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.
Boyd laid down the law on spoliationBy Helen W. GunnarssonJuly 2002Lawpulse, Page 338Want to learn the law governing destruction of evidence in Illinois? Start with this 1995 Illinois Supreme Court decision.
Future injuries; the high court charts a new courseBy Helen W. GunnarssonJuly 2002Lawpulse, Page 338When the Illinois Supreme Court held that plaintiffs can be compensated for the risk of future injury, it departed from precedent and followed the trend.
Perspectives on death-penalty reformBy Helen W. GunnarssonJuly 2002Lawpulse, Page 338A prosecutor and criminal defense attorney react to the recommendations of Governor Ryan's Commission on Capital Punishment.
Uncle Sam sidesteps tenancy-by-the-entirety restrictionsBy Helen W. GunnarssonJuly 2002Lawpulse, Page 338A recent U.S. Supreme Court case holds that tax liens against one spouse attach to property held in tenancy by the entirety by both spouses, putting the IRS in a better position than other creditors.
...and to secretary of state's officeBy Helen W. GunnarssonJune 2002Lawpulse, Page 282You can now file articles of incorporation by fax, with more soon to come.
New 7CA limits on arbitration agreementsBy Helen W. GunnarssonJune 2002Lawpulse, Page 282Employer-employee arbitration agreements that require each party to pay its own attorney fees in civil rights and sexual harassment cases are unenforceable, the seventh circuit rules.
The supreme court does a retake on quick-takeBy Helen W. GunnarssonJune 2002Lawpulse, Page 282The Illinois Supreme Court has limited the power of governments to acquire property and transfer it to private owners.
The ABCs of the ADABy Helen W. GunnarssonMay 2002Lawpulse, Page 226Every lawyer should know something about this far-reaching statute.
