About. |
|
Steven SchneckAttorney
|
Academic BackgroundSteve received his law degree from New York University (1987) and his Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Business Management from Cornell University (1984). He was awarded the Moot Court Advocacy Award in 1985 while at New York University.
|
Admissions
|
Decades of Professional Experience
Steve moved to Chicago after finishing law school. He was a law clerk for the Honorable Hubert Will, Northern District of Illinois for two years (1987-89). Steve then worked as an Associate at Hartunian, Futterman & Howard (1989-91), Aram Hartunian & Associates (1991-94) and Robert D. Allison & Associates (1994-2012). In 2013, Steve and Robert Allison formed a partnership, Allison & Schneck, LLC, which they continued through 2017.
From January 2018 through January 2021, Steve was Of Counsel at Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C., focusing on employment discrimination and False Claims Act cases. He also counseled a charter school in Rockford, and several not-for-profit social service agencies and community health centers on employment policies and litigation matters.
Steve has been Special Counsel to Soule Bradtke and Lambert since July 2020. He works with a team of lawyers representing the National Fair Housing Alliance and 19 other fair housing organizations across the country challenging systemic discrimination with respect to the failure to maintain and market vacant and foreclosed homes. From March 2020 through November 2022, Steve and other attorneys monitored employment actions and policies of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and the Cook County Assessor, pursuant to federal court orders.
In January 2021, Steve started his own firm, Steven Schneck, Attorney at Law, LLC. Steve continues to represent plaintiffs in individual and class action litigation focusing on discrimination, fraud, and civil rights matters; and advises individuals and socially responsible businesses and organizations on employment claims and related matters.
In January 2021, Steve started his own firm, Steven Schneck, Attorney at Law, LLC. Steve continues to represent plaintiffs in individual and class action litigation focusing on discrimination, fraud, and civil rights matters; and advises individuals and socially responsible businesses and organizations on employment claims and related matters.
Notable Cases
|
United States of America, ex rel. Penny McGuire v. Brynwood Myofascial Therapy, LLC, et. al.
|
No. 19 C 3015 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This was an action on behalf of the United States brought by a former employee of a skilled therapy provider in Rockford, Illinois, alleging that the business and its owners violated the False Claims Act by submitting false Medicare claims for physical and occupational therapy services. The settlement recovered over $1.5 million on behalf of the government, a share of which was distributed to the whistleblower for her assistance. The settlement was reached without a determination of liability. Steve was the lead counsel and worked with counsel from Miner, Barnhill & Galland, LLC, along with the United States Attorney's Office in Chicago. The Department of Justice's full press release, issued February 28, 2024, and the Consent Judgment, are available here.
|
Arenson v. Whitehall Convalescent and Nursing Home
|
No. 94 C 2508 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve was co-lead counsel in a civil RICO class action brought on behalf of nursing home residents who were falsely promised (in writing) that their medications could be purchased for them by the nursing home and they would be charged the actual cost, with no additional charge for this convenience. The class was certified and the case settled before trial.
|
Latuga v. Hooters
|
No. 93 C 7709, 94 C 6338 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented men who were denied the positions of host, server and bartender at Hooters restaurants because of their gender. Hooters contended that being female was a BFOQ for these positions. The District Court certified a class under Title VII that included applicants and deterred applicants and the case settled.
|
Washington v. Eagle Food Centers
|
No. 94 C 2321 (C.D. Ill)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented African American employees who worked for a supermarket chain. The claims under Title VII and Section 1981 included discrimination in compensation and promotions. A class was certified and the case settled.
|
Rice v. Rockford Memorial Hospital
|
No. 96 C 50306 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented African American employees working at a large hospital in Rockford who brought claims of discrimination concerning several terms and conditions of employment. The case was settled.
|
Cross v. City of Rockford
|
No. 97 C 50201 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented African Americans who were denied promotion opportunities, assigned inferior equipment and paid less than their white co-workers in Rockford’s Streets and Sanitation Department. The case settled before trial.
|
Jefferson v. Ingersoll Milling Machinery Co.
|
No. 98 C 50042 (N.D. Ill.), consolidated with No. 00 C 50260 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented African Americans who were discriminated against in hiring, compensation and promotions and female employees who were discriminated against in compensation. Classes were certified and the case settled before trial.
|
Green and Peter v. Peters
|
71 C 1403 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This case on behalf of adult inmates throughout Illinois Department of Corrections facilities challenged violations of their First Amendment right to receive reading materials. Steve worked on the case starting in 1997, when the Department of Corrections sought to have longstanding consent decrees vacated. Based on Steve’s efforts, the Department of Corrections amended several policies and regulations to address and correct individual and systemic violations.
|
In re Nicor, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litig.
|
No. 2 CH 15499 (Cook County, Ill., Chancery Div.)
|
This was a derivative action alleging that Nicor defrauded its rate payers and the state regulatory agency by secretly changing Nicor’s method of financial accounting for the utility’s large gas reserves. Steve was the primary counsel for the plaintiffs during discovery and presented the proposed settlement at a fairness hearing, which the Court approved.
|
Bell v. Woodward
|
No. 4 C 50006 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented two overlapping classes who were discriminated against with respect to compensation, promotions and training: African American, Hispanic and Asian employees (No. 3 C 50190) and female employees (No. 6 C 50178). Claims were brought under Title VII and the Equal Pay Act. The cases were settled.
|
Schaid v. Woodward
|
No. 4 C 50006 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This was a sexual harassment and retaliation case brought on behalf of a woman who was grossly mistreated by her supervisor and co-workers. Steve was the primary counsel throughout the litigation, which settled before trial.
|
McFadden v. Board of Educ. For Ill. Sch. District U-46
|
No. 5 C 760 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This was a class action brought on behalf of African American and Hispanic students attending District U-46 public schools. The claims included that the school district maintained segregated elementary gifted education programs. Following a bench trial, Plaintiffs prevailed on the segregated gifted education claim and the case settled.
|
Scherr v. Marriott
|
No. 8 C 2098 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This was a negligence action brought by an elderly and disabled woman who was seriously injured by the bathroom door in her handicap accessible hotel room. Claims were brought against the hotel, the architecture firm that designed the bathroom, the manufacturer of the door closer and the company that renovated the hotel. All claims were settled.
|
Ware et al. v. Concrete Structures of the Midwest, Inc.,
et al. |
No. 19 C 4160 (N.D. Ill.)
|
Steve and his co-counsel represented construction workers who worked on two related projects at the McCormick Square Complex in Chicago. Discrimination and retaliation claims were brought under Title VII, Section 1981, and the ADA.
|
National Fair Housing Alliance, et al. v. Deutsche Bank National Trust, et al.
|
No. 18 CV 839 (N.D. Ill.)
|
This is an action brought on behalf of 20 fair housing organizations alleging that a multinational bank and its service providers violated the Fair Housing Act by failing to preserve, maintain, market and sell foreclosed real estate owned properties in predominantly African American and Latino middle income metro areas across the United States. Steve joined the Plaintiffs’ counsel team in July 2020.