Miranda, Fifth Amendment don't apply in summary-suspension hearingsBy Helen W. GunnarssonFebruary 2003Lawpulse, Page 58Three 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. GunnarssonFebruary 2003Lawpulse, Page 58The 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 gameBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2003Lawpulse, Page 8Congress 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. GunnarssonJanuary 2003Lawpulse, Page 8Capital 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 IllinoisBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2003Lawpulse, Page 8The 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. GunnarssonJanuary 2003Lawpulse, Page 8Some 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 courtBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2003Lawpulse, Page 8An ISBA committee prepares to forward proposals to the Illinois Supreme Court for changing the rule that governs unpublished opinions.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-BlileyBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2002Lawpulse, Page 628The 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 projectBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2002Lawpulse, Page 628More 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. RyanBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2002Lawpulse, Page 628In 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. GunnarssonDecember 2002Lawpulse, Page 628Demographic 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 concernsBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2002Lawpulse, Page 578State 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 actionsBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2002Lawpulse, Page 578Madison County is at the center of a dispute over class-action filings.
The devil in the details of domestic-partner benefitsBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2002Lawpulse, Page 578More 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. GunnarssonNovember 2002Lawpulse, Page 578A 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 stickBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2002Lawpulse, Page 506Illinois 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 loserBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2002Lawpulse, Page 506Taxing 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 spiesBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2002Lawpulse, Page 506A 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 interrogatoriesBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2002Lawpulse, Page 506They're a useful tool for the plaintiffs' bar as well as the defense, a trial lawyer says.
The truth about moldBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2002Lawpulse, Page 506If you practice real-estate law, it's time you learned the moldy facts.
Corporate reform bill tough on lawyersBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2002Lawpulse, Page 448Ironically, 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. GunnarssonSeptember 2002Lawpulse, Page 448Some 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 ChoiceBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2002Lawpulse, Page 448SB 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 capacityBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2002Lawpulse, Page 448Making 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 abuseBy Helen W. GunnarssonAugust 2002Lawpulse, Page 392HB 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 healthBy Helen W. GunnarssonAugust 2002Lawpulse, Page 392The 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 caretakersBy Helen W. GunnarssonAugust 2002Lawpulse, Page 392The high court upholds the Probate Act provision that allows a claim against the estate by selected relatives who serve as custodial caretakers.
A new -- and overdue -- Uniform Partnership ActBy Helen W. GunnarssonAugust 2002Lawpulse, Page 392Partnership will become an even more attractive form of business organization under the revised Act. But when will lawyers be able to form LLPs?
Bill requiring DNA samples awaits Ryan's signatureBy Helen W. GunnarssonJuly 2002Lawpulse, Page 338Prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys alike praise the legislation, which requires everyone convicted of a felony to provide DNA for a statewide database.
