District Court, N.D. Illinois December 8, 2011, 09 C 1188 (Van Straaten v. SHELL OIL PRODUCTS CO., LLC)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BLANCHE M. MANNING, District Judge.

In 1950, Diners Club issued its first credit cards, crafted from cardboard, so diners could charge meals in 27 restaurants in New York City. One year later, nearly 20,000 Americans had a Diners Club card. In 1958, American Express and BankAmericard (now Visa) created credit cards that rapidly gained acceptance as the words “charge it!