Section Newsletters

Articles on Jury Instructions

Pattern civil jury instructions for the seventh circuit By Judge Iain D. Johnston Federal Civil Practice, December 2018 An overview of pattern jury instructions and how they are created.
Jury instruction update: “Do you hear what I hear?” By Hon. Barbara Crowder Government Lawyers, September 2017 A discussion of the 2017 changes made thus far to Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction for Civil Cases since the revisions focus on language access.
Jury instruction update: “Do you hear what I hear?” By Hon. Barbara Crowder Bench and Bar, September 2017 A discussion of the 2017 changes made thus far to Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction for Civil Cases since the revisions focus on language access.
Jury instruction update: “Do you hear what I hear?” By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, August 2017 A discussion of the 2017 changes made thus far to Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction for Civil Cases since the revisions focus on language access.
Court parses Human Rights Act jury instructions By Michael R. Lied Labor and Employment Law, March 2017 The case of Schnitker v. Springfield Urban League, Inc. proves it is always helpful to read a decision that addresses jury instructions, particularly where there are no pattern instructions.
Revisions to civil jury instructions regarding contracts By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, June 2016 An overview of the changes in the jury instructions regarding Contracts found in the 700.00 sections of the Illinois Pattern Instructions (Civil) that were issued in April 2016.
IPI 5.01: The Missing Witness Instruction By Brian Murphy Tort Law, July 2015 A discussion of this sometimes confusing instruction.
Nursing Home Care Act jury instructions—A trial lawyer’s experience By Terrence S. Carden, III Civil Practice and Procedure, January 2015 A recent Jefferson County case, Beckman v. SSC Mount Vernon Operating Company, LLC, applied the new instructions.
Jury instruction update By Hon. Barbara Crowder Bench and Bar, October 2014 Counsel who avail themselves of the most current version of the Illinois Pattern Instructions and the options for use of those instructions that the Supreme Court offers may find themselves more satisfied with the entire process.
Jury instruction update By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, September 2014 A discussion of the civil jury instruction changes approved so far in 2014.
The continuing evolution of IPI No. 105.01 By Daniel P. Wurl Tort Law, November 2013 This article will address the Supreme Court’s decision in Studt v. Sherman Health Systems, d/b/a Sherman Hospital and the 2011 version of IPI 105.01 that the Committee issued on the heels of the Studt decision.
Can a statutory jury instruction (60.01) include a driver’s license restriction? By John B. Kincaid Civil Practice and Procedure, January 2012 To include a statutory instruction in 60.01, the statute must be intended to protect against the type of injury in question and there must be a causal connection to the statute and the injured party must be within the class of protected persons.
1 comment (Most recent January 13, 2012)
Illinois Supreme Court puts Civil and Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions online By Joseph Tybor & Hon. Alfred M. Swanson, Jr. Bench and Bar, January 2012 The online publication of the Pattern Jury Instructions is the latest step in an initiative announced in June by the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court to move Illinois courts forward in the electronic age.
Colella v. JMS: A good review of evidentiary issues, jury instructions and damages at trial By Dennis M. Lynch & Matthew M. Gannon Tort Law, May 2011 A look at the case of Colella v. JMS Trucking Co. of Ill., Inc., 403 Ill.App.3d 82 (1st Dist. 2010).
IPI No. 105.01: Did the Supreme Court Committee fix it or break what wasn’t broken? By Daniel P. Wurl Tort Law, January 2010 A look at the reasons for the revisions made to the IPI 105.01 by the Supreme Court Committee, the appellate court decisions on which the Committee relied for the revisions, and the four appellate court cases that have addressed IPI 105.01 since the 2006 revisions were made.
In-Sites By Kevin Lovellette Government Lawyers, December 2009 From time to time, the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions makes changes to the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions for both civil and criminal cases, or the Committee may amend or update the Comments section on certain instructions.
Jury instruction update By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, December 2009 Grammar enthusiasts take note. And you all know who you are—a misplaced apostrophe bothers you. You worry about the use of commas in a series and secretly believe that final comma should still be used before the “and” even though modern rules do not require it. 
Jury instruction update By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, November 2009 Three new jury instructions were revised in September 2009.
Timing is everything: Jury instructions and Supreme Court Rule update By Hon. Barbara Crowder Civil Practice and Procedure, October 2009 An examination of the changes to Jury Instruction 1.01 issued in May 2009 and the June 2009 modification of Supreme Court Rule 239 effective September 1, 2009.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS: The Demise of IPI 105.01 By Susan M. Brazas Civil Practice and Procedure, May 2009 “That is for you to decide” appears at the end of IPI 10.01 (the definition of negligence as to an adult), IPI 10.02 (the definition of ordinary care for an adult), and IPI 10.05 (the definition of ordinary care for a minor).
New jury instruction regarding a deadlocked jury Civil Practice and Procedure, December 2008 In a large proportion of cases absolute certainty cannot be expected nor does the law require it.
Update on new, revised, and withdrawn Illinois Civil Jury Instructions By Stephen C. Buser Civil Practice and Procedure, June 2008 The Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases created and revised several civil jury instructions in the year 2007.
Court reviews jury instructions, expert testimony, remittitur and post-judgment interest By Kathryn R. Hoying Civil Practice and Procedure, February 2007 In the recent strict products liability case of Mikolajczyk v. Ford Motor Co., the court resolved a number of issues where a decedent’s estate alleged a defective design of a collapsing front seat against Ford, and negligence against the other driver, whose negligence was determined by summary judgment.
IPI notes and comments: Dicta or Law? By Susan M. Brazas Civil Practice and Procedure, January 2007 Many trial attorneys can attest to the uphill battle faced by anyone proposing departure from IPI, the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions.
Seventh Circuit Pattern Civil Jury Instructions now available online By Nawshaba Siddiquee Federal Civil Practice, December 2005 The Seventh Circuit Judicial Council has recently approved publication of the pattern civil jury instructions drafted by the Committee on Federal Civil Jury Instructions for the Seventh Circuit.
Recent changes in Civil Jury Instructions in the IPI-Civil, 2005 Edition By Richard L. Turner Civil Practice and Procedure, April 2005 Recent changes in the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions for civil cases reflect an attempt on the part of the Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases to fine-tune those instructions which may have led to potential juror confusion.
IPI instructions-Aggravation of a pre-existing condition is not a separate element of damages By Scott D. Lane Tort Law, January 2005 A recent flurry of Appellate Court decisions and the withdrawal of IPI 30.03, have now made it clear that aggravation of a pre-existing condition is not a separate element of damages.
Closing argument: Using enlarged trial transcripts and jury instructions By Patrick M. Kinnally Bench and Bar, June 2003 You just completed a four-day trial. The plaintiff claims it is entitled to money damages because your client, Tiger, L.L.C., delivered certain lockers that did not conform to the bid specifications of the plaintiff, Mason School District.
Closing argument: Using enlarged trial transcripts and jury instructions By Patrick M. Kinnally Civil Practice and Procedure, May 2003 You just completed a four-day trial. The plaintiff claims it is entitled to money damages because your client, Tiger, L.L.C., delivered certain lockers that did not conform to plaintiff, Mason School District's, bid specifications.
Jury instructions and voir dire: Recent developments By Susan M. Witt Civil Practice and Procedure, October 2002 Amended Supreme Court Rule 239 (effective January 2000) allows for any or all jury instructions to be read before opening statements.

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