Author Index Helen W. Gunnarsson

The dentist-patient privilege

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2003
LawPulse
, Page 58
The physician-patient privilege applies to dentists, too, the supreme court rules.

Miranda, Fifth Amendment don’t apply in summary-suspension hearings

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2003
LawPulse
, Page 58
Three Illinois Appellate Court districts have ruled that summary-suspension hearings are civil proceedings to which Miranda and the privilege against self-incrimination do not apply.

Out-of-state child removal; what will the supremes do?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2003
LawPulse
, Page 58
The Illinois Supreme Court will review an appellate court decision that stopped a custodial mother from removing her son to her fiancé's home state.

Bankruptcy reform still a waiting game

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2003
LawPulse
, Page 8
Congress has yet to pass bankruptcy reform legislation. Meanwhile, the bankruptcy bar has had little success in tempering provisions they say are unfriendly and unfair to lawyers.

Blind plea, blind justice?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2003
LawPulse
, Page 8
Capital murder trials put a strain on county budgets, which has led to second-class justice in some cases, critics charge. But improvements in the capital litigation system are making a difference.

First steps toward e-filing in Illinois

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2003
LawPulse
, Page 8
The Illinois Supreme Court has set the ground rules for a pilot e-filing project in the circuit courts.

Involuntary administration of psychotropic drugs: Does Illinois need new standards?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2003
LawPulse
, Page 8
Some experts think Illinois law should be changed to make it easier to involuntarily admit mental patients and force them to take psychotropic drugs if they're unwilling. Others fear the changes would crowd mental-health facilities beyond capacity.

Rule 23 proposals headed soon to the supreme court

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2003
LawPulse
, Page 8
An ISBA committee prepares to forward proposals to the Illinois Supreme Court for changing the rule that governs unpublished opinions.

Bar associations, U.S. reps seek exemptions for lawyers from Gramm-Leach-Bliley

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2002
LawPulse
, Page 628
The New York State and American Bar Associations have filed lawsuits seeking declaratory judgments that the FTC's application of GLBA's privacy provisions to practicing attorneys is unlawful, and members of Congress have introduced legislation that would exempt lawyers from the Act.

Pet project

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2002
LawPulse
, Page 628
More and more estate-planning clients want to make sure that Fluffy is well provided for. Here's how to help them.

The supremes say “no” to a taxpayer suit against Gov. Ryan

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2002
LawPulse
, Page 628
In Lyons v Ryan, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that taxpayers lack standing to sue for damages caused by the licenses-for-bribes scheme because the attorney general alone has the authority to initiate litigation on behalf of the state.

Whither estate-planning practice?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2002
LawPulse
, Page 628
Demographic trends and tax-law changes may generate some short-term business, but they'll mean less work for estate-planning lawyers in the long run. Are you ready to adjust your practice?

Child support: pending privatization of the SDU raises concerns

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2002
LawPulse
, Page 578
State officials say there's no cause for alarm, but some lawyers worry that changing vendors could once again muddle the child-support distribution system.

Clash over class actions

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2002
LawPulse
, Page 578
Madison County is at the center of a dispute over class-action filings.

The devil in the details of domestic-partner benefits

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2002
LawPulse
, Page 578
More employers are offering benefits to their employees' nonspouse partners. Here are some of the legal and administrative issues they need to consider.

Do trial lawyers have the Country behind them?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2002
LawPulse
, Page 578
A recent case interpreting language that appears in many Country Companies insurance policies has the plaintiffs' bar buzzing.

College saving in Illinois; a new carrot and stick

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2002
LawPulse
, Page 506
Illinois residents have another incentive to invest in Illinois' Bright Start college savings program; and a disincentive to participate in plans offered by other states.

Fee tax turns employment-lawsuit winner into loser

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2002
LawPulse
, Page 506
Taxing attorney fee awards as income to the plaintiff threatens to reduce an employee's award to less than zero.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court keeps its eyes on the spies

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2002
LawPulse
, Page 506
A brief history of the federal court that reviews the propriety of foreign intelligence wiretaps, which recently made news by denying a wiretap request for only the second time in 20-plus years.

The power of special interrogatories

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2002
LawPulse
, Page 506
They're a useful tool for the plaintiffs' bar as well as the defense, a trial lawyer says.

The truth about mold

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2002
LawPulse
, Page 506
If you practice real-estate law, it's time you learned the moldy facts.

Corporate reform bill tough on lawyers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2002
LawPulse
, Page 448
Ironically, the SEC was lukewarm to less stringent ethics rules urged by a U of I law prof and colleagues last spring.

Is E-mail Subject to the Open Meetings Act?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2002
LawPulse
, Page 448
Some e-mail exchanges between public board members might constitute meetings and thus implicate the Open Meetings Act.

New law will help trustees avoid Hobson’s Choice

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2002
LawPulse
, Page 448
SB 1697, now awaiting Gov. Ryan's signature, will make it easier for trustees of certain commonly used trusts to invest the principal so as to benefit both income and remainder beneficiaries.

The varying standards of client capacity

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2002
LawPulse
, Page 448
Making a will, signing a deed, executing a POA for property; they all require different standards of competence. What are they, and what do they mean for you and your clients?

Bill would require clergy to report abuse

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2002
LawPulse
, Page 392
HB 5002 would add clergy to the list of required reporters under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

Employers need not hire workers for jobs that threaten health

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2002
LawPulse
, Page 392
The ADA does not require employers to hire employees for jobs that would pose a "direct threat" to the candidates health, the Supreme Court ruled.

Illinois Supreme Court cares for caretakers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2002
LawPulse
, Page 392
The high court upholds the Probate Act provision that allows a claim against the estate by selected relatives who serve as custodial caretakers.

New limits on attorney-client privilege for government lawyers and agency clients

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2002
LawPulse
, Page 392
The seventh circuit holds that when federal prosecutors seek information from an agency attorney as part of a criminal investigation, the agency lawyer must talk.

A new — and overdue — Uniform Partnership Act

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2002
LawPulse
, Page 392
Partnership will become an even more attractive form of business organization under the revised Act. But when will lawyers be able to form LLPs?

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