2014 Articles

Correspondence from Our Readers

October
2014
Column
, Page 462
New health care POA; criminal history checks; no loan, no usury
2 comments (Most recent October 8, 2014)

Correspondence from Our Readers

September
2014
Column
, Page 414
Global settlements not a plus for plaintiffs' lawyers.

Correspondence from Our Readers

August
2014
Column
, Page 362
Don't be scammed; property tax sales and bankruptcy.

Correspondence from Our Readers

July
2014
Column
, Page 310
Unionized college football; sartorial choice for women lawyers.

Correspondence from Our Readers

June
2014
Column
, Page 262
Is there a reasonable expectation of privacy in public conversations? PI economics: bond yields and the interest rate.
1 comment (Most recent September 21, 2020)

Correspondence from Our Readers

May
2014
Column
, Page 210
Health care POA form is "clear and sufficient."

Correspondence from Our Readers

April
2014
Column
, Page 158
Lawyer ratings and specialization; harsh penalties for drivers with traces of drugs; restricted driving permits after four DUIs.

Court Supervision - Not Just for Speeding Tickets

By Mark S. Mathewson
September
2014
Column
, Page 448
Supervision is an alternative to conviction that every criminal defense attorney should know when to use.

Courts may award child support to non-custodial parents

September
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 424
On June 19, 2014, the Illinois Supreme Court held that section 505 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act allows courts to award child support to non-custodial parents.

Credit report security freeze request now allowed for parents and guardians of minors and disabled persons

April
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 168
The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act has been amended to allow an individual to request a "security freeze" on the credit report of a minor or a disabled person if they meet certain qualifications, and provide proper identification and authority for the request.

Criteria established for expunging a minor’s law enforcement records

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
While most juvenile law enforcement records are property of the State, must not be destroyed, and usually must be accessible to the public, these rules do not apply to records expunged under subsections 1.5 and 1.6 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

Defending Confession Judgment Cases in Illinois

By Andrew R. Schwartz
October
2014
Article
, Page 494
A confession of judgment lets a creditor take a judgment without notice to the debtor. Here are strategies for representing commercial debtors facing these judgments.
2 comments (Most recent November 25, 2014)

Department of Natural Resources permit revocation and eviction procedures

October
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 472
The Department of Natural Resources ("DNR") amended the procedures for revoking and suspending Department-issued licenses, permits, and privileges to penalize conservation offenses and criminal code violations. 17 Ill. Adm. Code 2530 (eff. July 25, 2014).

Department of Revenue can refuse registration and permit for tax default

February
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 68
The Department of Revenue may now refuse to issue a license, registration, or permit if the owner, partner, or, in the case of a limited liability company, a manager or member whose name is on the application is in default for money due under any tax or fee act administered by the Department.

Discourage juror tweets through admonishment, not punishment

By Janan Hanna
July
2014
LawPulse
, Page 314
Authors of a Chicago-based study of jury behavior conclude that jurors actually listen to instructions from judges not to communicate about the case.

The Disengagement Letter: Saying a Good Goodbye

By Charles J. Northrup
October
2014
Column
, Page 504
Formally acknowledging the end of your representation can lead to a happier ending - and a new beginning.

Divorce Corp misses the mark, lawyers say

By Janan Hanna
April
2014
LawPulse
, Page 162
An angry documentary misrepresents the family court system and the judges, lawyers, and others who work there, ISBA family law practitioners say.
2 comments (Most recent April 28, 2014)

Does Illinois Need an Electronic-Will Statute?

December
2014
Column
, Page 600
Nevada has one – how about the Land of Lincoln?

Dramshop: Strict damage caps for the Illinois Insurance Guarantee Fund

By Adam W. Lasker
January
2014
LawPulse
, Page 10
Supreme Court resolves a split in appellate decisions to strictly cap the fund's liability, despite a harsh result for the parents in Rogers.

Driver’s education course required for first-time license applicants

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
Effective July 1, 2014, adults eighteen to twenty years old who have never previously obtained a driver's license and who have not completed an approved driver's education course must now take a six hour driver's education course. 92 Ill. Adm. Code 1030.

Dual Agency in Real Estate

By Mark S. Mathewson
November
2014
Column
, Page 554
Like it or not, it's common for one agent to represent both buyer and seller.

E-discovery rule changes allow format choice, prevent abuse

By Matthew Hector
August
2014
LawPulse
, Page 366
Among other things, recent amendments to Illinois Supreme Court Rules 201 and 214 empower courts to tailor discovery if the burden of the request outweighs the benefit.

E-filing comes to criminal court

By Matthew Hector
December
2014
LawPulse
, Page 566
Effective last September, the Illinois Supreme Court expanded its electronic filing standards to include criminal and traffic cases.

Easing synthetic plastic microbeads out of commerce

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
Due to the potential environmental impact of plastic microbeads on aquatic organisms, as of December 31, 2017, it shall be illegal to manufacturer for sale personal care products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads, with the exception of over the counter drugs.

Educational opportunities for children of deceased or disabled veterans

June
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 272
The Department of Veterans' Affairs recently adopted amendments aimed at implementing the Children of Deceased Veterans Act and providing educational opportunities for these children. 95 Ill. Adm. Code 101 (eff. Mar. 12, 2014).

Educator licensure

August
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 372
The State Board of Education has amended Article 21 of the School Code to comply with new state law regarding educator certification. 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25 (eff. May 6, 2014).

Employee classifications and complaint procedures

November
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 524
The Department of Labor, in accordance with legislative amendments to the Employee Classification Act, revised the regulations governing Employee Classifications to expand the definition of an "individual performing services."

Employer has no duty to bargain on recent pension changes

July
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 320
Under the recently amended Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, employers have no affirmative duty to bargain with employees for matters regarding changes, impact of changes, and implementation of changes made to Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Illinois Pension Code.

Energy Assistance Program extended until 2018

February
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 68
The Energy Assistance Act has been amended to extend the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund program until December of 2018.

Escrow of fair-share dues is required pending resolution of a union nonassociation claim by a public employee

July
2014
Illinois Law Update
, Page 320
On May 6, 2014, the Fourth District Appellate Court held that safeguarding a public employee's right of nonassociation with a union under § 6(g) of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act (the "Act") requires the escrow of fair-share dues pending resolution of the employee's claim.