Mediation stylesBy Suzanne SchmitzAlternative Dispute Resolution, March 2000Lawyer-mediators in Virginia are now required to consult with disputants about the style of mediation the mediator uses and to record in a written agreement the parties' choices, including whether they wish to have the mediator use evaluative techniques.1
Medicaid planning for ill spouseBy Steven C. PerlisElder Law, March 2000Often the practitioner is faced with a situation where an ill spouse has already been approved for Medicaid and the well spouse wants to know if any more estate planning is needed.
Meeting of the section council on February 18, 2000Administrative Law, August 2000Former section council member Stephen Rotello, an Assistant Illinois Attorney General, discussed with the council the results of an AG survey addressing compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Member wins the 2000 Lincoln Award Legal Writing ContestIntellectual Property, March 2000IP Council member Aaron Brooks of Holmstrom & Kennedy in Rockford, won the 2000 Lincoln Award Legal writing Contest with "The Cautious Interplay Between Trademarks and Internet Domain Names." 88 Illinois Bar Journal 74 (February 2000).
Merchandising claimants entitled to 85% of claim upon liquidation of elevator assetsBy James D. CottrellAgricultural Law, August 2000In Adams Farm, et al. v. Doyle, et al., Docket No. 4-97-1096 (decided March 28, 2000), the Fourth District recently interpreted the Grain Code and held that merchandising claimants were entitled to 85% of their claim in a grain elevator asset liquidation.
Merger integration: the ultimate change-management challengeBy Timothy Galpin & Mark HerndonCorporate Law Departments, June 2000After a long string of twelve- to fifteen-hour days, at the depths of a merger integration process, the executive leading the project confided in us: "This is quite possibly the most complex 'simple' process I've ever seen."
A message from Michael JordanBench and Bar, February 2000I have been associated with the Bench and Bar Section Council and its predecessor, the Judicial Administration Section Council, since 1975 as a newsletter co-editor.
A message from the chairBy Timijanel Boyd OdomChild Law, June 2000Following in the footsteps of my predecessor, Attorney Richard Larson, I would like to take executive privilege about a particular Juvenile Law Issue that has moved me to comment so publicly.
Minor guardianship practiceBy M. Lee WitteFamily Law, May 2000It used to be simple. Parents battled for custody of their children in the Domestic Relations Division.
Miscommunication or the art of not telling clients what they need to knowBy Matt MaloneyGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, April 2000Lawyers think that they are great communicators. This belief stems from the fact that they communicate with other lawyers and good communication gets things done. In the quest for being concise, exacting, terse or being just plain, we often forget that our audience is more people and less lawyers. Paying attention to these topic areas and thoughts may help all of us. Clients are not lawyers.
More Illinois’ criminal justice system developmentsBy Patrick J. Hughes, Jr.Human and Civil Rights, June 2000The Task Force reported upon in the February issue of this newsletter and staffed by this Association's Director of Legislative Affairs, James Covington, has issued its findings and recommendations.
More Illinois death penalty developmentsBy Patrick J. Hughes, Jr.Human and Civil Rights, April 2000The February issue of this newsletter reported on recent developments in our State's criminal justice system including two significant death penalty case events: (1) As of January 1, 2000, the creation of the Illinois Capitol Litigation Trust Fund to finance the prosecution and defense of capital trials; and (2) the appointment by the Illinois Supreme Court of a Special Committee on Capital Cases composed of seventeen Illinois judges to study the Illinois death penalty process and that Committee's report and recommendations which are summarized in the February article.
“Mortgagee in possession”—watch your languageBy Thomas F. HartzellGeneral Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, December 2000Prepared forms do not always have necessary language. A recent case in our circuit concerning a mortgagee asking the court to be placed in possession during foreclosure proceedings reminds all of us of the need to read documents very carefully.
Motions for continuance: grounds and factorsBy Lawrence W. TerrellTraffic Laws and Courts, March 2000A continuance is defined as an adjournment by order of court of a cause from one day to another or from one hour to another.
Multidisciplinary practices—Just say no to “one-stop shopping”By John K. NorrisState and Local Taxation, January 2000Until recently at the American Bar Association annual meeting held in Atlanta in August 1999, the ABA gleefully bounded towards fostering Multidisciplinary Practices, or MDP's as they are commonly referred to in jargon.
National Employment Dispute Resolution Act of 2000Alternative Dispute Resolution, December 2000To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, to require the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to mediate employee claims arising under such Acts, and for other purposes.
Natural drainage: rights and responsibilitiesBy Jeffrey A. MolletAgricultural Law, November 2000In the November 1999 issues of Agricultural Law, James Cottrell provided readers with an excellent analysis of mutual drainage issues involving man-made drains
The need of homebuyers and sellers for independent counselBy Stanley B. BalbachReal Estate Law, August 2000The profession has a duty to inform the members of the public as to when they have a problem deserving of the services of a lawyer.
New assisted living law to be implemented in 2001By Lee BenezeElder Law, June 2000The Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act (Public Act 91-0656) was passed by the General Assembly in the 1999 spring session.
The new Canadian investor regulationsInternational and Immigration Law, February 2000New regulations governing the Immigrant Investor Program came into effect on April 1, 1999.
New hearsay ruleBy Michelle Madden DempseyCriminal Justice, September 2000Recently passed Senate Bill 1332 seeks (in part) to enact a new hearsay exception in Illinois by amending the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure to create 725 ILCS 5/115-10.5 ("10.5").
New IP feesIntellectual Property, March 2000Some United States patent, trademark, and copyright fees have recently changed.
New law affects patents, copyrights and the InternetBy John M. AugustynIntellectual Property, March 2000On November 29, 1999, President Clinton signed a bill (H.R. 3194, Pub. L. No. 106-113) containing changes affecting patents, copyrights and the Internet.
