at age 15, and that an opposing party, Awami, called and threatened to kill Porosh; attacked Porosh and broke his hand; and held him…
Date: January 4, 2023
Docket Number: 20-1670
Justia Opinion Summary: Adams Outdoor Advertising owns billboards throughout Wisconsin, including 90 in Madison. Madison’s sign-control ordinance comprehensively regulates “advertising signs,” to promote traffic safety and aesthetics. The…
Date: January 3, 2023
Docket Number: 22-1697
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2013. Yankey pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 846. The court sentenced Yankey to 115 months in prison followed by 48 months of supervised…
