Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Records

School districts must provide criminal record information upon request. PA 097-0248 October 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 496 Illinois lawmakers have amended the School Code to require school districts to provide certain criminal record check results and Statewide Sex Offender Database check results that it obtained within the past year upon request. (105 ILCS 5/10-21.9, 5/34-18.5)
Medical schools may hire private entities to conduct criminal history record checks on matriculates. PA 096-1044. July 2011 Illinois Law Update, Page 336 Illinois lawmakers have amended the Medical School Matriculate Criminal History Records Check Act to allow medical schools to hire private entities to check the criminal history records of matriculates. (110 ILCS 57/10; 110 ILCS 57/15).
Making the most of your FOIA request By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2010 Lawpulse, Page 558 Tips on using the Illinois Freedom of Information Act from a lawyer who has both sought information and served as a municipality's Freedom of Information officer.
Court okays $20 handling fee for medical records By Helen W. Gunnarsson May 2010 Lawpulse, Page 230 In a class action lawsuit, the Illinois Supreme Court has held that it is reasonable per se for a provider of medical record copies to charge the full amount of the statutory $20 fee pursuant to Article XX, Part 8 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The case is Solon v Midwest Medical Records Association, Inc, No 107719, 2010 WL 966395 (Ill Sup Ct).
Freedom of Information Act laws enhanced. PA 096-0542 April 2010 Illinois Law Update, Page 180 State lawmakers recently beefed up sunshine laws to help ensure open and transparent government. (For more, see Two Cheers for the New Freedom of Information Act in the February IBJ.)
Two Cheers for the New Illinois Freedom of Information Act By Alison K. Hayden February 2010 Article, Page 82 Revisions to Illinois' sunshine laws are designed to make public records more accessible. But will they work as intended?
Collateral estoppel does not apply to release of mental health records if prior action related to relevance of records, but not possible violations stemming from release of those records. January 2010 Illinois Law Update, Page 16 On October 23, 2009, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, affirmed in part and reversed in part the decision of the Circuit Court of St. Clair County to grant defendant's motion to dismiss a complaint relating to the release of mental health records in a divorce proceeding. 
Procedures for disposing of confidential records updated February 2009 Illinois Law Update, Page 70 The State Records Commission amended Title 44 of the Illinois Administrative Code, which regulates Government Contracts, Procurement, and Property Management. 44 Ill Adm Code 4400.
Subpoena for medical records January 2009 Illinois Law Update, Page 16 On October 31, 2008, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District, reversed the judgment of the Circuit Court of Logan County denying the state's request for a subpoena duces tecum, seeking release of a defendant's medical records for the day the defendant was charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
Order-of-protection laws amended to prohibit access to health records. PA 095-0912 November 2008 Illinois Law Update, Page 554 The Illinois General Assembly amended Section 602.1 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and Section 222 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act to prohibit health care providers from releasing a child's health care records to any respondent listed in an order of protection. 750 ILCS 5/602.1, 750 ILCS 60/222.
Amendments protect minors’ interests in confidentiality and rehabilitation. PA 095-0123 January 2008 Illinois Law Update, Page 16 Sections 1-7 and 1-8 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, have been amended. 705 ILCS 405/1-7, 1-8. 
Strong public policy to disclose patient names to newspaper cannot override privacy June 2007 Illinois Law Update, Page 292 On April 9, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, affirmed the Circuit Court of Washington County's denial of the intervener's request that the court unseal the names of certain medical patients contained in a previous court order. 
When the doctor is the patient - and a med-mal defendant By Helen W. Gunnarsson August 2006 Lawpulse, Page 398 Should a defendant-doctor's medical records be available to a plaintiff who alleges that the doctor's poor health caused him to deliver substandard care?
New taskforce to improve quality and efficiency of patient care Pa 09 -06 6 January 2006 Illinois Law Update, Page 16 On August 22, 2005, the Electronic health records Taskforce Act was passed in an effort to improve the quality of patient care, maximize efficiency, advance safety measures, and decrease healthcare errors.
Changes made to fee structure for processing requests for conviction information December 2005 Illinois Law Update, Page 622 The Illinois Department of State Police has recently amended Part 1215 of Title 20, 20 Ill Adm Code 1215, regarding fees for processing electronic requests and requests for conviction information.
Criminal records relating to certain offenses may be sealed PA 093-1084 May 2005 Illinois Law Update, Page 232 The State has authorized the sealing of certain criminal records of adults and of minors who were prosecuted as adults
Amendments Made to Implement Health Care Worker Background Check Act February 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 70 The Illinois Department of Public Health recently adopted amendments to 77 Ill. Adm. Code 210. 
Department of Insurance restricts access to public records March 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 116 The Illinois Department of Insurance has adopted amendments under 2 Ill Adm Code 951 relating to Access to Public Records.
Document-Retention Policies in the Wake of Enron By David F. Barlett June 2002 Article, Page 317 Find out how a uniform and consistent document-retention policy can protect your clients.
Availability of access to records of psychological treatment further narrowed May 2002 Illinois Law Update, Page 232 On February 22, 2002, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the appellate court in ruling that when a patient and his wife brought a malpractice action against a hospital and doctors, they did not place the patient's mental health at issue.
New right of access granted to criminal history January 2002 Illinois Law Update, Page 14 On October 1, 2001, the Department of State Police (department) adopted four new provisions to section 1210 of the Illinois Administrative Code.
Criminal records December 2001 Illinois Law Update, Page 624 On October 1, 2001, the Illinois Department of State Police (department) adopted a new Part to section 1210 of the Illinois Administrative Code. 20 Ill Adm Code 1210.
Copy caps By Helen W. Gunnarsson October 2001 Lawpulse, Page 510 A new statute limits copy charges for patient records.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie C. McGrath September 2001 Column, Page 450 Two years and time's up for legal malpractice; nightshift-assignment doesn't constitute sex discrimination; and more.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie C. McGrath April 2001 Column, Page 166 Police can keep suspects out of their own homes; adoption by one spouse only; arbitration clauses and fee agreements; and more.
The Lawyer's Journal By Bonnie McGrath July 1999 Column, Page 348 Different rulings on the same-part-of-the-body rule.
Establishment of Automated State Case Registry — Public Act 90-790 December 1998 Illinois Law Update, Page 662 Public Act 90-790 called for the Department of Public Aid to establish an automated state case registry to maintain records of child support orders.
« Select a Different Subject