Civil Practice Update – 2011

Update your civil practice knowledge with this full-day seminar that addresses all phases of the trial—from setting the proper foundation to successfully prosecute/defend a case, to preserving issues for appeal. Topics include: filing the lawsuit; pleadings; good faith settlement of claims; motions to dismiss; discovery; requests to admit; Supreme Court Rule 213; opening statements; closing arguments; post-trial motions; and how to enforce/obtain relief from judgments. Practitioners with all levels of experience will benefit by attending this seminar.

 

 

 

 

 

Setting the proper foundation for a successful prosecution or defense is paramount to any case. In this session, the speaker reviews pleadings, proper parties, 2-611 Medical Malpractice Reports, amended complaints, and relation back doctrine.

                           

This segment examines venue/forum non conveniens, removal to federal court, and other issues confronted during the pleading phase of a lawsuit.

 

The speaker offers a comprehensive overview of various third-party actions, including contributions, indemnity, and good faith settlement of claims.

 

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break (beverages provided)

 

In this segment, the speaker offers an in-depth review of motions to dismiss under Sections 2-615 and 2-619.

Hon. Daniel T. Gillespie, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago 

 

Preparing for trial is an important step in the judicial process. For this presentation, the speaker advises on the effective use of discovery to obtain all necessary facts before trial, including interrogatories, document production, and depositions, as well as Supreme Court Rule 216 and the request to admit.

 

The speaker examines the disclosure of opinion witnesses and Supreme Court Rule 213.

 

 

This segment discusses filing and defending the motions for summary judgment under section 2-1005.

 

The opening statement is a short narrative that must be told well! In this segment, the speaker examines effective methods of communicating with the jury and provides a practical and substantive discussion of the law as it relates to the opening statement.

 

For this session, the speaker discusses how to effectively bring your case and your theory together into a powerful, concluding presentation.

 

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break (refreshments provided)

 

This comprehensive overview offers a discussion on obtaining the circuit court review of administrative decisions. Proper parties and timing of review are also examined.

 

This session discusses the various things that appellate counsel wishes trial counsel did – from preserving issues for appeal to motions for JNOV. Motions for a new trial are also examined.