Assistant Illinois Attorney General Stephen J. Rotello will examine the "Freedom of Information Act" from
10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. His presentation will be followed by a fifteen minute review of the "Open Meetings Act" by Thomas M. Battista, Deputy Director, Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.
From 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m, Gerald G. Goldberg of Chicago, will consider "Administrative HearingsPrehearing and Discovery." Edward J. Schoenbaum, Hearings Referee, Illinois Department of Employment Security, will comment on "The Hearing from an ALJ's Perspective." Cook County Judge Alexander P. White will discuss "Judicial Review of Final Administrative Orders" from noon to 12:30 p.m.
After a 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. luncheon break, registrants will be treated to a panel discussion on "Administrative Agency Practice." Panelists include Glen L. Bower, Director, Illinois Department of Revenue; Claire A.. Manning, Chair, Illinois Pollution Control Board; Terry Shafer, Hearing Officer, Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board; James M. Reilly, Director, City of Chicago Office of Administrative Hearings; and Rosalyn Kaplan, Manager of the Appellate Division, Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.
From 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Robert John Kane, Assistant Vice-President, Illinois State Medical Society, will conduct a "Rulemaking Workshop." His presentation will be followed at 3:30 p.m. by a discussion on "Attorney Fees in Administrative Hearings" by William A. Price, Wheaton. The concluding session at 4:00 p.m. is "Illinois Court of Claims" with Ellen J. Schanzle-Haskins, Director, Illinois Court of Claims.
Registration fees are $55 for members of co-sponsoring groups. $65 for ISBA members and $125 for non-member lawyers. For registration details, contact the CLE Registrar at (800) 252-8908, or register on-line at www.isba.org.
The dates, topics and sites of a number of upcoming legal education programs of interest to the government bar have been announced.
Friday, April 20, 1:00 p.m.-4:10 p.m.--"Civil Practice Update," presented by the ISBA's Civil Practice and Procedure Section at the ISBA Regional Office, 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 900, Chicago. Topics include: Service of Process and Reasonable Diligence under Rule 103(b); The Scope of Discovery; Supreme Court Rule 213 Opinion Witnesses; Motion Practice; and Trial Issues. Cost: Member of the Civil Practice and Procedure Section-$40; ISBA member-$65; non-ISBA member lawyer-$100.
Friday, April 27, 1:00 p.m.-4:10 p.m.--"Civil Practice Update," presented by the ISBA's Civil Practice and Procedure Section at the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign. Topics include: Service of Process and Reasonable Diligence under Rule 103(b); The Scope of Discovery; Supreme Court Rule 213 Opinion Witnesses; Motion Practice; and Trial Issues. Cost: Member of the Civil Practice and Procedure Section-$40; ISBA member-$65; non-ISBA member lawyer-$100.
Friday, April 27, 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.--"Crisis Conflict: Legal Issues in Preparing for and Responding to School Violence," presented by the ISBA's Education Law Section at the University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign. Topics include: Searches, Safety and Supervisory Issues; Suspension and Expulsion Procedures; Formulating a Response to Incidents of Violence; and Applying the Law to Disruptive and Violent Students. Cost: Member of the Education Law Section-$65; ISBA member-$75; non-ISBA member lawyer-$135.
Friday, May 4, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.--"An Overview to Administrative Law Practice in Illinois," presented by the ISBA's Administrative Law Section at the ISBA Regional Office, 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 900, Chicago. Topics include: Research and Writing, Administrative Law on the Internet and Researching Illinois Legislative History; Administrative Agency Practice; the Freedom of Information Act; the Open Meetings Act; the Rulemaking Process; and Administrative Hearings. Cost: Member of the Administrative Law Section-$55; ISBA member-$65; non-ISBA member lawyer-$125.
Friday, May 18, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.--"An Overview of the Illinois Tort Immunity Act," presented by the ISBA's Tort Law Section at the Holiday Inn, 1000 Eastport Plaza, Collinsville. Topics include: Historical background and the enactment of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act; Determining Whether a Public Employee is Immune for Certain Acts; Premises Liability under the Tort Immunity Act; Immunities; and Statute of Limitations for Actions against Public Entities. Cost: Member of the Tort Law Section-$40; ISBA member-$50; non-ISBA member lawyer-$100.
Friday, May 25, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.-- "An Overview of the Illinois Tort Immunity Act," presented by the ISBA's Tort Law Section at the ISBA Regional Office, 20 South Clark Street, Suite 900, Chicago. Topics include: Historical background and the enactment of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act; Determining Whether a Public Employee is Immune for Certain Acts; Premises Liability under the Tort Immunity Act; Immunities; and Statute of Limitations for Actions against Public Entities. Cost: Member of the Tort Law Section-$40; ISBA member-$50; non-ISBA member lawyer-$100.
Friday, August 3, 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.--"Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law," presented by the ABA's Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division, Chicago, place to be announced. Topics include: Extent of Representation with Regard to Advising Public Officials; Reporting Professional Misconduct; Confidentiality of Information; and Conflicts of Interest. Cost: TBA.
For registration information for ISBA programs call the CLE registrar in the Illinois Bar Center at (800) 252-8908.
In Yang v. City of Chicago, No. 88656 (February 16, 2001), the Illinois Supreme Court reviewed the question certified by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit of whether section 9-102 of the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act provides for the recovery of attorney fees against municipalities. The supreme court noted that the use of the phrase "compensatory damages" in section 9-102 of the Tort Immunity Act limits application of that provision to the payment of monetary awards in tort judgments or settlements. The court then concluded that attorney fees do not constitute a "tort judgment" as that phrase is defined in the Tort Immunity Act; thus, compensatory damages in section 9-102 does not include attorney fees.
Illinois Press Association v. Ryan, No. 88597 (January 19, 2001), the Illinois Supreme Court was asked to review the circuit court's determination that the state legislative ethics commission, created pursuant to the provisions of the State Gift Ban Act, is required to conduct its proceedings in public in accordance with article IV, section 5(c), of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. On appeal, Governor Ryan argued that he was not the proper party defendant in the action, because he had no authority or control over the operation of the legislative branch's ethics commission. The supreme court agreed. The judgment of the circuit court was vacated and the appeal dismissed. Still pending with the supreme court is Flynn v. Ryan, Docket No. 99 CH 340 (Circuit Court, Will County), the case wherein a Will County judge struck down the State Gift Ban Act as being, inter alia, unconstitutionally vague and violative of the state constitution's separation of powers provisions. Oral arguments are expected in this case later in the spring.
Washington University Law School in St. Louis has a Public Interest Law Speakers Series during the academic year. The topic of the series this year is "Access to Justice: The Social Responsibility of Lawyers." There are a total of nine speakers. Thomas Sullivan of Jenner and Block and former U.S. Attorney for the N.D. of Ill., recently spoke on the death penalty process.
On Saturday, March 31, at 2:30 p.m., the scheduled speaker is Amartya Sen, 1998 Nobel Laureate in Economic Science and a Professor at Harvard University will speak on "Norms, Law and Poverty." Professor Sen is a "leading scholar on the causes and consequences of poverty."
On Wednesday, April 4, Ms. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a "jurist-in-residence" at Washington University will present "A Conversation with Justice Ginsburg."
These programs will take place at the law school in Anheuser-Busch Hall on the beautiful hilltop campus of Washington University. Each lecture program is eligible for one Missouri continuing legal education credit. For additional information, call (314) 935-4958.
By Chuck Gunnarson, Springfield
Have you ever needed to learn the license status of an expert for your case, or even your family doctor? Were you ever curious if you might be the heir to some unclaimed property in the custody of the government? Have you ever sought to find the status of that outstanding travel voucher or pay warrant from the State of Illinois? This edition of In-sites looks at various Web sites where one can find answers to these types of questions.
At <www.dpr.state.il.us/licenselookup/default.htm> one can determine the license status of any individual whose job or profession is regulated by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Once there, all you need to input is the last name and first initial of the individual in question, and choose from the on-screen menu the type of license they claim to hold. The Illinois Office of Banks and Real Estate has similar information on real estate brokers, leasing agents and auctioneers at <www.obre.state.il.us/lookup/Default.htm.
The Illinois Secretary of State's Office is responsible by law for maintaining various types of records regarding individuals and businesses in Illinois. You can check on the corporate status of a business in Illinois at <www.sos.state.il.us/departments/business_services/corpnames.html>. Business corporations, not-for-profit corporations and limited liability corporations registered with the Secretary of State's office can be located at this site. Genealogical information, archives databases, corporate name availability and other general information may be obtained through the Secretary of State's office at <www.sos.state.il.us/services/services.html>.
Travel vouchers and other pay warrants for state employees and state contractors are processed through the Illinois Comptroller's Office. At <www.ioc.state.il.us/quicktake/vend/vendorhome.cfm> you can type in your social security number or federal employer identification number and track the status of payments going through the Comptroller's Office, as well as see a history of past payments to a particular social security number or federal employer identification number.
The Illinois Treasurer's Office recently created a website where you can learn if the State has unclaimed property of yours, or whether you are an heir to an unclaimed fortune. Go to <www.cashdash.net> and enter your name to see if the state has any unclaimed property for you. Also, at <http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com> you can check to see if Cook County has any unclaimed property that is yours.
%20Initial.GIF)