2024 Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals Case Law

Justia Opinion Summary: Dr. Judith Robinson, a former employee of HealthNet, a federally qualified health center in Indiana, brought a qui tam action against HealthNet, alleging fraudulent billing practices, including improper Medicaid billing…

Justia Opinion Summary: Henry Jones, a prisoner, filed a lawsuit against nurse Amanda Lamb, alleging that she refused to provide him medical treatment for a broken hand and later denied him pain medication. Jones claimed he could not exhaust…

Justia Opinion Summary: Nathaniel Pryor was stopped by police in Aurora, Illinois, after officers received a tip about drug activity linked to a van. Pryor exited the van quickly, and an officer ordered him to the ground, took him down, struck…

Justia Opinion Summary: Eulalia Mateo-Mateo and her two minor children, all Guatemalan citizens, sought asylum, humanitarian asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) in the United States. Mateo…

Justia Opinion Summary: Charles Curry, Jr., a former competitive powerlifter and bodybuilder, started a nutritional supplements business called Get Diesel Nutrition in 2002. He began selling a testosterone-boosting supplement called "Diesel…

Justia Opinion Summary: Amra Schmitz, a 52-year-old former public relations representative, applied for Social Security disability benefits in February 2020, claiming disability since January 2018. After a telephonic hearing, the Administrative…

Justia Opinion Summary: Capitol Street Surgery Center, an outpatient surgical clinic, hired Marty Lauster, a licensed interventional radiology technologist (IR tech), in 2019. In November 2020, during a staff meeting, Lauster objected to a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Wisconsin Central Ltd. and Soo Line Railroad Company are in dispute over the location for exchanging rail traffic in the Chicago area. Wisconsin Central prefers the Belt Railway yard near Chicago, while Soo Line prefers…

Justia Opinion Summary: Attorney Stephen Eberhardt filed a 102-page, 19-count complaint against 11 defendants, including the Village of Tinley Park, its officials, attorneys, and residents, alleging a scheme to prevent him from making public…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a class action lawsuit filed by transgender women prisoners in Illinois, who allege that the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has been deliberately indifferent to their gender dysphoria, a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Police officers in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, responded to a noise complaint at a house party. Upon arrival, Sergeant Dan Varriale observed a physical altercation between Anthony Bailey and a woman. After separating them,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Devontae Martin was involved in a drug distribution operation in Gary, Indiana, led by Teddia Caldwell. In July 2017, Caldwell proposed robbing Kevin Hood, a local car wash owner believed to have a large stash of drugs…

Justia Opinion Summary: In late 2020, the FBI began investigating Tyron Offutt for narcotics trafficking in Centralia, Illinois. A confidential informant conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Offutt, which were recorded.…

Justia Opinion Summary: National Casualty Company and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company entered into reinsurance agreements with Continental Insurance Company, which included arbitration clauses. A billing dispute arose, leading Continental…

Justia Opinion Summary: Cristin Dent filed a Title VII racial discrimination claim against her former employer, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Dent received a notice of right to sue from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on April 5, 2023,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Clarence Bonds, serving a 71-month sentence for transporting a firearm in interstate commerce as a felon, sought a reduced sentence based on Amendment 821 to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. This amendment, which applies…

Justia Opinion Summary: Amanda Jackson, a healthcare worker, filed a lawsuit against her former employer, Methodist Health Services, after being placed on unpaid leave and subsequently discharged for refusing to be vaccinated for Covid-19 or…

Justia Opinion Summary: Sherman Fields, a federal prisoner, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, which was dismissed by the district court. Fields was previously convicted of multiple crimes, including murder and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Indiana enacted a law prohibiting physicians from altering a child's sex characteristics through medication or surgery as treatment for gender dysphoria. Plaintiffs, including transgender children, their parents, and a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Miko Thomas, an employee of JBS Green Bay, filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, alleging racial discrimination. He claimed that his employer delayed his training for three years, denied his…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Charles House was involved in drug trafficking activities, traveling to California to obtain large quantities of marijuana and methamphetamine, which he then shipped to addresses in Indiana. In October…

Justia Opinion Summary: Six former commanders of the Cook County Jail filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, claiming their layoffs in late 2017 violated their First Amendment rights. The layoffs occurred during a budget crisis, which led to…

Justia Opinion Summary: A group of current and former employees of Professional Transportation, Inc. filed a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 2014, alleging overtime and minimum-wage violations. The district court…

Justia Opinion Summary: John Henigan was involved in a drug distribution operation, buying large quantities of heroin and cocaine in Chicago and selling them in Peoria, Illinois. Following an investigation that included controlled buys, Henigan…

Justia Opinion Summary: Professional Labor Group, LLC (PLG) is an Indiana-based staffing firm that employs skilled tradesmen and assigns them to remote job sites for temporary work. PLG provides per diems and mileage reimbursements but does not…

Justia Opinion Summary: Larry Dennis pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana. The government presented photos of Dennis pointing a firearm at a man, describing the incident as an "armed robbery." Based…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jerry Peoples and three associates planned to rob a marijuana dealer, unaware that the police were monitoring their conversations via a wiretap. The police intervened and arrested the group before the robbery could take…

Justia Opinion Summary: In January 2015, Sarah Schoper, a tenure-track assistant professor at Western Illinois University, suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting in high-functioning mild aphasia and other physical disabilities. Despite her…

Justia Opinion Summary: In February 2020, a police officer in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, shot and killed a Black teenager, Alvin Cole. Following the incident, community members organized protests against police violence and racism. Anticipating…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2005, Full Circle Villagebrook GP, LLC formed a partnership with Protech 2004-D, LLC and AMTAX Holdings 436, LLC to develop and operate an affordable housing project in Illinois. Full Circle, as the General Partner,…

Justia Opinion Summary: In February 2018, Joseph Fuchs, a special agent with the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of the Inspector General, traveled to the Philippines to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl, referred to as MV-1.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Michael Davis was arrested after a 911 call from a 15-year-old girl in Gary, Indiana, reported that he had threatened to kill her mother and had an assault rifle in his car. Police located Davis following the family's…

Justia Opinion Summary: Santanu Das, a sales associate at Tata Consultancy Services, participated in a compensation incentive plan that promised a bonus exceeding $400,000 for achieving certain sales targets. Das met the target but was paid…

Justia Opinion Summary: Heide Montoya, a former Superintendent of On-Board Services at Amtrak, was discharged in 2020 and later rehired to a different position. Montoya filed a lawsuit alleging sex discrimination and other state-law claims. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: Three former satellite service technicians filed a class action lawsuit against their employer, DirectSat USA, LLC, alleging violations of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law (IMWL) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).…

Justia Opinion Summary: James Harris, with a significant criminal history, was on federal supervised release following a 2013 federal drug conviction. After his release in 2016, he was arrested and convicted in a state drug case, leading to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Lafiamma Orona was indicted for mail theft, identity theft, and related crimes after a scheme involving the theft of mail, including credit cards and checks, from mailboxes in Elkhart County, Indiana. He pleaded guilty…

Justia Opinion Summary: The City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management hired Tinka Vassileva as a Filtration Engineer (FE) in 2001. Vassileva, who started as an FE II, was promoted to FE III in July 2019. She applied unsuccessfully for…

Justia Opinion Summary: On the night of July 18, 2019, in Charlestown, Indiana, bystanders called 911 to report a fight between RJ Slaymaker and his wife, Amylyn Slaymaker. Two police officers responded, separated the couple, and learned from…

Justia Opinion Summary: A student at Rosalind Franklin University was accused of sexual assault by another student after a night of heavy drinking and marijuana use. The accused student, Nicholas Gash, had no memory of the events due to his…

Justia Opinion Summary: Michael Mogan, a condominium owner, challenged the City of Chicago's Shared Housing Ordinance, which prevented him from listing his unit on short-term rental platforms like Airbnb. Mogan claimed that the Ordinance…

Justia Opinion Summary: Andre Bowyer, a Jamaican national, pleaded guilty to re-entering the United States without permission after being previously removed. During his sentencing, Bowyer attempted to highlight his ties to a family he had…

Justia Opinion Summary: Carl McDaniel, a Wisconsin prisoner with multiple serious medical conditions, sued the Wisconsin Department of Corrections under the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, claiming the Department violated his rights by denying…

Justia Opinion Summary: José Mireles was involved in a drug distribution conspiracy that transported large quantities of cocaine and heroin from Los Angeles to Chicago. Mireles's role included retrieving drug shipments, delivering them to…

Justia Opinion Summary: Rene Galvan, a former employee of the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), filed a lawsuit against the State of Indiana and his former supervisor, Joanie Crum, alleging race and sex discrimination, retaliation,…

Justia Opinion Summary: James Donelson, CEO of Long Leaf Trading Group, oversaw a company that provided trade recommendations in the commodities market and earned commissions on executed trades. Despite collecting $1,235,413 in commissions from…

Justia Opinion Summary: Pilar Domer placed an online order for a can of paint from Menards, selecting an in-store pickup option that incurred a $1.40 fee. Domer later filed a class action lawsuit against Menards, alleging that the company…

Justia Opinion Summary: Brian Jones, a Wisconsin prisoner, sued several correctional officers under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of his Eighth Amendment rights. The claims arose from an incident where Jones caused a disturbance in the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Michael Porter was investigated and indicted on ten counts related to child pornography, including receipt, possession, and production. He pleaded guilty to three counts, with a conditional plea on the production charge,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Thad Brockett, a former employee of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department, alleged he was terminated for supporting the former sheriff in disputes with the county chair and for reporting misconduct by two…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Roalson was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and burglary for the murder of a 93-year-old woman. At trial, a DNA analyst testified about evidence found on the murder weapons, although she did…

Justia Opinion Summary: A high-school administrator, Justin Schimandle, forcibly restrained a student, C.G., at school. Following an investigation, Detective Josh Duehning of the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office submitted affidavits to support an…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2018, John Burns and Rajeev Arora, representing Moca Financial Inc., engaged in discussions with Manoj Baheti, represented by Yash Venture Holdings, LLC, about a potential investment. The alleged agreement was that…

Justia Opinion Summary: Marlo Spaeth, an individual with Down syndrome, was employed by Wal-Mart for over 15 years. Her work schedule was changed from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., causing her significant difficulty in…

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute over insurance coverage following a family business conflict. Brian Flood and his sons, Chris and Shawn, were involved in a waste collection business, Flood Brothers Waste Disposal Company.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Daroush Ebrahimi, a prisoner serving a life sentence in Illinois, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Wexford Health Sources, Inc. and Dr. Mohammed Siddiqui,…

Justia Opinion Summary: In Illinois, voters can cast their ballots by mail, and election officials can receive and count these ballots for up to two weeks after Election Day, provided they are postmarked or certified by Election Day.…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2004, Graham Stowe was charged with violent offenses against his former girlfriend and her family. He pleaded no contest, claiming insanity, which a state judge accepted, leading to his commitment for 39.5 years…

Justia Opinion Summary: John Smith, an employee of Sysco Indianapolis, LLC, did not receive a monthly benefit check he expected. His labor union, Teamsters Local 135, filed a grievance on his behalf, alleging that Sysco violated their 2018…

Justia Opinion Summary: Cameron Johnson, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a firearm on September 15, 2019. He pleaded guilty to this charge. The Government sought an enhanced sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA)…

Justia Opinion Summary: Paul Carnes, an employee of Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in 2019 and received medical treatment for it. HMO Louisiana, Inc., the administrator of Consolidated Grain’s…

Justia Opinion Summary: Harold Grimes, a coal miner for 34 years, developed black lung disease and later died of lung cancer in 2018. His widow, Susan Grimes, is eligible for survivor’s benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act. The dispute…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a challenge to Indiana's ballot access laws by the Indiana Green Party, the Libertarian Party of Indiana, and associated individuals. They argue that the requirements for candidates to collect…

Justia Opinion Summary: In late 1996, Jerry Walker was convicted of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) and other drug-related offenses. He was sentenced to life in prison. Following the passage of the First Step Act of 2018,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Xengxai Yang robbed a credit union in Appleton, Wisconsin, wearing a black mask and armed with a sawed-off rifle. After his arrest, Yang admitted to the robbery, claiming he wanted to "try something new." He was indicted…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Jose Ageo Luna Vanegas, a guestworker employed by Signet Builders, Inc., who alleges that Signet overworked and underpaid him in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Signet, incorporated…

Justia Opinion Summary: David Bernardo-De La Cruz, a Mexican national, has lived in the U.S. without legal authorization for nineteen years. He was pulled over for speeding in 2014, which led to his immigration status being questioned. He…

Justia Opinion Summary: Meghan Faxel was injured while riding an inflatable tube down the "Black Hole" water slide at the Wilderness Hotel in Wisconsin Dells. Her tube became stuck and flipped over, causing a shoulder injury. Meghan and her…

Justia Opinion Summary: A Mexican citizen, Alfredo Viveros-Chavez, was found in the United States without lawful immigration status after previously being removed. He was charged with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326, which prohibits noncitizens from…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jasmine Bradley was assessed as incompetent to assist in her defense against criminal charges and was referred to the Bureau of Prisons for evaluation under 18 U.S.C. §4241. She reported to the U.S. Marshal on January…

Justia Opinion Summary: Trevor Davis filed a lawsuit against Deputy Christopher Allen under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that Allen violated his Fourth Amendment rights by using excessive force during his arrest. Davis had several outstanding…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2018, Officer Patrick Kaine of the City of Wauwatosa Police Department stopped a vehicle based on a citizen's tip about a potential robbery. The vehicle contained Akil Carter, Paulette Barr, and Sandra Adams. Officer…

Justia Opinion Summary: Overwell Harvest, Ltd. invested millions in Neurensic, Inc., which soon faced severe financial difficulties. Neurensic's management, led by CEO David Widerhorn and COO Paul Giedraitis, sought to sell the company. Trading…

Justia Opinion Summary: Next Millennium Telecom Co. (Nextel), a Saudi Arabian corporation, was contracted by the Saudi Arabian government to install an emergency siren system. Nextel paid American Signal Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joel Cielak and Barron Hodges were sexually abused by David Johnson, a teacher at Nicolet High School (NHS), in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Hodges reported the abuse in 1983, leading the school board to confront…

Justia Opinion Summary: Don Bevly, a repeat bank robber, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. He also admitted to six additional bank robberies as relevant conduct. During sentencing, the…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2020, Tamara Frazier applied for a mortgage with Mutual Federal Bank, which reviewed a credit report from CreditLink aggregating data from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The bank denied her application. Frazier…

Justia Opinion Summary: 3M Company operates a manufacturing facility in Cordova, Illinois, producing chemical products containing PFAS. The State of Illinois sued 3M, alleging that PFAS from the Cordova Facility contaminated the Mississippi…

Justia Opinion Summary: Three plaintiffs, planning to participate in protests during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, challenged the constitutionality of a city ordinance listing prohibited items within security perimeters. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: A family of six Mexican citizens entered the United States without authorization and were subsequently placed in removal proceedings. They hired an attorney to help them apply for asylum. Despite having nearly fifteen…

Justia Opinion Summary: The FBI conducted an investigation into a dark-web child pornography website called "Playpen." In 2015, the FBI took control of the website's servers and obtained a warrant to deploy a Network Investigative Technique…

Justia Opinion Summary: Timothy Upchurch engaged in a prolonged campaign of harassment against his neighbors, Timothy and Margaret O’Brien, over a disputed easement on their property. Upchurch was convicted of disorderly conduct, criminal…

Justia Opinion Summary: Five former participants in the Salvation Army's residential rehabilitation program filed a lawsuit alleging that the organization subjected them to forced labor. The plaintiffs, who participated in the program to…

Justia Opinion Summary: AXIS Insurance Company sought indemnification from American Specialty Insurance & Risk Services for claims AXIS settled, based on a contract between the two parties. The contract did not require AXIS to offer American…

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff, Word Seed Church, now known as Grace Fellowship Covenant Church, sought to establish a permanent location in the Village of Hazel Crest but faced difficulties due to the village's zoning ordinance. The…

Justia Opinion Summary: Donald Reynolds began a 60-month term of supervised release in 2020 after serving a lengthy prison sentence. During his supervision, he tested positive for methamphetamine twice. Despite efforts by the United States…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the crash of Lion Air Flight JT 610, a Boeing 737 MAX, which took off from Jakarta, Indonesia, and crashed into the Java Sea on October 29, 2018, killing all on board. The plaintiffs are family members…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joshua Campbell sought to suppress evidence of child pornography found during an unannounced parole check by his parole officers. He argued that his Fifth Amendment rights were violated because his parole agreement and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Mason Elliott was charged with multiple federal offenses, including possession of firearms, sexual exploitation of a minor, and plotting to murder the minor and her mother. Elliott retained Attorney Brandon Sample…

Justia Opinion Summary: Angela Midthun-Hensen and Tony Hensen sought insurance coverage for therapies for their daughter K.H.'s autism from Group Health Cooperative between 2017 and 2019. The insurer denied coverage, citing a lack of evidence…

Justia Opinion Summary: Brian Threlkeld, after serving a prison sentence for sexually assaulting a minor, was civilly committed by the State of Wisconsin as a sexually violent person in 2008. In 2020, the state agreed he was eligible for…

Justia Opinion Summary: Olalekan Jacob Ponle orchestrated a scheme to defraud businesses by using phishing emails and information from the dark web to access corporate email accounts. He and his co-conspirators sent fraudulent emails to…

Justia Opinion Summary: Lanlan Li, a 51-year-old woman of Chinese descent, worked as a senior scientist at Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. In 2019, she developed back pain and eye strain, which led her to take various types of leave. Despite…

Justia Opinion Summary: A group of employees sued their employer, Metalcraft of Mayville, for not paying them for time spent working just before or after their shifts. The employees alleged that Metalcraft's timekeeping system, which allowed…

Justia Opinion Summary: Pearl Ray and Andrew Ray, Sr. sued medical providers in Illinois state court for medical malpractice, which allegedly injured Pearl and caused Andrew to suffer a loss of consortium. They settled with all but one…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Michelle Gilbank, who lost custody of her daughter, T.E.H., in state court proceedings in Wisconsin. Gilbank alleged that various officials involved in those proceedings violated her federal…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christopher Truett operated a methamphetamine distribution network while incarcerated in the Marion County Jail. He coordinated drug purchases and sales through phone calls, directing his girlfriend to handle the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Paul Osterman was prosecuted for sex trafficking a child after a detective in Oneida County, Wisconsin, obtained a warrant to place a GPS tracker on his truck. The warrant was based on an affidavit that included…

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff, GEFT Outdoor, LLC, challenged an Evansville, Indiana ordinance that distinguishes between on-premises and off-premises signs, arguing it violated the First Amendment. Initially, the district court agreed,…

Justia Opinion Summary: In September 2020, Michael Karmo informed a friend that he was traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, with firearms during a period of civil unrest. The friend reported this to local police, who then notified the FBI. The FBI,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Thompson Corrugated Systems, Inc. (TCS) entered into an oral agreement in 2004 to act as the North American sales representative for Engico, S.r.l., an Italian manufacturer of corrugated box machinery. TCS was to receive…

Justia Opinion Summary: Darkel Martin, after serving a custodial sentence for possessing a firearm as a felon, began a three-year term of supervised release. The government petitioned to revoke his supervised release, alleging multiple…

Justia Opinion Summary: Courtney Ealy, an inmate in the Illinois prison system, spent five consecutive months in segregation starting in 2019. During this period, he experienced cold temperatures, dirty cells, and faulty plumbing, which he…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Decker, a federal inmate, requested electronic access to the full, daily editions of the Federal Register from his prison law library. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) denied his request, prompting Decker to file a pro…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jason Beckner, employed by Commercial Air, Inc., was injured while working on a construction site in Zionsville, Indiana. Commercial Air had rented a crane and operator from Maxim Crane Works, L.P. for a day to lift roof…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jessica Gehner was implanted with a Cook Medical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in Ohio. She later experienced abdominal pain, and a CT scan in March 2013 revealed that the filter had perforated her IVC. Her doctors…

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2015, two plaintiffs sued the Chicago Board of Education and various officials, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights and state law. During a deposition in 2017, a confrontation occurred between…

Justia Opinion Summary: Irma Leibas, a correctional officer at the Cook County Department of Corrections (DOC), has pre-existing medical conditions requiring workplace accommodations, including up to three additional breaks per shift. After the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Two healthcare workers, Megan Passarella and Sandra Dottenwhy, employed by Aspirus Health in Wisconsin, sought religious exemptions from the company's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Passarella cited her Christian belief…

Justia Opinion Summary: Christine Bube and Connie Hedrington, both registered nurses, worked for Aspirus, Inc., a non-profit hospital system. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aspirus mandated that all employees receive the COVID vaccine,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Shannon Cotton violated the terms of his supervised release by using cocaine and losing contact with his probation officer. The district court revoked his supervised release and sentenced him to two years in prison,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Paula Emerson, a former Cook County Corrections Officer, was terminated in 2019 after being on disability leave since 2012 due to anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Emerson claimed her termination was in retaliation for…

Justia Opinion Summary: RCBA Nutraceuticals, LLC, a Florida-based nutritional supplements company, contracted with Western Packaging, Inc. for the manufacture of plastic zipper pouches to hold its protein powder. These pouches were produced by…

Justia Opinion Summary: Aurelio Cervantes pleaded guilty in 2016 to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine. The district court sentenced him to 168 months, the bottom of his calculated guidelines range. This…

Justia Opinion Summary: F.C. Bloxom Company, a Seattle-based distributor of fresh produce, entered into an agreement with Seven Seas Fruit to deliver three loads of onions to Honduras. The onions required phytosanitary certificates from the…

Justia Opinion Summary: A former immigration attorney was convicted of conspiring with clients, interpreters, and employees to defraud the U.S. by submitting fabricated asylum applications. The attorney would create false stories for clients,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Stanford Clacks, an African American truck driver, was employed by Kwik Trip, Inc. and experienced racial harassment from fellow employees. During his training, Clacks was harassed by two trainers, Tom Roerkohl and Brett…

Justia Opinion Summary: On March 17, 2022, Anycco Rivers and Ladonta Tucker carjacked a BMW in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Rivers pointed two guns at the car’s owner, while Tucker searched the owner and then drove the car away. During a high-speed…

Justia Opinion Summary: A sixteen-year-old, Donnell Wilson, was convicted of two murders, armed robbery, and criminal gang activity in Gary, Indiana. Wilson and his accomplice, Jonte Crawford, harassed and robbed a teenager before encountering…

Justia Opinion Summary: In early 2018, employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, went on strike at two quarries operated by RiverStone Group, Inc. During the strike, RiverStone disciplined and…

Justia Opinion Summary: In early 2018, employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, went on strike at two quarries operated by RiverStone Group, Inc. During the strike, RiverStone disciplined and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Gary Hicks, a corrections sergeant, was suspended for 10 days by the Illinois Department of Corrections after an internal investigation into his Facebook posts, which were described as "Islamophobic" and "offensive" by a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jonathan Smith pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine in federal court. At sentencing, the district court applied two recidivist enhancements based on his 2008 Illinois conviction for aggravated robbery,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Dijon Foston pleaded guilty to four charges: conspiracy to engage in racketeering, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm as a felon, and possession of a firearm in connection with a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Department of Homeland Security served Pilar Sandoval Reynoso with a Notice to Appear, charging him with removability for unlawfully residing in the United States. Sandoval applied for cancellation of removal, but…

Justia Opinion Summary: Scott Carlberg was convicted by a jury of four counts of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining disability benefits from the United States Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Carlberg, who had suffered a traumatic brain…

Justia Opinion Summary: In early 2018, employees represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, went on strike at two quarries operated by RiverStone Group, Inc. During the strike, RiverStone disciplined and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Alexander Kawleski was convicted of sexually assaulting his then-girlfriend's adolescent daughter and recording the act. He also recorded videos of the girl undressing and showering, which were stored on a flash drive.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Phillip Robbin was removing a tree from a residential lot in the City of Berwyn when he was confronted by Sarah Lopez, a city inspector. Lopez berated Robbin using racial slurs, which led Robbin to demand disciplinary…

Justia Opinion Summary: Brian Cook entered a bank in Roseville, Illinois, wearing a disguise and armed with what appeared to be a gun, later identified as an air pistol. He threatened two tellers, directing one to retrieve money from the vault…

Justia Opinion Summary: Karl Nichols was convicted in a Wisconsin state court of first-degree sexual assault and sentenced to five years of probation. The conviction was based on allegations by a child, M.R.W., who claimed Nichols touched her…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jebari Craig, a black employee, worked for Wrought Washer Manufacturing, Inc. from 2010 until his termination in April 2019. Craig, who became the union president in 2018, filed a racial discrimination grievance against…

Justia Opinion Summary: Samuel Boytor, an engineer and businessman, and his wife Carol, defaulted on loans they had personally guaranteed. They entered into a settlement agreement with EFS Bank’s successor, restructuring their debt into three…

Justia Opinion Summary: Reginald Pittman, a pretrial detainee at the Madison County jail, attempted suicide and suffered a severe brain injury. He claimed that two guards ignored his requests for crisis counseling before his suicide attempt.…

Justia Opinion Summary: Gordon Green filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on May 11, 2021, listing his "Sun Life: Life Income Fund," a Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan, as an asset. Green sought to exempt the fund under Illinois statute…

Justia Opinion Summary: Lorenzo Davis, a pretrial detainee at the McLean County Detention Facility, suffered serious eye injuries after being attacked by fellow detainees Wanyae Massey and Terrell Hibbler. Davis had reported threats and…

Justia Opinion Summary: Dr. John Insall, an orthopedic surgeon, developed and patented knee replacement devices, which he licensed to Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. In return, Zimmer agreed to pay royalties to Insall, and later to his estate…

Justia Opinion Summary: Demona Freeman secured a loan to purchase her home, which was assigned to the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) and serviced by Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC. After falling behind on her mortgage payments, BNY Mellon…

Justia Opinion Summary: Three sets of parents refused to allow their newborns to receive Vitamin K shots at private hospitals in Illinois, citing concerns about risks and religious reasons. Hospital staff reported the refusals to the Illinois…

Justia Opinion Summary: Three sets of parents refused to allow their newborns to receive Vitamin K shots at private hospitals in Illinois due to concerns about risks and religious reasons. Hospital staff reported the refusals to the Illinois…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) brought an action against Townstone Financial, Inc. and its CEO, Barry Sturner, alleging that they discouraged black prospective applicants from applying for mortgage…

Justia Opinion Summary: In late 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents began investigating individuals sharing child pornography over peer-to-peer file-sharing networks. Using a proprietary software program called "eMule," HSI…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy. Nearly eleven months later, on the eve of his sentencing, Smith's attorney filed a motion to withdraw at Smith's…

Justia Opinion Summary: Consolidated Grain and Barge Company (Consolidated) entered into multiple agreements with the Indiana Port Commission (Commission) to build new rail tracks at the Southwind Maritime Centre. In exchange, Consolidated…

Justia Opinion Summary: Ji Chaoqun, a Chinese national, came to the United States in 2013 to study electrical engineering. In 2022, he was indicted for conspiring to commit an offense against the United States, failing to register as a foreign…

Justia Opinion Summary: Henry Beverly, a financial analyst at Abbott Laboratories, took a personal leave of absence during which he began working for Cook County without informing Abbott. His leave was extended twice, but when he requested a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Charles Vavra, an employee of Honeywell International, Inc., was required to complete an online unconscious bias training. Vavra refused to participate in the training and was subsequently terminated. He then filed a…

Justia Opinion Summary: Cassandra Socha, a patrol officer with the Joliet Police Department (JPD), sent a text message to her neighbor criticizing her for testifying in the criminal trial of Socha’s boyfriend. A prosecutor recommended that…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a property owned by Indiana Land Trust #3082, located in Hammond, Indiana, which houses a lucrative fireworks and tobacco business operated by Omar and Haitham Abuzir. The City of Hammond seeks to use…

Justia Opinion Summary: This case revolves around a dispute over an insurance claim following a house fire. The plaintiff, William Werner, owned a home in Springfield, Illinois, which was in foreclosure when it burned down in 2017. Werner's…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Refugio Avila, who was found with a loaded handgun during a traffic stop. Avila, a known member of the Satan's Disciple gang, was in a vehicle with his girlfriend when they were stopped by Chicago…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Terrell Esco, who alleged that he was unlawfully detained and maliciously prosecuted due to actions by City of Chicago police officers. The officers arrested him for weapons and drug violations,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves fourteen members of the Bomb Squad, a street gang, who were charged with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), among other crimes. One member pleaded guilty, while…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Anthony Carr, who was convicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His offense level and sentencing range were increased due to his three prior convictions in Illinois for armed robbery,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Anthony D. Lee, Sr. was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault in 1996 and sentenced to 100 years in prison. Lee's defense was that the victim had voluntarily entered his car and that any sexual…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a consumer, Yoram Kahn, who alleges that Walmart Inc., the nation's largest retailer, engages in deceptive and unfair pricing practices. Kahn claims that there are small discrepancies between the prices…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Larry Sapp, an Army veteran with a history of felony drug convictions, who was elected to the Sauk Village Board of Trustees in Illinois. However, his felony convictions came to the attention of…

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute between Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Hytera Communications Corporation Ltd., two global competitors in the market for two-way radio systems. After struggling to develop its own competing…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Millard Williams, who was convicted for orchestrating the shipment of a package containing furanyl fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance, while in a Georgia jail. Williams was found guilty of…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Tondalaya Gamble, a Black physician who worked at Cook County Health’s John Stroger Hospital for approximately eleven years. Gamble sued Cook County and her former department and division chairs,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Rodney Clemons, an inmate at Stateville Correctional Center, filed a lawsuit against Wexford Health Sources, Inc., and two of its physicians, alleging that they were deliberately indifferent to his serious foot…

Justia Opinion Summary: Robert Townsend was convicted for attempted enticement of a minor, under 18 U.S.C. §2422(b), and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Townsend argued that the district judge…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute over attorney's fees in a Social Security disability benefits case. The plaintiff, Christian Arnold, was represented by the law firm Binder & Binder. After Arnold was determined to be…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Zebulon Marzette, who was convicted for possessing a firearm as a felon. The incident occurred on September 20, 2019, when a 911 call reported people pounding on a door and waving guns at an…

Justia Opinion Summary: Jerome Ford was sentenced to 96 months in prison for possessing a firearm despite his felony conviction, followed by three years of supervised release. The judgment included a condition that Ford must pay a fine of $250…

Justia Opinion Summary: Anthony Day and Omarr Williams were charged with robbing a bank in Hammond, Indiana. Day was identified as the man who brandished a silver revolver during the robbery. After the robbery, the police tracked Day down using…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a group of consumers who filed arbitration claims against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., alleging that Samsung unlawfully collected and stored sensitive biometric…

Justia Opinion Summary: A mortgage company, Approved Mortgage Corporation, initiated two wire transfers, but the instructions for the transactions were altered by a third party. The funds were transferred to Truist Bank, which deposited the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Huazhi Han, who was convicted on charges of money laundering and related offenses. Han used his electronic goods business to launder drug proceeds for Mexican drug traffickers. The Drug…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Bernell Brasher, who was convicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The case began when a confidential source informed the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that Bacaree Oaks had a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a traffic stop in Wisconsin where police officers used a K-9 unit to sniff a car they suspected was involved in drug trafficking. The dog signaled the presence of drugs, leading to a search of…

Justia Opinion Summary: Derek Mesenbring, an employee of Industrial Fumigant Company, LLC (IFC), died after inhaling a toxic dose of methyl bromide at work. His widow, Melissa Mesenbring, sued IFC and its parent company, Rollins, Inc., for…

Justia Opinion Summary: Minosa Echols, a civil detainee in an Illinois facility, was seriously injured when another resident attacked him. Echols filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that three security officers present during the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Jack Clayborne, who was convicted for crimes related to an attempted carjacking. Clayborne, along with two other men, attempted to carjack Michael Guster. During the incident, Clayborne fired…

Justia Opinion Summary: Raynard Jackson, a prisoner at the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility (WSPF), was placed in a cell without running water for five days. He alleged that Lieutenant Dane Esser, among other WSPF staff, knew that he did not…

Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Delon Echols, was convicted of attempting to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute it. The case revolved around two packages containing illegal drugs that were sent to the home of Renita…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Angela Flowers, who had a car loan with Kia Motors Finance. One morning, Flowers and her son were followed by a truck, which she suspected was an attempt by Kia to repossess her car due to late…

Justia Opinion Summary: Rodney Lass was initially charged with misdemeanor domestic abuse. However, the case ended in a mistrial due to the alleged victim's disregard of a court order. Subsequently, the prosecutors recharged the case, adding…

Justia Opinion Summary: A nurse practitioner, Lisa Hofschulz, and her ex-husband, Robert Hofschulz, were convicted of conspiracy and multiple counts of distributing drugs in an unauthorized manner, including one count resulting in a patient's…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute between Zimmer Biomet, a medical-device manufacturer, and six of its former sales distributors. The dispute arose from a compensation agreement that guaranteed the distributors a…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute between Great American Insurance Company (Great American) and State Farm Fire and Casualty Company (State Farm) over who was responsible for paying the defense costs in a lawsuit against board…

Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Travis Montgomery, pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine. The government presented evidence that Montgomery stored the drugs, cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia in a storage unit leased by…

Justia Opinion Summary: Juan Santiago Lopez, a Mexican citizen, sought to overturn an immigration judge's denial of his request for cancellation of removal. Lopez had been in the United States for nearly 20 years, working for the same company…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Roland Black, who was convicted of attempting to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, specifically furanyl fentanyl. Law enforcement intercepted a package addressed to Black,…

Justia Opinion Summary: Joseph Van Sach, a federal prison inmate, was sentenced to 87 months for assaulting a correctional officer. The incident occurred when Van Sach refused to comply with orders to submit to hand restraints, leading to the…

Justia Opinion Summary: Mario Giannini and Robert Czernek were involved in a series of fraudulent schemes in Bloomingdale Township, Illinois. Giannini worked for Bulldog Earth Movers, a contractor owned by his girlfriend, Debra Fazio. Czernek,…

Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Christopher Johnson, was indicted and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after purchasing stolen credit card data and using it to produce counterfeit cards. The district court, when…

Justia Opinion Summary: The plaintiff, Mary Rodgers-Rouzier, worked as a bartender on steamboats operated by American Queen. She alleged that she and her coworkers were wrongly denied overtime wages. Rodgers-Rouzier filed a suit as a collective…

Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Seldrick Carpenter, who was serving a six-year term of supervised release after completing a federal sentence for distributing fentanyl. After the death of his mother, Carpenter began using drugs…