Chicago Business Litigation Attorney Blog http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/ Published by Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC en-us 2010-07-06T12:31:33-06:00 Supreme Court Issues Ruling On Challenging Fairness of Arbitration Clause http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2010/07/supreme_court_issues_ruling_on.html Ruling in favor of the appellant, the Supreme Court established a standard for challenging the fairness of arbitration clauses in court. See Rent-A-Center, West v. Jackson, 2010 WL 2471058 (2010). Through a 5-4 majority, the court in Rent-A-Center, West v.... Arbitration Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2010-07-06T12:31:33-06:00 Supreme Court Applies Stricter Pleading Standard for Civil Actions http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2010/03/supreme_court_applies_stricter_1.html In Ashcroft v. Iqbal, the Supreme Court reinforced the Twombly Court’s interpretation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, (2009). In Twombly, the Court developed a plausibility standard to determine whether a complaint sufficiently... Pleadings Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2010-03-02T15:47:08-06:00 Illinois Courts Define Respondeat Superior http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2010/02/illinois_courts_define_respond.html In Illinois, an employer is subject to vicarious liability for his employees under the doctrine of respondeat superior. Bank of America, N.A. v. Bird.392 Ill.App.3d 621, 911 N.E.2d 1239, 331 Ill.Dec. 1009 (2009). Under this doctrine, an employer can be... Vicarious Liability Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2010-02-04T18:24:21-06:00 Delaware Courts Discuss Proper Purpose for the Inspection of Corporate Books and Records http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/12/delaware_courts_discuss_proper.html A stockholder of a Delaware corporation, under 8 Del. C. § 220, has a statutory right to inspect the books and records of the corporation. Norfolk County Retirement System v. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc., 2009 WL 353746 (Del.Ch.) For... Shareholder Derivative Litigation Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-12-21T09:00:00-06:00 Illinois Courts Recognize Promissory Estoppel As A Cause of Action http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/11/illinois_courts_recognize_prom_1.html Illinois Courts define promissory estoppel as a promise which the promisor should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee or a third person and which does induce such action or forbearance is binding if... Promissory Estoppel Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-11-16T10:32:41-06:00 U.S. Supreme Court Holds Forum Selection Clauses are Generally Enforceable http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/11/us_supreme_court_holds_forum_s_1.html According to the U.S. Supreme Court, a forum selection clause is prima facie valid and should be enforced unless enforcement is shown by the opposing party to be unreasonable under the circumstances. Applied Card Systems, Inc. v. Winthrop Resources Corp.,... Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-11-04T12:30:05-06:00 Illinois Courts’ Requirements for Piercing the Corporate Veil http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/10/illinois_courts_requirements_f.html In Illinois, generally, the law regards a corporation as an entity separate and distinct from its officers, shareholders, and directors and therefore those parties will not be held personally liable for the corporation’s debts and obligations. Melko v. Dionisio, 219... Piercing the Corporate Veil Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-10-27T09:18:17-06:00 Illinois Courts Provide Requirements For A Joint Venture or Partnership to Exist http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/10/illinois_courts_provide_requir.html Illinois courts have held that for a partnership or joint venture to exist a written agreement may not be required as long as specific requirements are satisfied. The Uniform Partnership Act defines a partnership as “an association of two or... Joint Venture Agreements Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-10-22T11:44:28-06:00 Illinois Courts Define Strict Liability in Product Liability Cases http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/10/illinois_courts_define_strict.html Illinois Courts have held that in a product liability case, strict liability may be predicated on a finding that the product is unreasonably dangerous, regardless of who is at fault. Miller v. Dvornik, 149 Ill.app.2d 883, 889, 103 Ill.Dec. 139,... Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-10-05T08:16:22-06:00 Illinois Courts Define Contractual Unconscionability http://www.chicagobusinesslitigationattorneyblog.com/2009/09/illinois_courts_define_contrac_1.html Illinois courts have held that a contract may be deemed unconscionable when it is improvident, oppressive, or completely one sided. Streams Sports Club, Ltd. v. Richmond, 99 Ill.2d 182, 191, 75 Ill.Dec. 667, 457 N.E.2d 1226, 1232 (1983). Additionally,... Tamari & Blumenthal, LLC 2009-09-21T15:24:44-06:00