Subject Index Law Pulse

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.

Check the Web before drafting jury instructions

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2005
LawPulse
, Page 498
The chair of the supreme court's jury instructions committee advises litigators to check the court's website for revised IPI instructions.

Interception of e-mail by ISP violates Wiretap Act

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2005
LawPulse
, Page 498
A federal appeals court comes down hard on an Internet service provider that reads other peoples' mail. Among other things, the case shows how easily e-mail can be intercepted.

New law fine-tunes child rep statute

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2005
LawPulse
, Page 498
A new act seeks to clear up confusion about the differing roles of attorney, GAL, and child representative, and expressly authorizes judges to order divorcing spouses into counseling.

This diamond ring

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2005
LawPulse
, Page 498
Does an engagement ring belong to the donor or the recipient if the wedding is called off?

Victory for State Farm in class-action appeal

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2005
LawPulse
, Page 498
The supreme court decertified a Madison-County-based nationwide class action case against  State Farm for installing after-market replacement parts in damaged vehicles.

A bouquet of business-friendly bills

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2005
LawPulse
, Page 438
Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly, purveyors of business advice have good news to deliver to their clients.

Closing meetings: How “probable” must litigation be?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2005
LawPulse
, Page 438
A recent case limits the threatened-litigation exception to the Open Meetings Act.

Fees, Part 1: Budgeting required for Capital Litigators

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2005
LawPulse
, Page 438
Appointed criminal defense counsel must now submit budget estimates under the amended Capital Crimes Litigation Act.
 

Fees, Part 2: Higher ceilings for court-appointed attorneys?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2005
LawPulse
, Page 438
Fees, Part 2: Higher ceilings for court-appointed attorneys?

Supremes: defendants on the hook for undiscounted medical bills

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
September
2005
LawPulse
, Page 438
The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the third district's ruling that personal injury defendants may be liable for a plaintiff's original medical bill, not the lower amount negotiated by his or her insurer.

Circular logic

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2005
LawPulse
, Page 382
Revised IRS Circular 230 requires lawyers and others who offer tax advice to take extra care and additional steps. Some lawyers think it goes too far.

Living in a two story house

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2005
LawPulse
, Page 382
Can parties be "separate and apart" for purposes of filing for divorce while still living under the same roof?

A moving experience

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2005
LawPulse
, Page 382
Did you know you can schedule your opponent's motion for hearing if he doesn't?

New limits for family limited partnerships

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2005
LawPulse
, Page 382
Casting a shadow over a popular tax avoidance device, a recent case disallowed an estate tax break for a decedent who maintained too much control over the business he transferred to his family limited partnership.

Rule changes allow compulsory appearance by notice at pretrial hearings

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2005
LawPulse
, Page 382
Amended Supreme Court Rule 237 allows parties to compel appearances by serving a witness with simple notice, even at pretrial or expedited hearings.

Illinois law practices: removing the “not for sale” sign

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2005
LawPulse
, Page 330
The Illinois Supreme Court adopts a rule – long sought by ISBA – allowing lawyers to sell their practices.

Law firm’s failure to register under Rule 721 not UPL

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2005
LawPulse
, Page 330
And that means an unregistered firm can collect its attorney fee award, the supreme court holds.

New reg requires law firms to “properly dispose” of consumer info

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2005
LawPulse
, Page 330
Effective June 1, a Federal Trade Commission regulation requires businesses – including law firms – to destroy sensitive information derived from consumer credit reports.

There’s gold in that thar wind – maybe

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2005
LawPulse
, Page 330
Learn how you can help that would-be wind farmer in your client base.

Workers’ comp overhaul

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2005
LawPulse
, Page 330
Proponents say that new revisions to the Workers' Comp Act will increase benefits, hold down costs, speed claims resolution, and reduce fraud.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Reduction Fiasco?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2005
LawPulse
, Page 274
Here's a thumbnail sketch of the new Bankruptcy Act provisions that place new burdens on lawyers to verify information in clients' petitions.

The supreme court latest UPL case: a mixed blessing

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2005
LawPulse
, Page 274
The supreme court allows nonlawyer lenders to charge for preparing mortgages but reaffirms that drafting and filling out real estate documents is the practice of law.

Trust transparency

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2005
LawPulse
, Page 274
Members of an ISBA e-mail discussion group agree that despite a trustee's reluctance, beneficiaries are entitled to see trust instruments that confer benefits upon them.

Wages and sin

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2005
LawPulse
, Page 274
Can an employee who considers homosexuality a sin openly oppose his employer's workplace diversity effort? What are the limits of religious practice and expression in the workplace?

Finding a niche in FSBO home sales

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2005
LawPulse
, Page 226
Some lawyers are making themselves available to do-it-yourself homesellers, with rewarding results.

The Health Care Surrogate Act: a physician’s finding must in writing

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2005
LawPulse
, Page 226
The Illinois Supreme Court rules that the Act did not require a hospital to consult a wife before removing a patient from a ventilator because the attending physician had not made a written finding that the patient lacked "decisional capacity."

Losing streak

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2005
LawPulse
, Page 226
Compulsive gambling is like other pathological behavior that leads lawyers astray, with a big difference – it's not treated as a mitigating factor by the ARDC.

The several risks of joint representation

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
May
2005
LawPulse
, Page 226
What about representing both members of a couple on an estate plan? Two or more partners to a business deal? You can do it – sometimes – if you take the proper steps.

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