Experienced attorneys working in the juvenile court arena can tell you that the terminology is different and the atmosphere unique – and that representing a delinquent minor or parent accused of abuse or neglect requires a learning curve, to say the least. Don’t miss this introductory program in Rockford on April 12th that more experienced practitioners wish had been available to them when they began practicing in juvenile court!
Northern Illinois
-
March 18, 2013 |
CLE
-
March 14, 2013 |
People
Califf & Harper, P.C. is pleased to welcome Brian R. Tunis to the firm as a new associate attorney. Mr. Tunis focused his undergraduate studies in Finance at the University of Iowa graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2009. While attending law school at the University of Iowa College of Law from 2009 to 2012, Mr. Tunis was a member of the Iowa Law Review.
Mr. Tunis was also heavily involved with the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program which provides free income tax assistance for lower-income taxpayers. Graduating with distinction in 2012, Mr. Tunis passed the Illinois Bar in November 2012.
Califf & Harper, P.C. has offices in Moline and Naperville.
-
February 27, 2013 |
People
Long-time Rock Island resident Franklin Sherwood Wallace, 85, a prominent attorney and larger-than-life character, died peacefully Friday night, February 1, 2013, in Dayton, Ohio after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Congregation Beth Israel at the Tri City Jewish Center, Rock Island. Burial is at the Hebrew Cemetery, Rock Island. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Frank Wallace Memorial Fund at U.S. Bank. The money will be given to groups working to inspire the love of art and music in children and to a local animal shelter.
-
February 22, 2013 |
People | Practice News
Robbins Schwartz continues to expand and invest in its statewide practice to ensure we are meeting the needs of our clients on a local level. In response to those needs and client requests, we are pleased to announce we have opened an office in Rockford to more efficiently service our clients in the north and west region of Illinois.
Our new Rockford office is located at:
- 6957 Olde Creek Road #2300, Suite 310
- Rockford, Illinois 61114
- T: 815.390.7090
-
February 6, 2013 |
ISBA News | Events
Bar leaders toured the River Bend Foodbank in Moline on Jan. 31 to call attention to the Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyers Feeding Illinois campaign, a food and fundraising drive Feb. 18-March 1, whose goal is to provide one million meals to the hungry. Pictured (from left) are John O'Brien, representing Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., a major sponsor; Tom Laughlin, executive director of the River Bend Foodbank; ISBA President John E. Thies; and State’s Attorney John McGehee, president of the Rock Island County Bar Association. Lawyers and lawyer teams are currently signing up to participate in the campaign. For more information, visit www.lawyersfeedingil.org.
In the photo at right, a Quad Cities TV cameraman captures a discussion about the River Bend Foodbank in Moline during Thursday’s visit by Illinois bar leaders. Above are (from left) Mary Laughlin, of the foodbank, ISBA President John Thies, and Moline lawyers Bob Park and Frank Nowinski.
-
January 22, 2013 |
People
Eugene Stanley Kwasniewski “Gene Kwas” died Nov. 16, 2012, in his home in Austin, Texas.
Gene Kwas, to all who knew and loved him, was born Eugene Stanley Kwasniewski on Oct. 14, 1922, the middle of seven boys, to Joseph and Josephine Kwasniewski.
Though he couldn’t speak English until second grade, athletic ability earned him many sports letters in Evanston Township High School. His strength was speed, breaking the 100-yard dash time in high school in under 10 seconds, bettering Jim Thorpe’s record. He attended a state dinner with the governor, unheard of for an immigrant’s son, and received a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He did not become an opera singer, as encouraged by the choir mistress of Evanston HS Elite Concert Choir.
World War II interrupted his sophomore year in college, sending him to the Air Force, a “90 day wonder,” drafted and “instantly” made an officer. A bombardier at age 19, he was taught how to fly a B-17 bomber, and was off to Bari, Italy.
The War over, the decorated war veteran resumed his career as a football halfback hero, with a win against UCLA in the Rose Bowl of 1947. Playing poker nights, he was able to fund his law degree in 1950, then practiced law in Peru to be close to his college sweetheart. Gene married Lillian Marie Forcht in 1950, a happy 63-year union.
Gene joined the FBI, assigned to San Mateo, Calif., where daughter Anne was born. He was a special agent for five years during the McCarthy era. -
December 20, 2012 |
People
George Michael Shur, 70, of DeKalb, IL, died Sunday, Nov. 25 in Chicago. Born in 1942 in Portland, ME, to Barnett and Clarice (Geller) Shur, George spent his childhood in Portland and attended Colby College, then Boston University School of Law.
He returned to Portland and joined the law firm of Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer, and Nelson, where he later became partner. In 1970, he met Martha West. From their first date on Valentine's Day she remained the love of his life, and they were blessed to celebrate their 42nd anniversary November 14.
-
November 26, 2012 |
People
Richard Schmack was elected DeKalb County State's Attorney on November 6, 2012.
Richard received his undergraduate degrees in History and Political Science from North Central College in 1977, his J.D. from the University of Illinois Law School, in 1980, and has been an attorney in Illinois since that time. He was an Assistant State' Attorney in DeKalb County from 1985 - 1989, served as the Village Attorney for Kirkland, and has been in private practice since 1989 in Sycamore.
He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the DeKalb County Bar Association.
Richard and his wife of 27 years, Jackie, live in Sycamore with their two adult sons, Eric, 25, and Ben, 23. -
November 22, 2012 |
People
Adam Jeffrey Brenner, 45, was found dead Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in his Rockford home. The cause of death was heart disease and he passed quickly, perhaps in his sleep. He leaves behind memories of his capacity for love, his innate kindness, his wit and intelligence, his dedication to the law he practiced, his courage to be his own man, his disdain for those who would hurt the ones who love them.
His parents, Martin Brenner, Rockford, and Ghia and Allan Ackerman, Chicago, will miss him all the days of our lives. Also mourning his death are multiple relatives and friends who knew him for the unique and vibrant young man he was. May his energy combine with the universe to make it a better place.
Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation of goods or money to the Rockford food pantry of your choice. In his life as a lawyer, Adam often served the poor. We think it would make him happy to know that his death helped to also feed them.
-
November 22, 2012 |
People
Mario J. Perez, 77, of Woodstock, passed away Oct. 31, 2012, at home surrounded by his family after succumbing to prostate cancer.
He was born Jan. 19, 1935, in Seneca, to Carmen and José Perez, who immigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s from Guanajuato, Mexico. He was raised in Marseilles, before moving to Chicago in the 1940s.
On May 8, 1965, he married Esther Peterson of Ames, Iowa, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Chicago.
Mario attended St. Patrick's Academy at Adams and DesPlaines streets in Chicago on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1953, University of Illinois, Navy Pier, from 1953-55 and graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1957 with a major in history and minor in anthropology. He obtained his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in 1960. He was a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity and served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
In 1960, he began practicing law in Chicago at CNA Insurance Co. After nine years in Chicago, he moved to Woodstock to work at the law offices of Josyln and Green. Soon thereafter, he started a private practice in Woodstock that he continued until 2012. From the late 70s to early 90s, he also operated an office in Waukegan.