The Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, has adopted new rules of procedure which will become effective on September 1, 2021. The new rules will act to vacate all existing prior rules. The new rules were circulated to the full court and they were approved by a unanimous vote of all seven Justices on August 2, 2021 The new rules are effective September 1, 2021, and the current rules and the new rules are both available on the court’s website.

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the three Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, July 29. In Beaman v. Freesmeyer, the Court found that the plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact on the commence-and-continue element of his malicious prosecution claim. In Indeck Energy Services v. DePodesta, the Illinois Supreme Court defined what constitutes an injury in the context of claims for usurpation of a corporate opportunity, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract. In People v. Dorsey, the Court rejected the defendant’s claim that his sentence violates the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution, finding that the claim was forfeited and barred by the doctrine of res judicata.

The Illinois Bar Journal’s August cover article collects best practices from experts on hiring and retaining good employees and addressing toxic elements in the workplace, such as bullying by colleagues and supervisors. Taking steps on both ends of the employee spectrum, your best performers will thank you, and most likely stay around a lot longer knowing you’re looking out for them. The article is based on several interviews with ISBA CLE program presenters addressing workplace management and culture.

The Will County Bar Association in collaboration with the Black Bar Association of Will County, Latino Bar Association of Will County, Will County Women’s Bar Association and Spesia & Taylor Attorneys at Law has awarded its Will County Legal Opportunity Scholarship. The Scholarship awards a $5,000 per year up to three years for Law School tuition ($15,000 over three years), a $1,000 payment for Bar preparatory course, and up to $10,000 per year for three years after law school in loan reimbursement to the recipient.