Subject Index Law Pulse

New citation procedures make enforcing debt-collection judgments easier

By Adam W. Lasker
October
2013
LawPulse
, Page 498
A new law reduces the role of sheriffs in collection proceedings and increases the power of courts and practitioners to enforce judgments.

Supreme court to establish legal-aid program for military personnel, vets

By Adam W. Lasker
October
2013
LawPulse
, Page 498
The pilot program, funded by a $10 filing fee increase in participating circuit courts, will provide free legal services in civil cases to veterans and military personnel in need.

Beware FATCA’s broad reach

By Adam W. Lasker
September
2013
LawPulse
, Page 446
Think a new law designed to ferret out taxable income parked offshore won't affect any of your clients? You might be unpleasantly surprised, tax experts warn.

Bill requires timely executed settlement releases in most civil cases

By Adam W. Lasker
September
2013
LawPulse
, Page 446
The law helps plaintiffs get timely settlement payments from "substandard" insurance companies, the chair of ISBA's Tort Section says.

Current version of family law overhaul bill gets mixed reviews

By Adam W. Lasker
September
2013
LawPulse
, Page 446
A proposed major rewrite of Illinois' 35-year-old Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act has some ISBA matrimonial lawyers feeling encouraged and others concerned.
1 comment (Most recent August 28, 2013)

Illinois Supreme Court allows interlocutory appeals of suppression orders in juvenile cases

By Adam W. Lasker
September
2013
LawPulse
, Page 446
The supreme court rule change allowing interlocutory appeals remedies "a systemic problem for both prosecutors and defendants for decades," a commentator says.

Law authorizes 17-year-olds to vote, online voter registration - but wait, there’s more

By Adam W. Lasker
September
2013
LawPulse
, Page 446
Amendments to Illinois election law also create a board of election commissioners for Lake County, require more petition signatures for a would-be Chicago alderman, and make other changes.

Caveat Emptor: Company B assumes fair-labor liability when it buys Company A

By Adam W. Lasker
August
2013
LawPulse
, Page 386
The federal successor-liability doctrine makes a buyer company responsible for the seller's Fair Labor Standards Act liability even if state law would hold otherwise, the seventh circuit rules.

Chicago event recognizes first national meeting of women lawyers

By Adam W. Lasker
August
2013
LawPulse
, Page 386
At an event this month, two female bar association presidents will help celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Chicago-based first national meeting of women lawyers.

Coming soon: Illinois’ first statewide standardized court forms

By Adam W. Lasker
August
2013
LawPulse
, Page 386
Illinois is one of a very few states without statewide standardized court forms. That's beginning to change, thanks to the supreme court's Access to Justice Commission.
1 comment (Most recent August 2, 2013)

New supreme court rules a boon to limited-scope representation

By Adam W. Lasker
August
2013
LawPulse
, Page 386
Amended Rules 11, 13, and 137 create business opportunities for lawyers by making it easier to represent clients for part, but not all, of a lawsuit or transaction.
1 comment (Most recent August 1, 2013)

Supreme court delays Rule 138 personal identity information provisions

By Adam W. Lasker
August
2013
LawPulse
, Page 386
The supreme court delayed rule changes on personal identity information that some family law practitioners worry will force them to choose between the rule and conflicting statutes.

County recorders can investigate fraud, bill provides

By Adam W. Lasker
July
2013
LawPulse
, Page 330
The controversial bill would empower recorders to red-flag deeds and other documents that appear fraudulent. Wary real estate practitioners have a wait-and-see attitude.

Illinois lawmakers revive overturned armed robbery sentencing enhancement

By Adam W. Lasker
July
2013
LawPulse
, Page 330
After the high court held a sentencing enhancement unenforceable because its penalty was tougher than that of a second law with the same elements, lawmakers changed the elements of the second law and thereby revived the first.

Supreme court, advocates push legislation to expand access to justice, fund e-filing

By Adam W. Lasker
July
2013
LawPulse
, Page 330
Among other things, the legislation would help defray the costs of statewide e-filing and expand the pool of individuals who qualify for legal aid.

Supreme court declines to extend doctrine of election beyond wills to trusts

By Adam W. Lasker
July
2013
LawPulse
, Page 330
The Illinois Supreme Court found the doctrine irrelevant to the facts of In re Estate of Boyar, leaving the question of whether it applies to trusts as well as wills for another day.

Health care lawyers prep for medical marijuana law

By Adam W. Lasker
June
2013
LawPulse
, Page 278
Health care lawyers prepare to counsel doctors, hospitals, and others how not to run afoul of the "Medical Cannabis" bill.

Home rule rules, says the Illinois Supreme Court

By Adam W. Lasker
June
2013
LawPulse
, Page 278
Ordinances enacted by home rule municipalities trump state statutes unless the state expressly exercises exclusive control, the supreme court rules in a condo case.

Lake County bans nonlawyer representatives at tax appeals board

By Adam W. Lasker
June
2013
LawPulse
, Page 278
Lake is the latest Illinois county to confront UPL by prohibiting nonlawyers from representing parties before the tax appeals board of review.

No double jeopardy though jurors were sworn, high court rules

By Adam W. Lasker
June
2013
LawPulse
, Page 278
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in Martinez that, even though the jury was already empanelled, the defendant was not in jeopardy because the state stood silently by and presented no evidence.

Illinois high court affirms criminal contempt convictions of E2 nightclub owners

By Adam W. Lasker
May
2013
LawPulse
, Page 222
The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a ruling that vacated criminal contempt convictions against the owners of a Chicago nightclub where 21 people were killed in a stampede.

Illinois Supreme Court recognizes doctrine of equitable adoption

By Adam W. Lasker
May
2013
LawPulse
, Page 222
If parents treat a child they have not legally adopted as their own, he can pursue an inheritance even in the absence of their express or implied contract to adopt him, the high court rules.

Online offerings let lawyers earn LL.M.s at home

By Adam W. Lasker
May
2013
LawPulse
, Page 222
Two Illinois law schools are pioneers in the rapidly expanding field of LL.M. distance-learning programs.

SCOTUS rules warrantless dog-sniff search of home unconstitutional

By Adam W. Lasker
May
2013
LawPulse
, Page 222
Unlike an earlier decision this term that allowed dog-sniff evidence from a traffic stop, Jardines holds that the dog-sniff search of a front porch requires a warrant.

Interpreting federal statutes in state court: the high court speaks

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2013
LawPulse
, Page 170
What happens when state and federal courts disagree about how to interpret a federal statute? The Illinois Supreme Court tackled this difficult question in a recent ruling.

Legislature considering modifications to small-estate affidavits

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2013
LawPulse
, Page 170
ISBA-proposed changes would make the small-estate affidavit a more effective and easier-to-use probate avoidance device, a key proponent says.
1 comment (Most recent March 28, 2013)

New supreme court rules promote foreclosure mediation

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2013
LawPulse
, Page 170
New consumer-friendly rules, effective May 1, are designed to make the foreclosure process more fair and reduce the backlog of cases.

SCOTUS could reconcile conflicting federal rulings on immigrants’ right to counsel

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2013
LawPulse
, Page 170
The ninth circuit joins the seventh in ruling that an immigrant who is denied the right to counsel in removal proceedings need not show prejudice to successfully appeal that denial.

Suit barred for plaintiffs who ‘came to the nuisance’ of fly-infested cattle farm

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2013
LawPulse
, Page 170
The Illinois Supreme Court held that the Farm Nuisance Suit Act barred recovery for plaintiffs who acquired a house across the road from a fly-infested cattle farm.

Bill would eliminate “open-space” tax exemptions for recreational buildings

By Adam W. Lasker
March
2013
LawPulse
, Page 118
Should a busy clubhouse connected to a golf course be treated as "open space" and taxed at a low rate? Proposed legislation would end the judicially-created exemption.

Select a Different Subject