Subject Index Law Pulse

Foreclosure defense a practice option real estate lawyers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2009
LawPulse
, Page 220
Representing foreclosed-on homeowners might be a way for real estate lawyers to pick up slack left by the weak economy.

Making a Graceful Exit

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2009
LawPulse
, Page 220
Remember, the Former Employer From Hell still holds the power of a reference.

No right to expungement for pardon recipients

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2009
LawPulse
, Page 220
Just because the the governor pardons you doesn't mean you're entitled to have your conviction expunged, the illinois Supreme Court held.

Promissory Estoppel: Alive and Well in Illinois

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2009
LawPulse
, Page 220
The Illinois Supreme court holds that promises "reasonably inducing action or forbearance" are binding in Illinois.

“Rape Shield” for Civil Lawsuits

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2009
LawPulse
, Page 220
An Illinois House bill would extend the prohibition against admitting evidence of an alleged victim's sexual history to sexual harassment charges.

Beneficiaries can’t be given power to approve trustee accounts

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2009
LawPulse
, Page 168
A trust can't allow a majority of beneficiaries to approve the trustee's accounts, the Illinois Appellate Court holds.

Human Rights Act doesn’t bar state, federal claims in circuit court

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2009
LawPulse
, Page 168
Someone who can bring a claim under the Illinois Human Rights Act can nonetheless sue based on federal or common law in state circuit court, the supreme court rules.

Rules committee hears criminal law, family law, civil practice proposals

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2009
LawPulse
, Page 168
The supreme court rules committee heard proposals to require consular notification for foreign nationals, to change child custody rules, and to require additional notice to opposing counsel.

Should criminal defendants talk to the press?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2009
LawPulse
, Page 168
Not a good idea, criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors agree.

When it comes to corporate governance, formalities matter

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2009
LawPulse
, Page 168
Help your corporate clients understand the importance of - and comply with - formalities such as preserving minutes, buying enough insurance, and the like.
1 comment (Most recent September 2, 2010)

Court’s failure to grant continuance plain error

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2009
LawPulse
, Page 116
The high court rules that a judge’s failure to grant defense counsel’s request for a continuance in a murder trial was plain error requiring a new trial.

Creative ways to fend off foreclosure

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2009
LawPulse
, Page 116
Two lawyers think outside the box to help clients hang on to their homes, one by negotiating with lenders, the other by leveraging the power of Chapter 13.

Did Pat Fitzgerald say too much?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2009
LawPulse
, Page 116
Lawyers disagree about whether prosecutor Fitzgerald crossed the line when he said Rod Blagojevich’s conduct “would make Lincoln roll over in his grave.”

The importance of timely service

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2009
LawPulse
, Page 116
Thanks to an amendment to supreme court rule 103(b), plaintiffs who haven’t been otherwise diligent in moving a case along must be especially diligent in obtaining service.

Judges must rule before trial on motions in limine

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2009
LawPulse
, Page 116
A new ruling lets criminal defense attorneys know before deciding to let their clients testify whether their priors will be admitted at trial.

Committee studies codification of evidence rules

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2009
LawPulse
, Page 64
A new supreme court special committee is charged with devising a more convenient organizational scheme for the Illinois rules of evidence.

Defending politicians, getting paid

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2009
LawPulse
, Page 64
How do lawyers in the Land of Lincoln (and Ryan and Blagojevich) make sure they get paid when defending politicians charged with corruption? 

The Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law 20 years later

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2009
LawPulse
, Page 64
One of the drafters of the statute describes how it improved the procedure process and what loose ends remain.

Plaintiffs win big in Ready

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2009
LawPulse
, Page 64
 The supreme court holds that good-faith settling tortfeasors can't be included in apportioning fault after verdicts to determine joint and several liability.

There’s no day like today to pay your ARDC registration fee

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2009
LawPulse
, Page 64
 The cost of bringing yourself into compliance goes up the longer you wait.

1099s for deadbeat clients?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2009
LawPulse
, Page 10
 A law-office management expert puts forth the option of sending a nonpaying client a 1099 for the value of your services. Is it really OK to do so?

Attorney censured for not disclosing “controlled business arrangement”

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2009
LawPulse
, Page 10
The ARDC Hearing Board found that a Mundelein lawyer/title agent didn't make disclosures to clients required by the Title Insurance Act.

Disagreement among appellate divisions creates split of authority

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2009
LawPulse
, Page 10
 When one division within an appellate district disagrees with another, it creates an intradistrict split of authority - so sayeth the supreme court.

No five-o’clock world for e-filing

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2009
LawPulse
, Page 10
Unless the rules specify otherwise, parties may electronically file up to midnight on deadline day with administrative agencies that permit e-filing, the supreme court holds.

“Borrowing” from legal forms - do you need permission?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2008
LawPulse
, Page 606
Lifting language from legal documents - everyone does it, right? But does it constitute copyright infringement?

Court upholds, modifies risk-utility test for products liability

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2008
LawPulse
, Page 606
In a recent case, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld - but reformulated - the risk-utility test, while declining to abandon the consumer-expectation test.

Court upholds per se conflict doctrine

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2008
LawPulse
, Page 606
 A conflict exists whenever an attorney represents both a criminal defendant and the alleged victim, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.

Real estate and divorce: No more transfer-tax exemption?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2008
LawPulse
, Page 606
 To the chagrin of matrimonial lawyers, Chicago has begun taxing the transfer of a divorcing couple's jointly owned home to one of the ex-partners.

Appellate Court: No Wrongful Death for Embryo Before It’s Implanted

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2008
LawPulse
, Page 548
 The Illinois Appellate court rules that the Wrongful Death Act does not permit suits on behalf of human embryos allegedly destroyed before being placed in the womb.

HGN tests meet the Frye standard

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2008
LawPulse
, Page 548
So rules the Tenth Circuit court in the first-ever Illinois Frye hearing on the admissibility of HGN tests as an indicator of drunk driving - assuming various requirements are met.  

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