Illinois Bar Journal

Subject Index Tort Law

Illinois’ New Anti-SLAPP Statute

By Eric M. Madiar & Terrence J. Sheahan
December
2008
Article
, Page 620
The Act should quell libel suits against those who legitimately petition government for redress. But does it also shield those who intentionally defame others?

Appellate Court: No Wrongful Death for Embryo Before It’s Implanted

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2008
LawPulse
, Page 548
 The Illinois Appellate court rules that the Wrongful Death Act does not permit suits on behalf of human embryos allegedly destroyed before being placed in the womb.

The Broad Duty to Protect Patrons from Harm: Marshall v Burger King

By Courtney Dashiell Lorentz
October
2008
Article
, Page 524
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a restaurant owner has a duty to protect its patrons from an out-of-control car. So where does a premises owner's duty to the public end?

So You Want to Be a Personal Injury Lawyer?

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
October
2008
Cover Story
, Page 508
How do you break into p.i. practice? Successful practitioners offer advice.

Fraudulent Misrepresentation in Illinois Employment Cases

By Richard J. Gonzalez
September
2008
Article
, Page 464
More at-will employees who have been misled by employers' oral promises are suing for fraudulent misrepresentation instead of breach of contract.

Negligent Spoliation in the Wake of Jones v O’Brien Tire and Battery

By Shane M. Carnine
September
2008
Article
, Page 470
A recent appellate case arguably changes the requirements for a spoliation claim.

Clarifying the collateral source rule

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2008
LawPulse
, Page 384
The supreme court rules that plaintiffs can recover the "reasonable value" of their medical expenses, whether they're paid by Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, or another source.  

Dog Bites Man: Liability for Dog Attacks Under the Animal Control Act

By April Pruitt-Summers
August
2008
Article
, Page 408
The Illinois Animal Control Act eliminates the "one bite" rule and makes other changes to the common law of dog attacks.

Supremes: the Best approach to tort reform survives

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2008
LawPulse
, Page 384
 The supreme court holds that a med-mal plaintiff is entitled to a 90-day extension to file her certificate of merit - and that a 2004 law didn't reenact the version of 2-622 invalidated in Best v Taylor.

A veterinary standard of care

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
July
2008
LawPulse
, Page 334
The court makes explicit that veterinarians are "skilled" practitioners of a "profession or trade" and thus owe a duty of care.

Fraudulent misrepresentation tort limited to business

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2008
LawPulse
, Page 278
Fraudulent misrepresentation applies only to business-related, not personal, injury, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.

No discretionary immunity for retaliatory discharge of employee

June
2008
Illinois Law Update
, Page 284
On April 17, 2008, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the circuit court's holding barring the plaintiff's retaliatory discharge claim against the Waukegan Park District due to the District's immunity under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (Tort Immunity Act), 745 ILCS 10/1-101 et seq.

No wrongful death action for abortion to protect mother’s health

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
June
2008
LawPulse
, Page 278
If an injured mother aborts an uninjured fetus to protect her own health, she can't recover for the wrongful death of the unborn child, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.

Sexual injury limitation period amended. PA 095-0589

May
2008
Illinois Law Update
, Page 236
The Code of Civil Procedure has been amended by the addition of section 13-202.3. 735 ILCS 5/13-202.3. 

Use of Leased Land Act. PA 095-0603

April
2008
Illinois Law Update
, Page 180
The General Assembly has created the State of Illinois Recreational Use of Leased Land Act. 

Successor Liability in Illinois

By George W. Kuney
March
2008
Article
, Page 148
Find out when creditors and tort victims can sue the buyer of a business for the debts and torts of the seller.

No duty to warn, Illinois high court holds

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
November
2007
LawPulse
, Page 570
The court reaffirms the rule that Party A has no duty to warn Party B about a threat posed by Party C unless there's a special relationship between A and B.

Admitted negligent acts properly presented to jury when relevant and necessary to plaintiff’s case

August
2007
Illinois Law Update
, Page 404
On June 7, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court of Jackson County allowing Michael Rath to present evidence of Carbondale Nursing and Rehabilitation Center's negligence despite the nursing home's admission of certain acts of negligence.

Amendments to damages law for wrongful death suits. PA 095-0003

August
2007
Illinois Law Update
, Page 404
The Illinois General Assembly has amended Section 2 of the Wrongful Death Act, 740 ILCS 80/2. 

Judicial estoppel not applied to change in legal conclusion

August
2007
Illinois Law Update
, Page 404
On June 7, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, reversed the Circuit Court of Lake County's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants Richard Sandore and Associates for Women's Health.

Mental suffering now compensable in wrongful death cases

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
August
2007
LawPulse
, Page 398
Illinois becomes the 24th state to allow wrongful-death plaintiffs to recover for their grief, sorrow, and mental suffering at the loss of their loved one.

Asked and Answered

July
2007
Column
, Page 375
Can small p.i. firms compete with bigger ones?

Helping Business Owners Avoid Personal Liability

By Markus May
June
2007
Article
, Page 310
A recent case describes how business owners should run their companies as separate entities to avoid being held personally liable.

Insurers’ Claims for Reimbursement from PI Recovery: Recent ERISA Rulings

By James T. Nyeste
May
2007
Article
, Page 244
Healthcare plan reimbursement has been a contentious issue. The Supreme Court's Sereboff ruling answered some questions, but others remain. 

The Learned Intermediary Doctrine and Pharmaceutical Company Liability

By Stephen R. Kaufmann & Jason D. Johnson
April
2007
Article
, Page 202
The learned intermediary doctrine is strong armor against liability for pharmaceutical companies. But it's not without chinks.

No governmental immunity for hazardous recreational activity

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2007
LawPulse
, Page 170
The tort immunity act offers no blanket immunity for trampolining and other hazardous recreational activities, the high court rules.

Parent companies more vulnerable to suit for subsidiaries’ torts

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2007
LawPulse
, Page 170
Under the direct participant theory, recently adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court, a parent business that guides its subsidiary's activities may be liable for the subsidiary's torts.

Supremes - the risk-utility test applies despite open, obvious dangers

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2007
LawPulse
, Page 170
In a victory for consumers, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the use of the "risk-utility" test in a product liability suit based on an item with open and obvious dangers.

Hospital not liable for off-duty worker’s disclosure of patient info

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2007
LawPulse
, Page 118
The Illinois Supreme Court rules that a phlebomist's disclosure at a local tavern of a patient's blood-test results was outside the scope of her employment.

“Innocent construction” libel rule - still standing but battered

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
March
2007
LawPulse
, Page 118
The Illinois Supreme Court refused to abandon the rule in Tuite v Corbitt but overturned the trial and appellate courts who applied it in dismissing the plaintiff's case.

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