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Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Law Pulse

An even brighter start for college savers By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2002 Lawpulse, Page 168 Beginning last January 1, section 529 college savings plans allow contributions to grow tax-free.
A new law makes tenancy by the entirety easier By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2002 Lawpulse, Page 168 Thanks to recent legislation, lawyers can create this under-appreciated form of ownership for their married clients without expressly stating in the deed that the parties are husband and wife.
No honor in "redskins," says Native American bar group By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2002 Lawpulse, Page 168 "Redskins" is hate speech and not fit for use as a sports mascot, according to the Illinois Native American Bar Association.
Nonprofit hospitals not "public entities" under the Tort Immunity Act By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2002 Lawpulse, Page 168 According to a recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling, most nonprofit hospitals are not immune from liability under the Tort Immunity Act, and plaintiffs have two years, not one, to bring malpractice suits against them.
Union protection extended to nonunion workers (or "I never promised them a Weingarten") By Helen W. Gunnarsson April 2002 Lawpulse, Page 168 A federal circuit court ruling gives nonunion workers the right to have a coworker present at an employer's investigatory interview.
IRPTA; goodbye and good riddance By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Real estate lawyers applaud the demise of the Illinois Responsible Property Transfer Act, which they say produced useless paperwork and little else.
Making mediation work By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Experienced lawyer-mediators offer tips for getting the most out of this increasingly popular alternative to litigation.
Prenups help couples put their cards on the table By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Even though courts have broad discretion to ignore prenuptial agreements, couples can benefit from the process of creating them, a family practitioner says.
Probate Court Report #1: Protect children of divorce before probate By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Take steps during the divorce to protect ex-spouses/children after their ex-partner/parent's death, or they might get no higher priority in probate court than magazine subscriptions and utility bills.
Probate Court Report #2: Take care with heirship By Helen W. Gunnarsson March 2002 Lawpulse, Page 114 Do a little probate work? Then take heed: failing to properly prepare an affidavit of heirship can lead to embarrassment or worse if the will falls through.
All in the Family By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2002 Lawpulse, Page 62 Perhaps your family-owned-business clients can take advantage of this special estate-tax exclusion.
New Legislation: Real-Estate Roundup By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2002 Lawpulse, Page 62 Real estate; they're not making any more of it. But that doesn't mean they aren't passing new real-estate-related laws.
A New, Improved Rule 213? By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2002 Lawpulse, Page 62 Rule 213, introduced a few years ago to solve problems caused by old Rule 220, is causing problems of its own. The Supreme Court Rules Committee has proposed another fix for the rule governing admission of opinion testimony.
Preventive Legal Care for Workplace Violence By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2002 Lawpulse, Page 62 Counsel your employer-clients to address workplace violence before it happens.
Avoiding settlement surprises By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2002 Lawpulse, Page 10 What do you do to keep a settlement from unraveling? And what do you do when it unravels despite your best efforts? Seasoned negotiators offer advice.
Can we talk (to the other side's employees)? By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2002 Lawpulse, Page 10 If you're suing a company that's represented by counsel, when can you talk directly to its employees?
Responding to employees' security fears By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2002 Lawpulse, Page 10 Post-September 11, it's more important than ever to respond appropriately to employee worries about safety in the workplace. But that doesn't mean acceding to unreasonable demands, a Chicago lawyer says.
Will prosecutors pass on the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act? By Helen W. Gunnarsson January 2002 Lawpulse, Page 10 Because of a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision, more state's attorneys will pass up the Sexually Dangerous Persons Act in favor of criminal prosecution, a downstate prosecutor opines.
Does Illinois' eavesdropping statute make felons of us all? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2001 Lawpulse, Page 620 A critic of the statute says it makes videotaping your child's baseball game a criminal act.
No more dumpster babies? By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2001 Lawpulse, Page 620 A new law is designed to encourage desperate mothers to leave their newborns in safe places, not dumpsters and doorsteps.
Of mangers and menorahs By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2001 Lawpulse, Page 620 When do religious holiday displays on public property pass constitutional muster?
Preventive legal care for employers By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2001 Lawpulse, Page 620 A Chicago attorney offers employment-law audits to her clients. Should you do the same?
Fighting UPL By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2001 Lawpulse, Page 564 The ISBA's three-front war against the unauthorized practice of law is proceeding.
Mandatory lawyer financial responsibility proposed By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2001 Lawpulse, Page 564 A special ISBA committee is recommending that lawyers be required to maintain malpractice insurance or some other form of compensation for malpractice victims.
Showing the flag By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2001 Lawpulse, Page 564 There's a right way and a wrong way under the U.S. Code to display the red, white and blue.
Copy caps By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2001 Lawpulse, Page 510 A new statute limits copy charges for patient records.
Discussing docs and deps By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2001 Lawpulse, Page 510 Members of an ISBA online discussion group warm to the subject of whether doctors charge too much for deposition fees.
Governor links motorcyclist, gay anti-discrimination measures By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2001 Lawpulse, Page 510 Governor Ryan refuses to approve the Motorcyclist Public Accommodation Act unless the legislature passes a similar measure banning discrimination against gay men and women.
Grandparents' visitation; splitting the baby four ways? By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2001 Lawpulse, Page 510 Since the Illinois Supreme Court's Lulay decision, appellate courts have struggled case by case to determine whether grandparents' bids for visitation are constitutional.
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