Subject Index Law Pulse

The continuing saga of J.S.A., M.H., and W.C.H.

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2012
LawPulse
, Page 70
A long and bitter dispute between two lawyers over the child their relationship produced generates yet another reported opinion.

Curbing abuse of arrest warrants for debtors

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2012
LawPulse
, Page 70
The attorney general's office and a circuit court judge describe steps they're taking to help prevent debtors from being unfairly jailed for failure to pay.
1 comment (Most recent January 29, 2012)

Federal pilot program puts cameras in northern district courts

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2012
LawPulse
, Page 70
Illinois' northern district is one of 14 courts participating in a federal program that allows videorecording of civil cases before district judges if all parties consent.

High court overturns default order against dad in neglect proceeding

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2012
LawPulse
, Page 70
The supreme court finds that a default order against a father who wasn't served with a petition to terminate his parental rights should be set aside.

High court: state must provide videorecordings in DUI misdemeanor cases

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2012
LawPulse
, Page 70
Police videorecordings of traffic stops must be made available to DUI defendants even in misdemeanor prosecutions, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.

Employment covenants not to compete: the high court lays down the law

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2012
LawPulse
, Page 10
Rumors of the death of the legitimate-business-interest test as a measure for determining the legitimacy of restrictive covenants were greatly exaggerated, the supreme court says.
1 comment (Most recent December 22, 2011)

The high court empowers the ARDC to go after UPL

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2012
LawPulse
, Page 10
New rules give the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission authority to prosecute actions for the unauthorized practice of law.

New rules for prosecuting local ordinance violations

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2012
LawPulse
, Page 10
The new supreme court rules bring consistency to ordinance violation proceedings around the state, a proponent says.

Protecting anonymous online speakers: Stone v Paddock Publications

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2012
LawPulse
, Page 10
Plaintiffs seeking pre-suit discovery to unmask the anonymous online posters who allegedly libeled them must first state facts that support a defamation claim, the first district held.

Rules committee hears proposals on divorce, criminal law, evidence issues

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2012
LawPulse
, Page 10
Proposals address financial disclosure in divorce, how judges describe defendants' decision not to testify, and how to handle inadvertent disclosure of documents.

Client service 101

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2011
LawPulse
, Page 604
A seasoned family law practitioner explains how to avoid common mistakes lawyers make in working with clients.

Is the Illinois Eavesdropping Act unconstitutional? The saga continues…

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2011
LawPulse
, Page 604
Defendants being prosecuted under the Illinois Eavesdropping Act for recording police and other public officials are fighting back, thus far with mixed success.

New bill eases substitute visitation for servicemembers; “visitation abuse” bill defeated

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2011
LawPulse
, Page 604
A look at the contrasting fates of bills designed to 1) ease custody and visitation for deployed servicemembers and 2) increase penalties for visitation abuse.

Substitution of judge for cause: the high court keeps the bar high

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2011
LawPulse
, Page 604
The supreme court refused an invitation to hold that "appearance of impropriety," as opposed to proof of actual prejudice, is the standard for substitution of judge for cause.

What’s the best way out of an ethical pickle?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2011
LawPulse
, Page 604
Taking quick remedial action and preemptive self-reporting can be the best way to handle a disciplinable blunder, ethics authorities advise.

Attention estate planners: new Medicaid asset transfer rules finally adopted

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2011
LawPulse
, Page 550
New state regulations, passed in response to federal requirements after years of delay, make it harder for nursing home care recipients to both shelter assets and stay eligible for Medicaid.

The electronic courtroom: E-filing and videoconferencing

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2011
LawPulse
, Page 550
The Illinois Supreme Court pursues electronic filing and adopts a rule allowing testimony by videoconference.

Meeting MCLE requirements just got a little easier

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2011
LawPulse
, Page 550
Among other welcome changes, rule revisions allow new admittees to meet their initial requirement by participating in mentoring and remove the fee for claiming credit for writing and teaching.

New scams target real estate lawyers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2011
LawPulse
, Page 550
Scammers are using smartphones and apps to steal home-sale proceeds.

ABA Ethics, Part 1: new opinions on lawyer websites, e-mail/client confidentiality

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2011
LawPulse
, Page 490
New ethics opinions give helpful e-advice, particularly for lawyers with websites.

ABA ethics, Part 2: Proposed rules address admission on motion, MJP and more

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2011
LawPulse
, Page 490
Proposed ABA model rules speak to admission on motion, multijurisdictional practice, disclosure of confidential information, and choice of law provisions in lawyer-client agreements.

Absolute immunity for child reps

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2011
LawPulse
, Page 490
Immunity from liability is absolute for child representatives working within the scope of their court-appointed duties.

The bloody truth about DUI testing

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2011
LawPulse
, Page 490
Just because the state has blood test results to use against your DUI client doesn't mean the case is over, a defense lawyer argues.

Sex offender registration changes: not worth the cost?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2011
LawPulse
, Page 490
Failing to implement legislation bringing Illinois into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh act is costing the state federal grant funds. But would enacting the law cost even more?
1 comment (Most recent September 27, 2011)

Adoption law pointers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2011
LawPulse
, Page 434
The August Child Law Section newsletter includes an adoption law legislation roundup and helps lawyers help clients find birth parents and readopt after surrendering parental rights.

The lesson of George Ryan v U.S.

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2011
LawPulse
, Page 434
It's this, according to a criminal defense lawyer and court watcher: You shouldn't hesitate to argue alternative, even esoteric, bases for relief to create a record for appeal.

New IOLTA requirements effective September 1

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2011
LawPulse
, Page 434
The amended rule forbids non-interest bearing pooled accounts, imposes new recordkeeping requirements, and obliges banks to report trust-account overdrafts.
1 comment (Most recent March 12, 2012)

New limits on FOIA “recurrent requesters”

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2011
LawPulse
, Page 434
New legislation would give governmental entities more time to respond to those who make numerous FOIA requests. A look at that and some Open Meetings Act changes.

Supreme court: IPI instruction misstates med-mal standard of care

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2011
LawPulse
, Page 434
An Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction doesn't state the correct standard for determining whether a physician's conduct was reasonable in a med-mal case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled.

Don’t be an oddsmaker

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2011
LawPulse
, Page 382
It's a bad idea - maybe even an ethics no-no - to tell clients what you think their chances of winning are, an ISBA lawyer opines.

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