Unclear Seventh Circuit precedent and conflicting district court opinions have left unresolved whether corporate financial information is discoverable in relation to a punitive-damages claim in federal court. In his August 2019 Illinois Bar Journal article, “Cracking Open the Corporate Coffers,” Thomas A. Drysdale, a chambers law clerk to the Hon. Eric I. Long of the Central District of Illinois, argues that corporate wealth is discoverable, analyzes its admissibility, and proposes a solution to resolve the tension between the relevancy and admissibility questions.
The Illinois Department of Central Management Services is seeking a public service administrator in Springfield.
Responsibilities of the position include performing technical and legal work in the areas of labor agreements and arbitration as a representative of the department; representing the state in arbitration hearings and before the Illinois Labor Relations Board; reviewing resolutions and disciplinary actions and recommending approval or denial; writing memoranda of law and legal opinions; researching issues pertaining to labor relations; representing the department regarding union petitions of classifications into the bargaining unit; and performing a variety of special projects as assigned.
It should go without saying that most attorneys will apply Illinois law to personal injury lawsuits filed in Illinois courts. But if you could rely on another state’s laws that favor your client on a substantive legal issue, why wouldn’t you? What if it would mean the difference between a multi-million-dollar verdict and a statutory cap on damages? Or, maintaining a valid cause of action versus facing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim? In his August 2019 Illinois Bar Journal article, “Using Another State’s Laws to Your Advantage,” civil litigation defense attorney Dustin Karrison examines how Illinois courts make choice-of-law determinations in personal injury cases when Illinois’ laws conflict with laws from another state.
The Illinois Supreme Court handed down one opinion on Thursday, Aug. 1. In People v. Johnson, the court held that the act of shoplifting could be prosecuted as burglary as opposed to retail theft.
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender
In July 2014, Darren Johnson and another man entered the Rock Falls Walmart, placing two backpacks on top of a coin counting machine in the vestibule on their way into the store. Inside, they gathered some items of clothing and then, without paying for the clothing, returned to the vestibule, retrieved the backpacks, and loaded the clothing into the backpacks. They repeated this process a second time. A customer called the police, and Johnson was stopped outside of the store. Johnson admitted stealing the clothing, telling the police it was for his daughter.
Judge Mary Ellen Coghlan has been assigned as an appellate court justice in the First District.
Judge Coghlan was assigned to fill the opening created by the retirement of Appellate Justice Mary Anne Mason. The assignment of Judge Coghlan takes effect on July 30, and will remain in effect until further order of the court.
In its August issue, the Illinois Bar Journal provides an extensive sneak preview of the ISBA's upcoming Solo & Small Firm Conference by providing lots of easy-to-apply tips on improving your digital marketing efforts. Read the article, “Extending Your Reach,” for getting more out of your website, social media, blogs, and overall internet presence.
The ISBA has created a new section council to address food law, an increasingly specialized practice area that shows signs of surging.
The practice of food law includes legal issues affecting agriculture and farmers, health and the environment, sustainability, intellectual property and licensing, the regulation of food trends and innovation, and laws and regulations protecting consumers, says Molly Wiltshire, a Chicago-based attorney who was instrumental in drafting a proposal to create the new section.
Judge Mary Ellen Coghlan has been assigned as an appellate court justice in the First District. 
Teresa Molina has been appointed as an at-large Cook County circuit judge.
