Section Newsletters

Articles From 2003

The valuation and assessment of farmland property By Jeffrey A. Mollet Agricultural Law, September 2003 As rural areas continue to develop, farmland values seem to edge steadily upwards, perhaps in recognition of the fact that fewer acres are available for production or because increases in the value of land for non-agricultural uses are pulling the entire market forward.
Village may not increase the parking fines for offenders who request a trial before paying their tickets Administrative Law, March 2003 In a landmark decision, the First District Illinois Appellate Court has held a village parking ordinance to be unconstitutional because it imposes an increased penalty on a ticket recipient who is found guilty after seeking a hearing on the merits.
Violence prevention/intervention for parents By Robert E. Wells, Jr. Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 2003 This is the second article of a three-part series concerning Violence prevention/Intervention for Parents.
Violence prevention/intervention for parents Alternative Dispute Resolution, February 2003 The following article by Robert E. Wells, Jr. of Pessin, Baird & Wells in Belleville, suggests that it is never too early to start the development of positive skills in alternative dispute resolution.
Violence prevention/intervention for parents (The teen years) By Robert E. Wells, Jr. Alternative Dispute Resolution, December 2003 This is the third article of a threepart series concerning Violence Prevention/Intervention for Parents.
Voice mail—the answer to garbled messages By John W. Damisch Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, March 2003 Little pink message slips put into divided holders on the receptionist's desk was regular office procedure until the 1990s.
Wealth protection planning: An important planning tool By William A. Ensing Business Advice and Financial Planning, April 2003 As estate and financial advisors, we are accustomed to the application of traditional planning using estate and wealth transfer planning vehicles, such as the variety of revocable and irrevocable trusts together with life insurance trusts, to mitigate client concerns and accomplish as many of the end-of-life planning objectives as possible.
Web Design 101: If you build it, they might come By Peter T. Boyd Young Lawyers Division, August 2003 Every once in awhile, I receive blank stares from lawyers after I tell them how much a good Web site will cost.
What is it worth to have a Web site? By Peter T. Boyd Young Lawyers Division, October 2003 Every law firm has a Web site. So should you. But in today's competitive economy, it's no longer enough to simply post your firm name, address and phone number online and think that this will somehow gain you prestige and clients.
What makes a successful company? By Richard H. Wessels Corporate Law Departments, August 2003 How would we at Wessels & Pautsch, P.C. know? We are only labor lawyers. But that does not keep us from having an opinion--at least as to success on the "people" issue
What powers? By Franklin M. Hartzell Trusts and Estates, May 2003 The Illinois General Assembly, in adopting and further amending the statute on Durable Powers of Attorney (755 ILCS 45/2-1) et. sq., made findings with respect to modern financial needs and advances in medical science, which among other things, expanded the application of the Financial Power of Attorney and the permissible scope of the agent's authority.
What should a jury know about a defendant’s prior convictions? By Patrick J. Hitpas Criminal Justice, September 2003 An apparent inconsistency has developed in what information a trial court should allow a jury to hear regarding a defendant's prior convictions.
What should a jury know about a defendant’s prior convictions? By Patrick J. Hitpas General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm, February 2003 An apparent inconsistency has developed in what information a trial court should allow a jury to hear regarding a defendant's prior convictions.
What you charge is key to your marketing message Young Lawyers Division, June 2003 When hiring a lawyer, prospects want to make the right decision. Yet to thoroughly check out a lawyer, a prospect needs to conduct a fair amount of time-consuming research.
What you see…is what you get By Matt Maloney Criminal Justice, February 2003 Ancient history (the 1960s) makes me think of this phrase often attributed to Flip Wilson and the great singing group The Dramatics. All defense lawyers face the specter of Strickland claims.  
When are public school teachers eligible to receive unemployment benefits from the state? By Anthony J. Jacob Young Lawyers Division, August 2003 This article discusses the circumstances when a public school teacher may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act (the Act) and its regulations, which are administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).
When to file a notice of appeal in post-dissolution proceedings By Adrienne W. Albrecht Family Law, June 2003 Family law attorneys have long complained that the Supreme Court's new discovery rules fit poorly, if at all, in the context of The Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
Where have our mentors gone? By Richard D. Hannigan Workers’ Compensation Law, April 2003 If we want, we can learn from everyone we come in contact with.
Who is the focus of the court’s analysis of an open and obvious condition? By Charles H. Delano Tort Law, May 2003 Two recent cases address a landowner's liability to workers injured by an open, obvious and pervasive condition on the property.
Who issued the bill of lading anyway? 11th Circuit grapples with liability limitations By William D. Brejcha Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, July 2003 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has taken an interesting approach to the ongoing released rate cargo loss and damage issue in Siren, Inc. v. Estes Express, Inc., 249 F.3d 1268 (11th Cir. 2001) and Sassy Doll Creations, Inc. v. Watkins Motor Lines, Inc., No. 02-12210 (11th Circuit; 5/23/03).
Who was the aggressor? By Michelle D. Porro Workers’ Compensation Law, September 2003 In Sandra Franklin v. Industrial Commission, the appellate court in a 3-2 decision reversed and remanded the case to the Industrial Commission with the instruction that the Industrial Commission determine which party was the aggressor.
Who’s the consignee? Seventh Circuit reverses judgment against warehouseman for demurrage charges By William D. Brejcha Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, December 2003 The U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago has reversed a summary judgment in favor of the Illinois Central Railroad ("the IC) for demurrage charges against a warehouseman which provided storage in transit services in Illinois Central Railroad Company v. South Tec Development Warehouse, No. 02-2957 (July 23, 2003).
Whose pond is it anyway? By Jeffrey A. Mollet Agricultural Law, May 2003 The Illinois Appeals Court for the Third District recently rendered an opinion on the often-discussed but sometimes little-understood issue of riparian rights.
Will bankruptcy wipe out your taxes? Probably not By Charles A. King Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, May 2003 Often people and businesses have financial difficulties which result in the need to file for bankruptcy protection.
Will bankruptcy wipe out your taxes? Probably not By Charles A. King & Julie-April Montgomery State and Local Taxation, February 2003 Often people and businesses have financial difficulties that result in the need to file for bankruptcy protection.
Witnesses, statements and depositions By Patrick M. Kinnally Civil Practice and Procedure, September 2003 I have been taking statements and depositions from people since 1975. First, it was in the context of working for a federal agency where sworn statements were used in enforcement proceedings before a federal administrative law judge.
Wobblers weeble but they don’t fall down: The Wobbler effect and how it can get you 25 to life—An analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s approval of California’s “three strikes” law By Mary B. Dilger Human and Civil Rights, April 2003 On March 5, 2003, The United States Supreme Court affirmed the right of states to prescribe harsh sentences on career criminals, when it upheld California's "Three Strikes" law under which an offender can go to prison for many years for ostensibly minor offenses.
Women’s Bar Associations: Finding a model that works as hard as we do By Amie M. Sobkoviak Women and the Law, November 2003 Whatever women do, they must do it twice as well as men to be thought of half as well. Luckily, this isn’t difficult.” – Charlotte Whitton.
Words & phrases index of cases Insurance Law, September 2003 Two-year statue of limitations applies to actions against insurance brokers.
Words & phrases index of cases Insurance Law, July 2003 Barring rejection of an arbitration award was a proper remedy for the insurer's failure to produce a claim's adjuster pursuant to an adversary's Rule 237(b) notice.