A woman is suing Crate & Barrel for injuries she says she sustained after she "stepped on a barrel."

Mary Lou Beckers says that, while at the Crate & Barrel Outlet Store in Naperville, she "stepped on a barrel that was sticking out in the aisle area, causing her to fall and sustain serious injuries."

The complaint states that the store was negligent when it, among other things, "failed to provide a warning sign."

Read the complaint after the jump.

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Ty vs Toys 'R Us re: Beanie Babies trademark.  And, read the complaint after the jump.

Woman with malaria sues Northwestern Hospital

Trying to get in the carpool lane with a mannequin 

Plus, be sure to tune in tomorrow morning to hear me and my exotic NJ accent (music to your ears) on ChicagoNow Radio.  I'll be on with Joe the Cop at 11:30AM!

Follow me on Twitter @jenfernicola.

A man is suing Toyota and Hertz after the gas pedal in his rented Corolla allegedly became stuck and resulted in a collision.

Ed Izenstark says that on December 26, 2009, he was involved in a car accident after the gas pedal in the Toyota Corolla he rented from Hertz became stuck and he was unable to stop at the intersection, resulting in a crash with a third party and injuries to Izenstark and his passenger.

Izenstark is suing Toyota under the theories of negligence and strict liability.  Read more about Toyota in the news here.

Read the complaint after the jump.

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A class action lawsuit has been filed against AT&T alleging violation of state and federal law prohibiting taxation on internet access.

According to the complaint, AT&T improperly charges Illinois customers state and local sales tax on internet access on its monthly bills.  It lists the charges as a separate charge on bills to customers, the complaint states.

The complaint states that the Internet Fairness Act prohibits state and local governments from imposing taxes on internet access and, while Illinois law imposes a tax on telecommunications service, it does not impose it if it is already prohibited by federal law.

Read the complaint after the jump.

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The entertainment company behind Star Wars is suing an outdoor billboard advertising company over its name.

Lucasfilm has produced some of the most famous motion pictures in history and owns a registration with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the term Skywalker, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, Skywalker Outdoor sells outdoor billboard advertising space and entered into an agreement with Lucasfilm in December 2007 where it agreed to stop using the Skywalker marks. 

The agreement allowed a one-year phase out with Skywalker Outdoor ceasing use of all Skywalker marks by December 31, 2008, the complaint states.

Now, however, Lucasfilm says that the defendant continues to operate and advertise its business under the Skywalker Outdoor name.

Read the complaint after the jump.

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A CPS student who was allegedly hit with a brick while riding the school bus is suing CPS.

Akiya Johnson, who is now an adult, says that from November or December of 2004 through January of 2005, her school bus drove each day through an intersection where, on more than one occassion, unknown individuals threw snowballs and rocks at the bus. 

According to the complaint, Johnson's mother called defendants regarding the attacks, but no route adjustment or other corrective measures were taken.

On February 22, 2005, at least one rock and/or brick was thrown at the bus, broke the window and struck Akiya Johnson in the left eye, the complaint states.

Johnson is also suing, among others, the Board of Education and the individual bus driver.

Read the complaint after the jump.

Follow me on Twitter @jenfernicola.

A truck driver is suing his former employer for allegedly terminating him for refusing to drive when he was too tired.

Leon Trimble says that on October 17, 2008, after working a full shift from around 6:30 - 7AM to 3:30PM, his boss at A&T Trucking asked him to pick up another load which would have required him to continue driving until at least 9PM.

According to the complaint, when Trimble, who drove an 18 wheeled truck, told his boss that he could not safely continue to drive that day because his eyes were burning and fatigued, his boss insisted he continue driving or face termination.  Trimble again stated he could not safely drive and was then discharged, the complaint states.

The complaint further states that Trimble reasonably and in good faith believed that by continuing to drive, he would be violating state and federal regulations, which state "No driver shall operate a commercial motor vehicle ... while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired, through fatigue, illness or any other cause...."

Read the complaint after the jump.

Follow me on Twitter @jenfernicola.

Four workers at Ole Ole Restaurant are expected to file a federal lawsuit today alleging certain wage related and other claims.  Read more here.

Check back on Bar-tender for a copy of the complaint as soon as it is made available.

Follow me on Twitter @jenfernicola.

Who's friends with who

About the criminal defendant (a former police officer) who has subpoenaed Facebook for records that show investigators and certain bar patrons were online friends, raising issues about the impartiality of the investigation.  But, Facebook is holding out.  Read more here.

Who Dat doesn't belong to the NFL

That the NFL is not going to claim the Saints' fleur de lis or the phrase Who Dat. Read more here.

Who's being asked to retire

EEOC says a law firm discriminates based on age when it asks partners who reach the age of 70 to retire.  Read more here.

Who's leaving

Mayor Daley's ethics aide resigns.  Read more here.

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Follow me on Twitter @jenfernicola.