Subject Index Law Pulse

Bohner redux: insured properly denied coverage for “illegal” act, 7CA rules

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2006
LawPulse
, Page 166
Like the Illinois Appellate Court, the federal seventh circuit ruled recently that an insurance company properly denied coverage to an under-the-influence driver based on the policy's exclusion for "illegal" acts.

Can an incompetent principal revoke a POA?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2006
LawPulse
, Page 166
A recent fourth district opinion raises this and other questions. 

Goodbye to the affidavit of intent to appeal

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2006
LawPulse
, Page 166
Effective July 1, a supreme court rule change will remove a trap that's especially dangerous for the occasional appellate lawyer. 

Must employers try to stop employees’ “unauthorized activity”?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2006
LawPulse
, Page 166
Yes, a New Jersey court says, at least if the activity is accessing child porn on company computers and the employer is on notice about it. 

New rules expedite custody cases

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2006
LawPulse
, Page 166
On February 10, 2006, the Illinois Supreme Court issued new rules that will dramatically change procedures in child custody cases. The rules are contained in new Article IX of the Supreme Court Rules and are effective July 1, 2006.

Criminal-acts exclusion bars insurance recovery to DUI driver

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2006
LawPulse
, Page 110
The court said a lesser traffic offense wouldn't trigger the auto-gap-policy exclusion. But will the ruling's logic be applied to other insurance policies with similar language? 

Danger lurks in p.i. confidentiality clauses

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2006
LawPulse
, Page 110
A recent case – involving none other than Dennis Rodman – holds that plaintiffs must pay tax on the portion of a settlement award deemed payment to a p.i. client for his or her silence.

Sour notes

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2006
LawPulse
, Page 110
The destructive, expensive breakup of a string quartet leads to the obvious question: what advance legal planning might have kept things from getting out of control? And what can you do for your musician clients? 

Title insurers not in “business of supplying information” when they issue title commitments, supremes say

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2006
LawPulse
, Page 110
Some lawyers say the ruling "defies reality," while title insurers contend that it is squarely in the mainstream. 

 

A big win for Big Tobacco

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2006
LawPulse
, Page 62
The Illinois Supreme Court barred plaintiffs' class action claim and overturned a $10-plus billion award against Philip Morris. But experts doubt the case will have much precedential power outside Illinois.

In mandatory arbitration, every minute counts

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2006
LawPulse
, Page 62
A plaintiff must go to the Illinois Appellate Court to overturn arbitrators' finding against him for arriving minutes late for his arbitration hearing. 

Maintenance: be careful what you ask - and don’t ask - for

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2006
LawPulse
, Page 62
In two separate cases, the fourth district upheld maintenance awards 1) even after one recipient's remarriage and 2) despite another's request that the court "deny maintenance to the Petitioner and Respondent."

Must trial judges grant special favors to pro se litigants?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2006
LawPulse
, Page 62
Judges often cut pro se litigants a lot of slack. 

Rule 222 -the high cost of noncompliance

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
February
2006
LawPulse
, Page 62
Plaintiffs who fail to heed the disclosure rule, which governs specified cases implicating $50,000 or less in damages, face the extinguishment of their claim. 

7CA: immigration petitioners get “below the minimum standards of legal justice”

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2006
LawPulse
, Page 10
The court reverses the Board of Immigration Appeals "a staggering 40 percent" of the time. Here's a look at the problem and some pointers for representing an asylum-seeking client.

Bankruptcy practice after bankruptcy reform

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2006
LawPulse
, Page 10
Dire predictions notwithstanding, serious consumer bankruptcy practitioners appear still to be in business. Costs have gone up, though, and let the dabbler beware.

Bench-bar ombudsmen

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2006
LawPulse
, Page 10
Bar association programs are helping lawyers and judges resolve minor conflicts while they're still minor.

Da Rules is Da Rules

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2006
LawPulse
, Page 10
Here's why you need to know and follow local court rules - and where to find them on the Web.

Gridley v State Farm: a supreme-court slap at forum shopping?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
January
2006
LawPulse
, Page 10
Some defense lobbyists say "yes"; a leading plaintiffs' lawyer says it shows there's no forum-shopping problem in Illinois.

Anti-predatory-lending statute takes effect January 1

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2005
LawPulse
, Page 614
An amendment to the Real Property Disclosure Act will create a new predatory lending database. But some worry that it could unintentionally penalize good-guy lenders in targeted neighborhoods.

Corporate officers not personally liable for employee vacation, severance pay

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2005
LawPulse
, Page 614
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that officers and directors aren't liable under the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act for employees' unpaid vacation time and severance pay.

New rules bring clarity to appellate practice

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2005
LawPulse
, Page 614
Appellate practitioners welcome the supreme court rule changes, including a new rule providing that a party can file only one postjudgment motion directed at a final order.

Review of venue-transfer motions: the supreme court speaks

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2005
LawPulse
, Page 614
Trial courts deserve deference on questions of fact but not law, the high court ruled.

Will bankruptcy reform cause domestic violence?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
December
2005
LawPulse
, Page 614
  Part of the purpose of the bankruptcy reform legislation is to increase pressure on debtors. Will that pressure explode into physical rage?  

Are series LLCs right for your clients?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2005
LawPulse
, Page 558
This form of business organization, newly authorized in Illinois, can help some clients limit personal liability while enjoying certain advantages of partnership.

Collaborative divorce

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2005
LawPulse
, Page 558
It isn't mediation, but it can minimize the conflict in divorce, proponents say. Find out why collaborative divorce is on the rise in Illinois.

Correspondence from Our Readers

November
2005
Column
, Page 554
Poor lawyer image - incivility not the culprit? Mediator as peacemaker.

Get ready for MCLE

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2005
LawPulse
, Page 558
Did you know that programs offered as early as January 2006 can be counted toward the MCLE requirement? Here are highlights of the new rules.

TaxNet: Online tax filing for employers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2005
LawPulse
, Page 558
Now Illinois employers can pay state taxes and file documents online.

(Unrepresented) buyer (and seller, and opposing lawyer) beware

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2005
LawPulse
, Page 558
What do you do when the other side in a real-estate transaction doesn't have a lawyer? ISBA members offer pointers.

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