By Danielle Kays and James Nasiri
Seyfarth Synopsis: In February 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a landmark opinion in Cothron v. White Castle finding that claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) accrue each time a private entity scans or transmits an individual’s biometric data. (Seyfarth’s analysis of this decision can be found HERE.) Defendant
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Per-Scan Damages for BIPA Claims
By Danielle Kays, Sarah Bauman, and James Nasiri
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Illinois Supreme Court issued its highly-anticipated decision in Tims v. Black Horse Carriers this week, ruling that a five-year statute of limitations applies to all claims under the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act (“BIPA”). The Court’s decision (available here) answers a years-old question regarding the
Continue Reading BIPA Floodgates Remain Open: Illinois Supreme Court Rules Generous 5-Year Statute Of Limitations Applies To All Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act Claims
By Tracy Billows, Sara Fowler, Ala Salameh, Josh Seidman, and Meg Toth
What You Need To Know:
By David S. Wilson and Catherine M. Dacre
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 6, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its opinion in Baro v. Lake County Federation of Teachers. The three-judge panel unanimously held that the Plaintiff’s mistaken agreement to join a labor union was not a violation of her First Amendment rights
Continue Reading No Takebacks! Seventh Circuit Upholds Mistaken Union Membership
By Gillian B. Lepore, Sara Fowler, Megan P. Toth, Tracy M. Billows, and Joshua D. Seidman
Seyfarth Synopsis: A bill that would provide paid leave for all workers in Illinois is awaiting Governor Pritzker’s signature. If signed into law, the bill would provide up to 40 hours of paid leave for eligible employees, effective January
Continue Reading If Pain (Or Anything Else), Yes Gain—Part 104: Illinois to Become Third State to Enact Paid Leave Law
By Danielle Kays and James Nasiri
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 17, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted Microsoft’s motion for summary judgment on the plaintiffs’ unique class action claims in a case entitled Vance v. Microsoft Corp. The plaintiffs, and Illinois residents, uploaded several pictures of themselves to popular photo-sharing site Flickr, which then
Continue Reading Washington Federal Court Awards Important BIPA WinBy Danielle Kays and James Nasiri
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 22, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) case entitled Tims v. Black Horse Carriers, Inc. Following an Illinois appellate court’s decision that a one-year limitations period applies to certain sections of the Act while a five-year period applies to other
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Hears Arguments on the Proper Limitations Period for BIPA Claims in Tims v. Black Horse Carriers
By Adam R. Young, Melissa A. Ortega, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 28, 2021, an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act passed the Illinois General Assembly and made its way to Governor Pritzker’s desk. The amendment creates a COVID-19 carve-out, but it will not go into effect until June 1,
Continue Reading A Swing and a Miss: Right to Conscience Objections to COVID-19 Vaccinations to Endure Until June 2022
By James L. Curtis, Adam R. Young, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: Labelling the Delta-variant surge as the “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated,” on August 26, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Prtizker announced that Illinois residents must wear masks indoors, and that school and health care staff must be vaccinated.
Cook County and the City of Chicago both had
Continue Reading Illinois Governor Announces Mask Mandate for All Indoor Settings, Regardless of Vaccination
By Sara Fowler
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 21, 2021, the Chicago City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting retaliation against any employee who takes leave from work to get a COVID-19 vaccine, and requiring any employer that mandates its employees receive the vaccine to provide up to four hours of paid time off per dose.
Effective April 21, 2021,
Continue Reading The No Penalty Shot: Chicago Passes Vaccine Anti-Retaliation Ordinance