2012 Articles

Law enforcement authorities must provide notice when re-opening a closed case. PA 097-0457

March
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 132
Illinois lawmakers have amended the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to require law enforcement authorities to provide notice when a closed case is re-opened for investigation (725 ILCS 120/4.5).

Law Firm Embezzlement: The Butler Didn’t Do It

By Karen Erger
August
2012
Column
, Page 438
Keep your firm from becoming the scene of an embezzlement whodunit.

Law provides a property tax exemption for homes rebuilt after a natural disaster. PA 097-0716

September
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 464
Illinois lawmakers have amended the Property Tax Code by adding section 15-173.

LAWPAC Needs Impact

By John G. Locallo
January
2012
Column
, Page 8
It's more important than ever to give lawyers a strong voice in Springfield.

A Lawyer Looks at 65: Planning for Your Future as an Older Lawyer

By Karen Erger
October
2012
Column
, Page 560
Build up your retirement account and downsize lavish late-life dreams.

Lawyer Websites: The New Yellow Pages

By Bonnie Booth
August
2012
Article
, Page 424
When most people search for lawyers, they search the Internet. So why don't more lawyers have websites?
2 comments (Most recent July 27, 2012)

Lawyers and Law School Reform

By Andrew P. Morriss & William D. Henderson
August
2012
Cover Story
, Page 414
Too many law students emerge with staggering debt and grim job prospects. It's time for bar associations and the legal academy to work together to strengthen the profession, these scholars say.
4 comments (Most recent July 30, 2012)

Lawyers, Doctors and Matryoshka Dolls

By Hon. Ron Spears
February
2012
Column
, Page 106
Fee contests over physician testimony reflect the tension between lawyers and doctors.

Legal Parenthood: Old Doctrines, New Families

By Professor Jeffrey A. Parness
June
2012
Column
, Page 330
Is the “superior parental rights” doctrine outdated?

Lessons Learned - Preventing Client Relations Problems that Cause Claims

By Karen Erger
April
2012
Column
, Page 216
Even claims that don't result in a payout teach lessons.

Lessors of dwelling units must disclose radon hazards to current and prospective tenants. PA 097-0021

January
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Illinois Radon Awareness Act has been amended to require lessors of dwelling units to disclose any radon hazard to lessees. 420 ILCS 46/25 new.

Licensed persons may take possession of fur-bearing mammals killed by traffic accidents. PA 097-0628

May
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 240
The Wildlife Code has been amended to allow persons holding all appropriate licenses, stamps, or permits to take possession of fur-bearing mammals in certain situations where trapping or hunting of such fur-bearing mammals would otherwise have been prohibited. (520 ILCS 5/2.30.)

Limits on open burning. PA 097-0488

June
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 292
The Fire Protection District Act has been amended to allow for the emergency prohibition of open burning (70 ILCS 705/8.20).

Local boards of trustees may sell treated wastewater. PA 097-1000

December
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 632
Illinois lawmakers have amended the role of boards of trustees of the sanitary districts formed under the Sanitary District Act of 1917. 70 ILCS 2405/7.

Long-term acute care hospitals are no longer required to provide emergency care. PA 097-0667

May
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 240
Illinois lawmakers have amended the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act (210 ILCS 50/3.190) and the Hospital Emergency Service Act (210 ILCS 80/1) to make emergency care services optional for long-term acute care hospitals.

Love, Marriage, and the IRS: Tax Advantages of Illinois Civil Unions

By Barbara K. Lundergan
April
2012
Article
, Page 200
You may be surprised to learn that civil unions afford better tax treatment than marriage for some heterosexual couples.

Lying to police can be obstruction

By Adam W. Lasker
April
2012
LawPulse
, Page 178
Lying to a police officer can support a conviction for obstruction of justice if the lying directly hinders the officer's official performance, the Illinois Supreme Court rules.
1 comment (Most recent April 7, 2012)

Making Gifts Can Reduce Illinois Estate Taxes

By Robert J. Kolasa
December
2012
Article
, Page 646
Recent Illinois legislation established higher estate tax exclusion amounts. Learn how clients can use gifts to substantially reduce Illinois estate taxes.

Mandated reporting requirements have been expanded to include new types of professionals. PA 097-0711

September
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 464
In the wake of the Penn State scandal, the Illinois General Assembly has amended the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (325 ILCS 5/4) to expand the types of professionals required to report child abuse and neglect. Added to the list of professionals are higher education institution personnel, athletic program or facility personnel, and early intervention providers.

Marital property should be valued as close as possible to the trial date in a bifurcated hearing

January
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
he appropriate valuation date of marital property in a bifurcated dissolution hearing is the date of trial under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act, according to a November 9, 2011, Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court ruling.

Marriage and Divorce at Midlife and Beyond

By Ross S. Levey & Kelley L. Menzano
October
2012
Article
, Page 544
As the 45-and-older population continues to grow, family law practitioners are faced with an array of issues unique to the "gray divorce revolution."

MCLE goes to the movies

By Adam W. Lasker
June
2012
LawPulse
, Page 286
A pair of Illinois attorneys uses lawyer-themed Hollywood films to teach lessons about legal ethics.

Missing Video Evidence in DUI Cases after People v. Kladis

By Thomas Kantas
May
2012
Article
, Page 250
In Kladis, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the state commits a discovery violation if it loses or destroy video evidence in a misdemeanor DUI case. Here's a look at this and related cases.
2 comments (Most recent May 2, 2012)

A Modest Proposal - Liability for Negligence in Property Inspections

By Joseph R. Fortunato Jr.
April
2012
Column
, Page 220
Is it time for legislation that voids liability limitations in property inspectors' contracts?

Mortgagee has 90 days to accept or reject mortgagor’s short sale offer. PA 097-0666

March
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 132
The Code of Civil Procedure has been amended to require a mortgagee involved in a residential real estate foreclosure to either accept or reject a mortgagor's short sale offer within 90 days of the offer (735 ILCS 5/15-1401.1 new).

Municipalities may use automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones. PA 097-0672

April
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 184
Illinois lawmakers have amended the Vehicle Code to authorize municipalities with at least one million residents to install and operate automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones.

Narrowing the Illinois anti-SLAPP statute

By Adam W. Lasker
March
2012
LawPulse
, Page 126
The Illinois Supreme Court reins in a statute designed to stop misuse of defamation lawsuits to silence critics speaking out on matters of public interest.

Navigating the Seventh Circuit’s Website

By Tom Gaylord
May
2012
Column
, Page 268
What better place to look for court information - everything from opinions to court rules to brief-writing guides - than the court's own website?

“Neglected child” definition expanded and “blatant disregard” defined. PA 097-0803

November
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 580
Illinois lawmakers have amended section 3 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. 325 ILCS 5/3.

New activities now under purview of Martial Arts Act. PA 097-1123

December
2012
Illinois Law Update
, Page 632
The definition of "Martial arts" found in Section 1 of the Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act now includes the practices of Jujutsu and Kyuki-Do. 225 ILCS 105/1.