Verdict . News

3w ago•5 min read

•Tonnette Jones was terminated from Cook County Juvenile Probation Department in early 2018 for alleged performance issues and insubordination

7th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Probation Officer Bias Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Cook County's Juvenile Probation Department in a Title VII hostile work environment case. Former probation officer Tonnette Jones alleged racial discrimination after her 2018 termination, but the federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of her claims.

•Jones claimed her supervisors created a racially hostile work environment in violation of Title VII

•A contractor's failure to mark gas lines led to a 2018 explosion that severely injured three women in Georgia

7th Circuit Rules on $2.7M Gas Explosion Insurance Coverage Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled January 22, 2026, in a complex insurance coverage dispute between Atlanta Gas Light Company and Navigators Insurance Company following a 2018 gas line explosion in Georgia that severely injured three women.

•Atlanta Gas Light Company sought coverage under its contractor's excess insurance policy after settlements exhausted primary coverage

•Seventh Circuit rejected discovery rule for Illinois Right of Publicity Act statute of limitations

7th Circuit Rejects Discovery Rule for Illinois Right of Publicity Claims

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Illinois courts would not apply a discovery rule to right of publicity claims, rejecting a military veteran's argument that his lawsuit should begin when he discovered his combat photo was being sold commercially rather than when it was first published.

•Military veteran's lawsuit over unauthorized use of combat photo deemed untimely

•Former Harvey building inspector Lester Crowder convicted under Travel Act for bribery scheme

7th Circuit Affirms Conviction of Harvey Building Inspector in Travel Act Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of former Harvey, Illinois building inspector Lester Crowder under the federal Travel Act for using interstate facilities to promote bribery. The court rejected Crowder's arguments challenging jury instructions, evidence sufficiency, and the constitutionality of Illinois bribery statutes.

•Seventh Circuit rejected appeals challenging jury instructions, evidence sufficiency, and constitutional arguments

3w ago•5 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed denial of motion to suppress evidence in drug case involving Ryan Douglas

7th Circuit Upholds Drug Search Warrants Under Good Faith Exception

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence in a drug case, ruling that the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule applied. Ryan Douglas had challenged search warrants for his home and cell phone in a methamphetamine distribution case.

•Court applied good faith exception despite Douglas's arguments that search warrants lacked probable cause

•Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing deliberate indifference claims against Hancock County Jail officials

7th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Jail Medical Care Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Hancock County Jail officials in a case where a detainee developed a post-surgical infection. Nicholas Zemlick had sued under Section 1983, claiming deliberate indifference to his medical needs.

•Detainee developed post-surgical infection while recovering from elective abdominal surgery at jail facility

•A 2018 gas line explosion in Homerville, Georgia severely injured three women when a contractor failed to properly mark gas lines owned by Atlanta Gas Light Company

7th Circuit Rules on Gas Company Insurance Coverage After Georgia Explosion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled in an insurance coverage dispute between Atlanta Gas Light Company and Navigators Insurance Company stemming from a 2018 gas line explosion in Georgia that severely injured three women. The case centers on whether the insurer must cover settlement costs after a contractor failed to properly mark gas lines.

•Navigators Insurance Company denied coverage to Atlanta Gas Light, arguing the company was not an additional insured under the excess policy

3w ago•5 min read

•Seventh Circuit rejected discovery rule for Illinois Right of Publicity Act, requiring claims within one year of unauthorized use regardless of when discovered

7th Circuit Rejects Discovery Rule for Illinois Publicity Rights Claims

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against applying a discovery rule to Illinois Right of Publicity Act claims, dismissing a veteran's lawsuit over unauthorized use of his military photo in commercial posters. The decision limits when plaintiffs can file publicity rights claims under Illinois law.

•Army veteran Nicholas Giovannelli lost lawsuit against Walmart and others over unauthorized use of his 2009 Afghanistan combat photo in commercial posters

•Seventh Circuit rejects discovery rule for Illinois Right of Publicity Act statute of limitations

7th Circuit: Discovery Rule Doesn't Apply to Illinois Publicity Rights Claims

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Illinois courts would not apply a discovery rule to right of publicity claims, rejecting a veteran's argument that his lawsuit over unauthorized use of his military photo should be timely. The court held that the one-year statute of limitations begins when the image is first published, not when the person discovers the use.

•One-year limitation period begins when image is first published, not when subject discovers use