2020 Articles

Defendant’s statements barred at trial but admissible for sentencing hearing

March
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
On Dec. 31, 2019, the Second District Appellate Court found that the trial court had not erred in admitting during sentencing a videotaped statement made to police that was taken in violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Department of Insurance will now utilize audits rather than hearings

June
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Department of Insurance has adopted a number of amendments that update general provisions of the Insurance Code.

Digital “smart” contracts, records, and signatures verified by blockchain technology permitted

May
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The Blockchain Technology Act permits blockchain and smart contracts. Smart contracts are defined as contracts stored as electronic records and verified by the use of a blockchain.

Discharging the Revocation of a FOID Card

By Rhys Saunders
March
2020
LawPulse
, Page 16
Illinois Supreme Court sides with woman whose FOID card was taken from her by the Illinois State Police.

Discovery Wars

By Madhavi K. Seth & Vikram S. Arora
August
2020
Article
, Page 38
Guidelines for conducting discovery ethically.

Don’t Be a Cookie Monster

By Jeffrey R. Schoenberger
April
2020
Column
, Page 42
If you operate a website, become aware of the information it’s collecting from visitors.
1 comment (Most recent April 2, 2020)

Don’t Get Held Up by Ransomware

By Danielle DavisRoe
May
2020
Column
, Page 40
Sooner or later, you are going to be targeted by ransomware. Don’t fall for it.

Down and Pretty Much Out

By Pete Sherman
April
2020
LawPulse
, Page 10
Disbarred Illinois attorneys face an uphill battle to be reinstated, partly because of the due process already afforded them.

Driver’s licenses and identification cards to carry gender-neutral markers

May
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Public Act 101-0513 will allow gender-neutral markers on both Illinois driver’s licenses and Illinois identification cards.

Education requirements to become a police officer raised

May
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The State Police Merit Board adopted an amendment to the Procedures of the Department of State Police Merit Board, implementing Public Act 101-374 and replacing an emergency rule that was effective Dec. 2, 2019.

Election holiday declared

September
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Public Act 101-0642 amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to include emergency provisions for the 2020 General Election in November.

Employer penalty waived for failing to timely submit February 2020 wage reports due to COVID-19 

November
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department of Employment Security adopted an amendment to the Part titled Payment of Unemployment Contributions, Interest and Penalties.

Endangered species list updated

August
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources adopted two amendments to the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Fauna and the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora, implementing the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act (520 ILCS 10).

Evidence of oral agreement created an implied-in-fact contract between parties

May
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
The plaintiff and defendant entered into a written contract, under which the plaintiff provided equipment consulting services to the defendant.

Excusing sleepy juror not an abuse of discretion

March
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
On Dec. 18, 2019, the Third District Appellate Court found that the trial court had not abused its discretion when it dismissed a juror who slept through portions of a first-degree murder proceeding and ignored photographic evidence.

Expansions made to Secure Choice Savings Program

June
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Office of the Treasurer has made a number of changes to the Secure Choice Savings Program (SCSP) that will affect small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Expert’s testimony found inadmissible where expert was not present at time of offense

October
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
On July 13, 2020, the Second District of the Illinois Appellate Court found an expert’s testimony inadmissible because the expert witness was not present at the time of the defendant’s offense.

Eyewitness Views

By Rhys Saunders
February
2020
LawPulse
, Page 10
Cook County launches pilot program allowing for court appearances via live video.

Falling Into a Pink Slip

By Daniel C. Katzman
September
2020
Article
, Page 38
The painful reality for at-will employees after a work injury.

Fictional Hymanizations

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2020
Column
, Page 50
Justice Hyman partakes in inspirational embellishment for the greater good.

Filing police report within 11 days of hit-and-run may be sufficient for insurance purposes

November
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
On July 23, 2020, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court found that a plaintiff who waited 11 days to report a hit-and-run accident did so “as soon as practicable” under the circumstances.

Fiscal year general-revenue-fund grants expanded to cover prior year costs

November
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Illinois General Assembly amended the June 5, 2019, Appropriations Act. The amendments increased the amount of funds appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Judiciary Inquiry Board to meet its ordinary contingent expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.

For the Record

By Christopher DiPlacido
October
2020
Article
, Page 36
Exploring the unique postdeath tax-The Illinois Rules of Evidence and the admission of business records through foundational sources.

For the Record

By Pete Sherman
February
2020
LawPulse
, Page 10
Illinois Courts: Trends continue for case filings and self-represented litigants.

Foresight Is 2020 This Year, Part 1

By Charles J. Northrup
April
2020
Column
, Page 44
Consider revisiting basic conflict-of-interest rules to sharpen your ethical vision.

Foresight Is 2020 This Year: Part 2

By Charles J. Northrup
July
2020
Column
, Page 54
COVD-19? What COVID-19? The conflicts remain the same—material limitations.

Gender-affirming surgery covered under Medical Assistance Program

March
2020
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Secretary of State has updated the offense code table after the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois.The Department of Healthcare and Family Service has adopted several amendments to the department’s medical payment procedures.

General Member Referral Directory

October
2020
Column
, Page 32
Find a qualified ISBA member when a case falls outside of your area of practice.

General Member Referral Directory

July
2020
Column
, Page 32
Find a qualified ISBA member when a case falls outside of your area of practice.

General Member Referral Directory

April
2020
Column
, Page 33
Find a qualified ISBA member when a case falls outside of your area of practice.