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Lubin Austermuehle in the News
Crain's List Illinois' Largest Verdicts and Settlements in 2004
Buffalo Grove Dentist: Woman's 'Defamatory' Online Reviews Not 'Innocent,' 'Opinion,' Not Shielded from $4M Lawsuit
Brodsky Gets Interim Suspension to Go With Prior Federal Timeout
Panel Affirms Brodsky Sanction Over 'Egregious' Behavior
Our Diamond Wholesaler Client Receives Full Retraction and Apology Following Filing of Multi-Million Dollar Libel Suit in Chicago Federal Court
Drew Peterson's Ex-Attorney Appealing $50,000 Fine, Anger Management Order
'Vitriolic,' 'Nasty' Conduct Earns Brodsky a $50K Sanction
Rialmo, Peterson Attorney Fined $50,000, Ordered to Undergo Anger Management - May be Barred from Practice
Ex-Drew Peterson Lawyer Joel Brodsky Slammed, Fined by Federal
An Employer's Guide to Copyright Law's Work for Hire Doctrine
Court says ex-Oakton C.C. cop can't press defamation claim vs school over 'problem employee' flyer
Contrite Former Peterson Attorney Brodsky Apologizes for 'Going too Far'
College of DuPage Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Ends in 3 Separate Deals
Former College of DuPage Settle Lawsuit Over Wrongful Termination
Berthold Says Volvo Violated Its Copyright Regarding Typeface
Drew Peterson's Former Lawyer Joel Brodsky Back in Hot Water with Federal Judge
Lubin Austermuehle Attorneys Recognized Among Top Illinois Litigators
Public Safety Officer Cleared of Defamation Claim
Former COD Controller Wins Bid for Unemployment Benefits
Class certified in Yahoo TCPA Case
2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Class Action Demands Chicago Refund all Property Transfer Taxes Charged to Buyers of Fannie Mae Foreclosures
Shareholder Says Vasco Management Should Pay for Shares Crash Following News of Product Sales to Iran
College of DuPage Controller / Assistant VP of Financial Affairs in Board of Trustee's Crosshairs
Certification Affirmed on Appeal
Four Lubin Austermuehle Attorneys Named 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Scope of License at Issue in Font Lawsuit
Sodexo Accused of Failing to Pay Employee's Overtime; Case Settled, Dismissed
Woman Files Class Action Suit Over "MyFord Touch" System
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Sale of Taylor Capital Group
Consumer Succeeds in Defamation Lawsuit Brought Against Him by Used Car Dealership for Internet Reviews
Charlie Trotter Wine Sale Sours
Notice Goes Out in Class Action Suit Against Abercrombie & Fitch
Grant's Class Action Lawsuit Settles
Nationwide Class Certified in Lawsuit Against Abercrombie & Fitch
Lawsuit Claims Hair Treatment a Scam
Unfriendly Confines
Ending Unfair Fees
Lubin Austermuehle Demonstrates Innovative Giving Option
Lawyer's Motives Questioned After Judge's Recusal
Hotel Tagged for Allegedly Labeling Business Cost as Tax Charge
Will County Settles Hiring Suit for $50,000 Man Who Says He Was Passed Over 5 Times Receives New Job, Back Pay
Mrs. Illinois Wins Title all Over Again
Suit Against TCI Now Class Action Cable Late-Fee Charge Called Excessive
State Probing Cable Late Fees City Also Alarmed at Possible Overcharges
7th Circuit splits on arrestee booking fees
The press coverage of the attorneys at Lubin Austermuehle demonstrates our extensive experience with business litigation, class action suits, shareholder, partner and LLC member disputes, defamation law, and trademark and copyright lawsuits. Our Chicago trial lawyers have handled numerous high-profile business disputes involving well-known organizations. At Lubin Austermuehle, our attorneys’ clients have included finance companies, national banks, marketing firms, and other large enterprises facing bet-the-company, high-stakes class action or shareholder lawsuits involving hundreds of millions in claimed damages.
We've helped companies and consumers across the nation achieve justice and successfully navigate complicated cases. Our commitment to the legal profession has earned us plenty of recognition: For instance, the settlement Peter Lubin reached as co-lead counsel in the class action case Erickson v. SBC was ranked as the third largest settlement in Illinois that year by Crain's Chicago Business. Take a look at the rest our news coverage to learn more about our achievements.
Crain's List Illinois' Largest Verdicts and Settlements in 2004 Buffalo Grove Dentist: Woman's 'Defamatory' Online Reviews Not 'Innocent,' 'Opinion,' Not Shielded from $4M Lawsuit Cook County Record - November 28, 2019. A Buffalo Grove dentist is fighting against the dismissal of his $4 million lawsuit in which he accused a woman of posting false reviews about his business.
Brodsky Gets Interim Suspension to Go With Prior Federal Timeout Chicago Daily Law Bulletin - June 21, 2019 Filing pleadings that revealed a client’s business secrets, divulging emails that contained a divorcing couple’s confidential mental health information and launching into what one judge called an “unhinged attack” on an expert witness are among the disciplinary charges facing Chicago attorney Joel A. Brodsky.
Panel Affirms Brodsky Sanction Over 'Egregious' Behavior Chicago Daily Law Bulletin - January 23, 2019 A judge did not overstep her bounds when she sanctioned Chicago attorney Joel A. Brodsky for engaging in “egregious” behavior while representing a client in a civil case, a federal appeals court held.
Our Diamond Wholesaler Client Receives Full Retraction and Apology Following Filing of Multi-Million Dollar Libel Suit in Chicago Federal Court Cook County Record - August 24, 2018. A legal dispute, in which one diamond wholesaler allegedly falsely accused another of fraud, has ended in a settlement to resolve a potential multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit.
Drew Peterson's Ex-Attorney Appealing $50,000 Fine, Anger Management Order Chicago Tribune - April 17, 2018. Convicted killer Drew Peterson's former attorney will appeal after a federal judge slapped him with a $50,000 fine and ordered him to undergo anger management training for his scorched-earth tactics in a straightforward lemon law case.
'Vitriolic,' 'Nasty' Conduct Earns Brodsky a $50K Sanction Chicago Daily Bulletin - March 29, 2018. Vitriolic. Contemptuous. Antagonistic. Confrontational. Nasty.Those are just some of the words U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall used Wednesday to describe...
Rialmo, Peterson Attorney Fined $50,000, Ordered to Undergo Anger Management - May be Barred from Practice Chicago Tribune - March 29, 2018. Drew Peterson's former attorney Joel Brodsky engaged in "unprofessional, contemptuous, and antagonistic behavior" and resorted to "false accusations and inappropriate diatribes" and "acts of intimidation and harassment" that "culminated in an unhinged attack."
Ex-Drew Peterson Lawyer Joel Brodsky Slammed, Fined by Federal Chicago Sun-Times - March 28, 2018. A federal judge has fined a former lawyer for wife-killer Drew Peterson $50,000 and ordered him to take ethics and anger management classes as a result of his conduct in her courtroom.
An Employer's Guide to Copyright Law's Work for Hire Doctrine DCBA Brief - December, 2017. Your company just launched a new website. Great. Now the question is who owns the copyright of your website?
Court says ex-Oakton C.C. cop can't press defamation claim vs school over 'problem employee' flyerCook County Record - July 7, 2017. A federal judge has granted a partial win to Oakton Community College, saying a former Oakton campus police of cer can't press her case the college defamed her when it included ...
Contrite Former Peterson Attorney Brodsky Apologizes for 'Going too Far' Chicago Tribune - July 7, 2017. He falsely accused a rival attorney of running a "criminal enterprise" and tried to get an expert witness locked up in federal prison based on trumped-up allegations.
College of DuPage Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Ends in 3 Separate Deals Daily Herald - June 23, 2017. Thomas Glaser and Lynn Sapyta, two former College of DuPage administrators who were fired by the school in 2015, have settled their federal wrongful termination lawsuit.
Former College of DuPage Settle Lawsuit Over Wrongful Termination Chicago Tribune - June 22, 2017. Former College of DuPage Controller Lynn Sapyta, left, and former Treasurer Thomas Glaser settled their wrongful termination lawsuits with the school on June 22, 2017.
Berthold Says Volvo Violated Its Copyright Regarding Typeface Cook County Record - June 22, 2017. A Chicago company is suing Swedish car manufacturer Volvo AB and its North American entities, alleging copyright infringement.
Drew Peterson's Former Lawyer Joel Brodsky Back in Hot Water with Federal Judge Chicago Tribune - March 29, 2017. Drew Peterson's cantankerous former attorney Joel Brodsky is back in hot water - and a federal judge's patience seems to be wearing thin.
Lubin Austermuehle Attorneys Recognized Among Top Illinois Litigators Super Lawyers - 2016. Lubin Austermuehle attorneys named among top litigators in Illinois in the areas of Business and Class Action law.
Public Safety Officer Cleared of Defamation Claim Chicago Law Bulletin - November 8, 2016. Lubin Austermuehle successfully defended its client, a community college public safety officer, against a claim of defamation brought by a former co-worker. The plaintiff alleged that she had been defamed when the former co-worker superimposed a picture of her onto a flier advertising a seminar about dealing with problem employees. Lubin Austermuehle argued that the flier was not defamatory because it could be innocently construed as having a nondefamatory meaning. A federal judge agreed and dismissed the claim.
Former COD Controller Wins Bid for Unemployment Benefits Daily Herald - April 29, 2016. Lubin Austermuehle successfully defended former College of DuPage controller, Lynn Sapyta, against claims that she is not entitled to unemployment benefits because she engaged in misconduct. Following a hearing before an administrative law judge, the judge found in favor of Sapyta ruling that she is entitled to unemployment benefits. The judge expressly rejected COD's arguments that Sapyta engaged in misconduct instead finding that her work performance was acceptable and that she followed existing accounting practices and used what she believed to be best practices for her job.
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Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune
Class certified in Yahoo TCPA Case Reuters - January 4, 2016. A federal judge has certified a nationwide class of consumers who received text messages from Yahoo! allegedly in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA). The class could consist of as many as 500,000 individuals.
2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Super Lawyers - 2015. Four Lubin Austermuehle attorneys named 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
Class Action Demands Chicago Refund all Property Transfer Taxes Charged to Buyers of Fannie Mae Foreclosures Cook County Record - December 8, 2015. A woman who bought a home last year in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood believes the city improperly charged her taxes on her purchase of the formerly foreclosed property from Fannie Mae.
Shareholder Says Vasco Management Should Pay for Shares Crash Following News of Product Sales to Iran Cook County Record - October 26, 2015. The directors and executive of an Oakbrook Terrace-based provider of digital financial security products has been hit with a lawsuit brought by a shareholder who has claimed the company's management should be made to pay for allegedly concealing from investors.
College of DuPage Controller / Assistant VP of Financial Affairs in Board of Trustee's Crosshairs Daily Herald - September 9, 2015. Lubin Austermuehle has been retained to represent embattled College of DuPage controller and assistant vice president of financial affairs, Lynn Saptya, in pre and post-termination administrative proceedings before the COD board of trustees. Despite receiving numerous accolades during her tenure and having an employment contract running through June 2017, COD has terminated Saptya in what has been described as a political firing following the election of three new board members and the installment of a new chairwoman who has long been critical of Saptya.
Read More from:
Daily Herald; Chicago Tribune; and others
Read about the lawsuit filed by Lubin Austermuehle from:
Chicago Tribune; Daily Herald; and others
Certification Affirmed on Appeal Courthouse News Service - June 1, 2015. A New Jersey appellate court has affirmed certification of a nationwide class in a lawsuit filed by Lubin Austermuehle against Hollister relating to a 2009 holiday gift card promotion. According to the lawsuit, Hollister promised $25 gift cards to customers who purchased $75 worth of merchandise but then voided all the gift cards on January 30, 2010, despite the fact that some of the gift cards had the words "no expiration date" printed on the back of them. The appellate court rejected Hollister's argument that the class should not have been certified because members of the class could not be ascertained.
Read More from:
Courthouse News Service and The Consumerist
Four Lubin Austermuehle Attorneys Named 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Super Lawyers - January 12, 2015. Four Lubin Austermuehle attorneys have been selected as 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Super Lawyers distinguishes the 5% of attorneys in each state in more than 70 practice areas recognizing those attorneys who have attained a high degree of professional achievement and peer recognition for excellence. Rising Stars are selected among those attorneys under 40 or who have been practicing for less than 10 years. Each year no more than 2.5% of attorneys in a state are selected as Rising Stars. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
This year, founding partner Peter S. Lubin, has once again been named Super Lawyer in the areas of business litigation, class action, and consumer rights. Patrick D. Austermuehle has been selected as Rising Stars.
The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Look for these attorneys' names and profiles in the Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine and in Chicago magazine.
Scope of License at Issue in Font Lawsuit Cook County Record - September 26, 2014. Lubin Austermuehle recently filed a breach of contract lawsuit on behalf of font software giant Berthold Types against Scripps Networks Interactive, a media company whose brands include HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, and Great American Country. According to the complaint, Scripps Networks Interactive allegedly used font software licensed from Berthold in violation of the license agreement.
Sodexo Accused of Failing to Pay Employee's Overtime; Case Settled, Dismissed Cook County Record - March 24, 2014. A woman is suing over claims her employer hasn't paid her for overtime work.
Woman Files Class Action Suit Over "MyFord Touch" System Cook County Record - January 16, 2014. A woman has filed a class action lawsuit over what she alleges is a defective feature in the car she bought in March 2013.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Sale of Taylor Capital Group Chicago Tribune - July 30, 2013. When Chicago-based MB Financial agreed to buy Taylor Capital Group not all of Taylor's shareholders were happy. A class action lawsuit filed by Lubin Austermuehle on behalf of Taylor's shareholders alleges that Taylor and its board of directors breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to a sale that undervalues the company and shortchanges shareholders.
Consumer Succeeds in Defamation Lawsuit Brought Against Him by Used Car Dealership for Internet Reviews Today's TMJ 4 - July 12, 2013. When David Bates posted negative reviews online about a used car dealership, he never guessed it would land him in court. Lubin Austermuehle successfully defended Mr. Bates in a defamation lawsuit brought against him by the used car dealership by arguing that the negative reviews were protected by the First Amendment.
Charlie Trotter Wine Sale Sours ABC News - June 15, 2013. Famous chef, Charlie Trotter, sued for allegedly selling counterfeit bottle of wine.
Notice Goes Out in Class Action Suit Against Abercrombie & Fitch PRWeb - May 24, 2013. Notice has gone out to notify members of the nationwide class of the pending lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch. More information and important documents can be found on the class notice website.
Grant's Class Action Lawsuit Settles Daily Herald - February 12, 2013. A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit filed against Grant's Appliances and other Grant stores relating to a rebate program. As a result of the nearly $600,000 settlement, approximately 7,000 class members will receive checks later this year.
Nationwide Class Certified in Lawsuit Against Abercrombie & Fitch Reuters - March 2012. A Judge has certified a nationwide class in a consumer fraud class action filed by Lubin Austermuehle on behalf of consumers who received gift cards at Abercrombie stores as part of a 2009 holiday promotion. Abercrombie petitioned to decertify the class but the Seventh Circuit sided with Lubin Austermuehle and denied Abercrombie's petition. This case has been covered extensively in a number of blogs.
Lawsuit Claims Hair Treatment a Scam Chicago Sun-Times - August 5, 2009. When laser therapy, scalp messages and dietary supplements didn't work, two clients of Deerfield-based Natural Hair Growth Institute sought refunds.
Unfriendly Confines Justice for Cubs fan allegedly assaulted by a Wrigley Field Security Guard.
Ending Unfair Fees Class action suit for Chicagoans allegedly overcharged on cable late fees.
Lubin Austermuehle Demonstrates Innovative Giving Option The Kane Center Advocate - Winter, 2004. The Mandel Clinic was recently named as a recipient of funds remaining from several class action suits brought by the law firm of Lubin Austermuehle on behalf of a class of plaintiffs who were improperly charged an "occupancy" tax during their stays in several suburban hotels.
Lawyer's Motives Questioned After Judge's Recusal Chicago Sun-Times - June 3, 2004. Did lawyers for one side of a case hire the judge's former law partner just so the judge would recuse himself? It doesn't matter -- it "just simply looks bad," Dorothy Kirie Kinnaird, presiding judge of the Cook County Circuit Court's Chancery Division, wrote in a rare order knocking an attorney off of a case.
Hotel Tagged for Allegedly Labeling Business Cost as Tax Charge Chicago Daily Law Bulletin - June 5, 2003. An increasingly common tactic by retailers is to advertise a product or service at a particular price and then tack on extra fees and charges. One particularly deceptive variation of this maneuver is to label extra fees in a way that makes them appear to be taxes or other government-imposed charges.
Will County Settles Hiring Suit for $50,000 Man Who Says He Was Passed Over 5 Times Receives New Job, Back Pay Chicago Tribune - August 9, 1999. Will County has settled for $50,000 a civil rights lawsuit brought by a University Park man who said he was passed over five times for jobs that went to younger, less qualified white applicants.
Mrs. Illinois Wins Title all Over Again Chicago Sun-Times - July 24, 1999. The judge's decision is in, and the winner of the 1999 Mrs. Illinois contest is: Mrs. Illinois 1999. Backers of reigning beauty queen Monica Skylling-Burke turned back a legal challenge Friday by first runner-up Lisa Appleby, who had sued last month to wrest the title from her.
Suit Against TCI Now Class Action Cable Late-Fee Charge Called Excessive Chicago Sun-Times - February 19, 1998. If you have ever paid a late fee on your Tele-Communications Inc. bill, you are suing the cable TV giant to get a refund. On Wednesday, Cook County Circuit Judge Aaron Jaffe certified a class-action suit against TCI, a legal step allowing lawyers to pursue their case against the company. A trial could come as soon as late summer.
State Probing Cable Late Fees City Also Alarmed at Possible Overcharges Chicago Sun-Times - September 28, 1997. Cable TV companies that charge millions of dollars in late fees are being investigated by the Illinois attorney general's office for possible consumer fraud, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. At the same time, the City of Chicago is preparing to get tough on Prime Cable and Chicago Cable TV over their late fees.
7th Circuit splits on arrestee booking feesChicago Daily Law Bulletin - July 22, 2014. People forced to pay $30 to the village of Woodridge following their arrest won’t be getting their money back — at least, not any time soon.
