Illinois Bar Journal Dec 05


COVER STORY 626
COLUMNS

612	PRESIDENT'S PAGE
	By Robert K. Downs A Busy Year, With a Little Help From Our Friends Much has been accomplished, and we still have half a year to go.
646	BUSINESS LAW
	By Lin Hanson LLC Potpourri Series LLCs are a valuable tool, but they're expensive. here are some money-saving tips.

648	CIVIL PRACTICE
	By James E. Pfander Avery Raises Doubts About the Class Action Fairness Act The supreme court's recent class-action certification case calls the need for CAFA into question.
650	RISK PREVENTION
	By Karen Erger Are You a "Rules Lawyer"? You'd better be. Test your knowledge of the Rules of Professional Conduct and stay on the ARDC's good side.
647	CLE CALENDAR
	What every lawyer should know about IP, '05-'06 fed tax conference, ag law update, and more.


PRACTICE NEWS

614	LAWPULSE \| By Helen W. Gunnarsson
	Will bankruptcy reform incite domestic violence? the supreme court speaks on reviewing venue-transfer motions; new rules bring clarity to appellate practice; and more.

622	ILLINOIS LAW UPDATE
	Legal malpractice-claims invalid unless plaintiff suffered monetary damage; no economic losses for negligent design; trauma reporting requirements revised; and more.

ARTICLES

626	MCLE \| By Helen W. Gunnarsson
	MCLE: Ready or Not, Here it Comes A lawyer's-eye view of the new MCLE rules

630	REAL ESTATE \| By Howard M. Turner
	The 2005 Amendments to The Illinois Mechanics Lien Act The changes make the act simpler and easier to understand, this author opines.

636	DUI / TRAFFIC \|By George A.M. Heroux
	Tough New Dui Laws Take Effect in '06 These new laws, effective January 1, take special aim at drivers responsible for fatalities.

638	EMPLOYMENT LAW / TAXATION By Ralph A. Morris and Heather R.M. Becker
	Tax Issues in Employment Discrimination Settlements Every lawyer who negotiates an employment discrimination settlement should understand the implications of these tax issues.

640	BUSINESS LAW \| By Raymond P. Kolak
	The Dangers of Successor Liability When buying Illinois Business Assets Buying the assets, rather than the stock, of a business does not always protect the buyer from the seller's liabilities.