By: Mary T. Yong Illinois was one of the first states to adopt Biometric Privacy legislation. The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14) provides for the award of damages where a private entity violates an individual’s privacy rights under the Act. A private entity violates section 15(b) of […]

By: Storrs W. Downey  In the Seventh Circuit Court’s decision in Emerson v. Dart, No. 23-3029 (7th Cir. 7/26/24), the Court held that for a former employee to establish a potentially viable retaliatory discharge claim they had to present more evidence than just an ongoing active workers’ compensation claim at […]

We are pleased to announce that Capital Member Kirsten Kaiser Kus and Of Counsel Werner Sabo have been recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.   Kirsten has received this accolade for her work in Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers.  Werner has received this accolade for his work […]

By: Matthew E. Hobson The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments in June 2024 on a case that will have implications for the production and inspection of cell phones during discovery in civil cases. Jennings v. Smiley, 24S-CT-186, is a run-of-the-mill motor vehicle accident case in which Jennings (Plaintiff-Appellant) sought […]

Congratulations to Income Member Kristin Lechowicz on a successful trial result. The Petitioner, a traveling nurse, was rear-ended in a motor vehicle accident, leading to neck and low back sprains. Over the years, Petitioner’s complaints escalated to include alleged neurological and psychological issues, which she claimed prevented her from continuing her […]

By: Jessica B. Jackler On April 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the finalized overtime rule extending overtime protections to millions of salaried workers. The final rule goes into effect on July 1, 2024. The final rule will restore and extend the right to overtime pay to many […]

Kristin concentrates her practice in workers’ compensation defense. She vigorously represents employers and insurance carriers throughout all stages of litigated matters. Her knowledge in handling cases on behalf of both petitioners and respondents gives her a unique advantage when it comes to counseling, evaluating, and developing practical and effective defense […]

Please join us in welcoming our new attorney Matthew Hobson. Mat concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation and general liability. Prior to joining Downey & Lenkov, he handled plaintiff’s employment and workers’ compensation litigation, which uniquely positions him to provide strategic and effective counsel to clients. He also practiced in […]

By: Mary T. Yong The Illinois First District Appellate Court recently issued a ruling in National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford and Continental Insurance Company v. Visual Pak Company, Inc. that clarified coverage issues in favor of insurers denying coverage related to claims brought pursuant to the Illinois Biometric Privacy […]

Please join us in welcoming our new attorneys Mary Yong, David Ryan, Donn LaHaie and Kealia Hollingsworth. Illinois Mary has extensive experience in general insurance defense matters, including property, casualty, product liability and transportation claims. David is a highly respected lawyer with over 30 years of experience in handling complex […]