The topic on Saturday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition is "Count my Vote! Election Protection, Voting Litigation and Legislation."
The events will be preceded by an NBA Board of Governors retreat on Thursday, Oct. 21, followed by a 6:30 p.m. reception, "A Bronzeville Sampler," at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Drive.
For information about registering for the Branton Symposium, the awards luncheon or the CCBA benefit, call (202) 842-3900.
ISBA-sponsored panel among Humanities Festival events
A government panel discussion, "Iraq: Constituting a Nation," which is co-sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, is one of several law-related presentations during the Chicago Humanities Festival next month.
The discussion about challenges that face Iraqi leaders in establishing a new constitution, will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, in the student center of DePaul University's Lincoln Park campus.
The moderator is Mark E. Wojcik, chair of the ISBA International and Immigration Law Section Council and director of global legal studies at The John Marshall Law School.
Panelists are Douglass W. Cassel Jr., director of the Center for International Human Rights at the Northwestern University School of Law; Feisal al-Istrabadl, vice president of the Iraqi Forum for Democracy, and Chicago Tribune writer Stephen Franklin.
A highlight of the Humanities Festival each year is a mock trial or appeal. This year it is Slats Grobnik v. Fat Food, a simulated judicial focus on the issue of responsibility for a national epidemic of obesity, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Northwestern University School of Law.
Should Slats Grobnik collect from the food industry for his own over-indulgence and growing obesity? Or is it time for a diet, not a lawsuit?
These questions will be posed to an appeals panel that consists of Chief Judge Charles P. Kocoras of U.S. District Court, District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon, and Illinois Appellate Justice Warren D. Wolfson.
Attorneys Leslie M. Smith and Bernard R. Tresnowski will argue that purveyors of tempting foods are to blame for Grobnik's obesity. Philip L. Harris and Alan N. Salpeter will respond on behalf of the food industry.
Chicago Humanities Festival programs, based on the theme of Time, will be conducted from Oct. 30 to Nov. 14 at various locations around the city. Among those with law-related substance are:
Saturday, Nov. 6, 11:30 a.m. in Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University Two-minute Warnings, Sudden Death Overtimes, and Running out the Clock, a sports panel moderated by Lester Munson, attorney and associate editor of Sports Illustrated.
Saturday, Nov. 6, 1:30 p.m. at the Northwestern University School of Law - University of Chicago Law Prof. Geoffrey R. Stone speaks on the right to freedom of speech during wartime.
Saturday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church Author Mark Salzman reviews his experiences as a writing teacher at a maximum-security prison for juvenile offenders.
Sunday, Nov. 7, 12:30 p.m. at the Chicago Historical Society Annals of Revolt: 1968, a panel that includes Congressman Bobby Rush, a founder of the Illinois Black Panther Party.
Sunday, Nov. 7, 2 p.m. in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center Adolfo AguilarZinser, former Mexican ambassador to the United Nations, explores the viability of multi-lateralism and the rule of international law.
Sunday, Nov. 7, 4 p.m. at Alliance Francaise de Chicago Sean McConville, professor of law and criminology at the University of London, discusses politically motivated offenses and offenders who use prison to advance their images.
Sunday, Nov. 7, 4 p.m. in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center Chicago Tribune movie critic Michael Wilmington examines the development and use of films about prison riots and escapes.
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 6 p.m. at the Northwestern University School of Law Joseph Califano, president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, discusses his memoir of moving the world by tenacity, courage and deeply felt ethics.
Thursday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. at the Northwestern University School of Law Public policy roundtable on the future of Social Security, moderated by D. Cameron Findlay, general counsel of Aon Corp.
Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Northwestern University School of Law Law and Literature Panel: Representations of Violence, including Law Prof. Stephen B. Presser.
Saturday, Nov. 13, 3:30 p.m. at the Northwestern University School of Law Jean Harris, murderer of Dr. Herman Tarnower, discusses redemption. A subsequent panel discussion includes Andrea Lyon of the DePaul University College of Law and James R. Coldren, president of the John Howard Association.
Sunday, Nov. 14, 1:30 p.m. at the Northwestern University School of Law Chicago attorney and author Scott Turow discusses crimes of love in his books.
Sunday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m. in the Newberry Library - Scott Turow discusses the writer-editor relationship in shaping a work for publication.
Tickets for most events are $5 per person. Visit the Web site, www.chfestival.org, call the CHF box office at (312) 494-9509, or visit the Chicago Tribune store
Estate, trust panel is Oct. 22
The second of two ISBA Law Ed Series seminars titled "Estates and Trusts Potpourri" will be presented by the Trusts and Estates Section on Friday, Oct. 22, at Hawthorne Suites in Bloomington.
A wide range of related topics includes trusts for the care of pets, estate planning for same-sex couples and blended families, and updates on powers of attorney and guardianships.
The seminars are coordinated by section council vice chair Deborah B. Cole of Hoogendoorn & Talbot, Chicago, who will open the programs at 8:30 a.m. with introductory remarks. The schedule follows.
8:40 a.m. Power of Attorney for Healthcare and Property, with section council member Paul A. Meints of Bloomington; drafting POAs that clients can use, HIPAA concerns, and traps for the unwary.
9:40 a.m. Guardianship Update, with Valee L. Salone of Chicago; overlap with mental health law, involuntary confinement, eligibility for government planning benefits, and supplemental needs trust planning.
10:45 a.m. Law Office Automation, with Shari Mathis of Microsoft Corp., Chicago, and Felton Armand of Advanced Information Resources; software and hardware combinations that offer productivity enhancements.
11:45 a.m. Luncheon period.
1 p.m. Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Relationships, with Janet L. Grove of Armstrong & Grove, Mattoon; same-sex couples, blended families, and medical miracles.
1:45 p.m. Irrevocable Insurance Trusts, with section council member Philip E. Koenig of Konecky, Koenig, Kutsunis & Weng. Rock Island; changes that require second looks, and considerations for termination.
2:45 p.m. Pet Trusts, with section council member Michael C. Wiedel of Wiedel, Hudzik, Russ & Philipp, Downers Grove; new legislation, and practical advice on drafting and implementation.
3:05 p.m. Starker (Section 1031) Exchanges, with Hugh E. Pollard of the ATG Trust Co., Chicago; helping clients build wealth through deferral of capital gains taxes on the sale of real estate held for investment.
Illinois Supreme Court disciplinary orders: September
The following Illinois Supreme Court disciplinary orders were filed Sept. 24 and 27. Summaries are provided by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
THEODORE S. ASHBELL, Chicago: Ashbell, who was licensed in 1979, was suspended for 30 days. During the course of representing a plaintiff in a medical malpractice action, Ashbell, who is also a physician, met separately with two of his client's former physicians, representing to them that he was meeting with them as a fellow doctor. The physicians were unrepresented by counsel and revealed confidential information that Ashbell later attempted to use to further his client's case.
MARGARET ROSE BEST, Southhaven, Miss.: Best, who was licensed in 1991, was disbarred. She misappropriated $128,682 from two schools for the deaf and converted $56,656 in settlement funds owed to a special education client.
JOHN FRANCIS BRENNAN, Chicago: Brennan, who was licensed in 1984, was censured. He agreed to represent a client in a claim for fraud and deceptive practices arising out of a real estate transaction. He neglected the matter and misled the client about the status of the claim for several years.
KELVIN CONNELL BULGER, Chicago: Bulger, who was licensed in 1988, was suspended for five months. He incompetently represented his clients in an attempted appeal of a non-final order, falsely verified and notarized an answer to a complaint on behalf of those clients, and then falsely testified in court about the verification.
DALE ALAN CARLSON, Harvard: Carlson, who was licensed in 1986, was disbarred on consent. He prepared a fraudulent court order in a probate estate, reciting that the administrator of the estate was to disburse funds to Carlson to be held in trust, and affixed a judge's signature to the order without the judge's consent. He then used the order to deceive the estate administrator into giving him approximately $32,000, which he used for his own purposes.
THOMAS GERARD COSGROVE, Chicago: Cosgrove, who was licensed in 1991, was censured. While serving as an assistant state's attorney, he assisted a judge in improperly dismissing an overweight truck citation in order to accommodate a friend of the judge.
PATRICK JOSEPH CROTTY, Hinsdale: Crotty, who was licensed in 1978, was suspended for one year and until further order of court, with all but five months of the suspension stayed by probation for one year with conditions. He made a series of loans totaling $13,100 from funds in an irrevocable insurance trust, which he had drafted and for which he was the trustee. He made the loans to a former client without disclosure to the person who created the trust or to the beneficiaries of the trust and without their consent. Thereafter, he failed to complete timely an accounting for the trust.
NOEL DENNIS, DesPlaines: Dennis, who was licensed in 1977, was suspended for two years, with the suspension stayed after one year by probation with certain conditions. While representing various clients in personal injury and medical benefits matters, he mishandled at least $50,955.45 of funds held on behalf of clients or intended for third parties.
BURGESS FRANCIS ERVIN, Chicago: Ervin, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for two years and until he makes certain restitution, with the suspension stayed after one year by probation subject to conditions. He neglected multiple tax scavenger sale matters for three different clients, converted at least $5,000 in costs from two different clients, and failed to refund unearned fees.
THOMAS DONALD FAZIOLI, Addison: Fazioli, who was licensed in 1973, was suspended for three years. In violation of election law, he attempted to disguise a $10,000 contribution to a judicial campaign fund by way of checks written by two colleagues, with the hope that the contribution would further his goal of becoming an associate judge.
THOMAS J. FINNEGAN Jr., Chicago: Finnegan, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for six months and until further order of the court. He neglected two personal injury cases, failed to communicate with his clients, and did not participate in the disciplinary proceeding.
GERALD LEE FISHMAN, Chicago: Fishman, who was licensed in 1966, was suspended for one year. He sexually harassed and physically assaulted a young female associate at his law firm.
ROBERT GEORGE FREDERICK, Urbana: Frederick, who was licensed in 1972, was suspended for 90 days for engaging in a sexual relationship with a client while representing the client in a family law matter.
HARRY P. FRIEDLANDER, Phoenix, Ariz.: Friedlander was licensed in Illinois in 1974 and in Arizona in 1978. The Supreme Court of Arizona censured him for mismanaging client settlement funds and failing to maintain adequate trust account records. The Illinois Supreme Court censured him as reciprocal discipline.
CHERYL ANN HANDY, Savoy: Handy, who was licensed in 1993, was suspended for one year and until further order of the court. She neglected numerous immigration matters, provided incompetent representation, failed to return unearned fees and converted client funds.
JEFFREY SCOTT HARRIS, Maywood: Harris, who was licensed in 1988, was censured and required to complete the professionalism seminar conducted by the Illinois Professional Responsibility Institute within one year of the date of the court's order. He neglected two client matters and failed to communicate adequately with his clients about the status of their matters.
SCOTT LOWELL LADEWIG, Crestwood: Ladewig, who was licensed in 1990, was suspended for three years, with the suspension stayed after five months by probation with conditions. He misappropriated $94,000 in funds from an estate and made false statements on an accounting he provided to the executor of the estate. He also neglected two personal injury matters and misrepresented the status of the cases to his clients. He led the clients to believe that he had settled their matters and gave them money that he took from the estate.
JOHN EDWARD LAPINE, Chicago: LaPine, who was licensed in 1991, was suspended for two years and until further order of the court. He neglected two separate matters, failed to communicate with his clients, did not refund unearned fees, and essentially abandoned his law practice. He was previously sanctioned for similar misconduct.
ALAN SHELDON LEVIN, Chicago: Levin, who was licensed to practice in 1966, was suspended for 30 days. He assisted a client in transferring five rental properties into trust for the benefit of the client's wife while a citation to discover assets was pending in a case in which the client' s former tenants had obtained a $1.75 million judgment against him. The tenants' children had been poisoned by lead paint in the building in which they lived and which was owned by the client.
IRVING JAY LEVIN, Los Angeles, Calif.: Levin, who was licensed in 1968, was disbarred on consent. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Nevada to participating in a conspiracy to obtain pharmaceuticals at discounted prices. In furtherance of the scheme, he caused false representations to be made to drug manufacturers and diverted fraudulently obtained drugs to co-conspirators for a profit. He was sentenced to a six-month period of home confinement and a three-year period of probation, and was assessed a fine of $250,000.
MICHAEL WILLIAM LOKER, San Diego, Calif.: Loker, who was licensed in 1980, was disbarred. He neglected numerous client matters and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings.
PAMELA D. LUCAS, Chicago: Lucas, who was licensed in 1994, was suspended for three years and until further order of the court. She settled a client's personal injury claim without the client's consent and then misappropriated $7,500. She was suspended in 2003 for unrelated misconduct.
STEVEN DAVID LUSTIG, Chicago: Lustig, who was licensed in 1971, was disbarred on consent. He misappropriated more than $152,000 from two clients, provided fabricated bank statements to the disciplinary commission that concealed his misuse of those funds, and delayed in returning client file materials to his clients after being discharged.
MICHAEL DONALD MALICKI, Burr Ridge: Malicki, who was licensed in 1983, was suspended for two years and until further order of the court. He neglected numerous client matters, abandoned his law practice without giving notice to his clients, and failed to participate in the disciplinary proceedings.
JAMES ALAN MALKUS, San Diego, Calif.: Malkus, who was licensed in 1961, was disbarred on consent. He was convicted of federal mail fraud for taking bribes and making false statements while serving as a California Superior Court judge in the 1990s. He was sentenced to a 30-month prison term.
MICHAEL EDWARD MARSH, Naperville: Marsh, who was licensed in 1980, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. He failed to refund unearned fees to 11 clients despite their repeated requests for refunds, made two false billing entries in one client's bill, and failed to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation. He was suspended on an interim basis on May 4, 2004.