2015 Articles

Board of education to calculate school district pro-rata share for use on special education services and facilities

July
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
For schools receiving payments from the General State Aid Fund, the State Board of Education is to calculate each district's pro-rata share of the minimum $13,600,000 available.

Buyer Beware: Advising Condominium Owners in Illinois

By Damon Ritenhouse
May
2015
Article
, Page 24
Pointers for representing condo owners and prospective purchasers, particularly in light of the Illinois Supreme Court's recent Spanish Court ruling.

Calculating Maintenance When Income Is Hard to Determine

June
2015
Column
, Page 47
How do you apply the new maintenance formula when you can't determine income?

Cameras in the Cook County courts

By Matthew Hector
February
2015
LawPulse
, Page 12
The nation's largest unified court system is opening up to television and still-camera coverage. Here's how the pilot program works.

Can a trustee convey title to real property using a warranty deed instead of trustee’s deed?

October
2015
Article
, Page 22
Can a trustee convey title using a warranty, not a trustee's, deed?

Can Debtors Discharge Divorce-Based Attorneys’ Fees in Bankruptcy?

February
2015
Column
, Page 50
In Chapter 7, no; in Chapter 13, maybe.
2 comments (Most recent February 9, 2015)

Can I stop a pro se parent from filing repeated motions for custody?

October
2015
Article
, Page 23
Can I stop a pro se parent from filing repeated motions for custody?

Can You Accept Bitcoins as Payment?

By Bailey E. Cunningham
January
2015
Column
, Page 44
The short answer is "yes," but make sure you follow the ethics rules.

Can You Pierce the Veil of an Illinois LLC?

By Sandra D. Mertens
July
2015
Article
, Page 46
Can the veil of limited liability be pierced in a statutory Illinois LLC? Courts have struggled to decide.
1 comment (Most recent July 2, 2015)

Changes to disciplinary procedures at DHS schools

January
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Department of Human Services has adopted amendments to the Part concerning the conduct and disciplinary policies at its residential school facilities.

Changes to licensing requirements for radioactive materials

November
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
Reflecting updates to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's requirements, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency ("IEMA") adopted amendments to Licensing of Radioactive Material. 32 Ill. Adm. Code 330 (eff. August 17, 2015).

The Changing Market for Legal Services

By Richard D. Felice
April
2015
Column
, Page 8
More prospective clients are looking online and elsewhere for legal help.
1 comment (Most recent July 26, 2015)

Cities and park districts may enter into lease agreements with corporations and societies for the operation of aquariums or museums

July
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Park District Aquarium and Museum Act has been amended to allow a city or park district to enter into a lease agreement with a corporation or society such that the corporation or society takes on the role of improving, maintaining, and operating an aquarium or museum.

Clarified definition of activities constituting “discovery”

September
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
This bill would amend the Code of Civil Procedure to update certain discovery provisions. It has passed through both chambers and was sent to the governor for action on June 18, 2015.

Client Confidentiality in the Digital Age

By Ed Finkel
May
2015
Cover Story
, Page 20
The pathways for breaching client confidentiality - whether due to simple carelessness or inadequate security - continue to multiply as technology advances.

Coming soon: bed reserves permitted in nursing and mental health facilities

March
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Illinois Public Aid Code has been amended by specifying that effective June 1, 2015, payments will be authorized for bed reserves in nursing facilities and mental health facilities that are at least 90% occupied and have at least 80% of their occupants being Medicaid eligible.

Coming soon: Chicago Transit Board’s open meetings will be viewable online

March
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
Section 23 of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act now provides that open meetings of the Chicago Transit Board will be viewable by the public in real-time on the Board's website.

Competency certificates for mining electricians

February
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department of Natural Resource's Office of Mines and Minerals now has the authority to issue competency certificates for mine electricians.

Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board meetings, policies, and reporting requirements

April
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
When it became effective on July 9, 2013, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, 430 ILCS 66/1 et seq., created the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board ("CCLRB") to consider objections to an applicant's eligibility to obtain a concealed carry license.

A contest over Mr. Cub’s will?

By Matthew Hector
April
2015
LawPulse
, Page 10
Ernie Banks' family has said they'll challenge his will, which was executed before Illinois' tough new Presumptively Void Transfers Act took effect.
1 comment (Most recent March 25, 2015)

Cook County Drug Analysis Field Test Pilot Program initiated

November
2015
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Cook County Drug Analysis Field Test Pilot Program has been initiated.

Correspondence from Our Readers

December
2015
Column
, Page 8
It's all about clients; Mendelson - a hard case; Beau Brindley.

Correspondence from Our Readers

November
2015
Column
, Page 8
Safe roads, sane laws; court reporters and technology.

Correspondence from Our Readers

September
2015
Column
, Page 8
Market forces and the court system

Correspondence from Our Readers

July
2015
Column
, Page 8
Digital assets, passing the bar

Correspondence from Our Readers

May
2015
Column
, Page 6
The new HCPOA, Mr. Cub's will, criminal justice reform commission.
2 comments (Most recent May 5, 2015)

Correspondence from Our Readers

April
2015
Column
, Page 6
Your first real estate transaction; six-person juries; digital assets and estate planning.

Correspondence from Our Readers

March
2015
Column
, Page 6
The origin of "extraordinary circumstances" in DUI cases.

Correspondence from Our Readers

February
2015
Column
, Page 6
Statute of repose and asbestos cases; presumptively void transfers to caregivers; "native form" not default for ESI production.

Correspondence from Our Readers

January
2015
Column
, Page 6
Freelance lawyers; clearing criminal records.