Section Newsletters

Articles From 2012

Small claims court mediation in Will County By Robert Berliner Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012 An overview of the 12th Judicial Circuit's free mediation program, which began offering its services in March 2010.
Small law, big plans By Katherine A. Chamberlain Young Lawyers Division, August 2012 A new solo practitioner explores the woes and wows of making it work in the working world.
Social media policies—The National Relations Board provides guidance on emerging issues By Marlene Fuentes & Gregory G. Thiess Corporate Law Departments, June 2012 There are currently three cases involving social media questions pending before the National Labor Relations Board and those decisions will provide still more guidance on employee use of social media outside of the immediate workplace. 
Social Security benefits not so beneficial to widows receiving government pensions By Joanna M. Lekkas Women and the Law, March 2012 Many government employees may not realize that their social security benefits are reduced by two-thirds of their government pension.
Some perspective on modification of the nullity rule: Downtown Disposal Services, Inc. v. City of Chicago By Marc Christopher Loro Administrative Law, April 2012 In February 2011, the First District Appellate Court published an opinion in which it held, among other things, that the “nullity rule” (hereinafter, the NR), did not require the circuit court to dismiss a complaint for administrative review that had been filed by the president of the corporation seeking the review.
Someone you should know: John Kamis, Senior Advisor to Governor Pat Quinn By Tiffany Elking Government Lawyers, June 2012 As Senior Advisor to Governor Pat Quinn, John Kamis knows the interplay between the lobbyists and community interest groups, and understands the inner-workings of both chambers.
Someone you should know: Pat Driscoll, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office By Karen Dimond Government Lawyers, March 2012 Learn more about this dynamic attorney and member of The Standing Committee on Government Lawyers.
Someone you should know: Patrick Blanchard, Independent Inspector General for Cook County By Sharon L. Eiseman Government Lawyers, October 2012 We have chosen to feature IIG Blanchard in this issue of The Public Servant so we might learn what made him aspire to be the first lawyer serving in such an important role and how this relatively new office and officer are faring since the position was created only four years ago.
Someone you should know: Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois By Matthew S. Dionne Government Lawyers, December 2012 While he is known to be tough, Steve would rather his office have the title of 'most admired' by all in the civil and criminal justice system, from court staff to the public, than the toughest or most aggressive.   
Sperm donor can keep it in his pocket By Angela Peters Family Law, October 2012 Can a biological father, who has paid child support for five years, file a Motion to Terminate the Parent/Child Relationship based on his claim that he merely donated his sperm?
1 comment (Most recent October 10, 2012)
Spotlight on accomplished committee member Gary Zhao By Sharon L. Eiseman Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, November 2012 Gary embodies the values the ISBA encourages and cherishes in its best attorneys.
Spotlight on Angela Baker Evans, our very own 2012 Young Lawyer of the Year By Mary F. Petruchius Women and the Law, October 2012 Learn more about Angela Baker Evans, who won the ISBA's 2012 Young Lawyer of the Year Award for outside Cook County.
2 comments (Most recent October 21, 2012)
Spotlight on Past YLD Council Chair Gregg A. Garofalo By Katie Kelleher Young Lawyers Division, February 2012 Learn more about former YLD Chair Gregg Garofalo.
Standing to childrear: 2013 By Jeffrey A. Parness Civil Practice and Procedure, October 2012 For now, standing to childrear in Illinois will be generally limited to biological and adoptive parents. But that may change soon with increasing calls for statutory reforms and precedents recognizing that children’s best interests, as well as societal and quasi-parental interests, should not automatically yield to superior parental rights seemingly waived without any judicial oversight.
Start spreading the news By Hon. Michael B. Hyman Bench and Bar, December 2012 Unless addressed, ignorance of what occurs in our courthouses and courtrooms will imperil not only the public’s general perception of justice, but also, in time, the overall stability and even role of the justice system itself.
Starting somewhere By Frank V. Ariano Senior Lawyers, June 2012 Some guidance for attorneys who haven't yet used an iPad. 
Starting—Building—Managing—a law firm By John W. Olmstead Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2012 A few survival tips for each phase of firm development.
State and federal regulatory agendas By William A. Price Administrative Law, June 2012 Some useful information about where to find state and federal regulatory agendas online.
State legislative update By Phil Milsk Education Law, June 2012 A list of recent bills of interest to education law practitioners.
The state of community mediation: NAFCM’s 2011 findings By Shauntal Van Dreel Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012 The National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) recently released The State of Community Mediation: 2011 Report, provides an up-to-date summation of where the community mediation field stands, what it has accomplished, and where its future may lead.
The state of the Federal District Court of Northern Illinois on May 15, 2012 By Hon. James F. Holderman Bench and Bar, June 2012 An update on the court from Chief Judge James F. Holderman.
Statutory summary suspension upon DUI charge to driver unintentionally stopped at checkpoint upheld By Mollie Townsend Traffic Laws and Courts, December 2012 In People v. Clements, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court’s decision to rescind the statutory summary suspension of Defendant’s driver’s license and to suppress evidence.
Stop the killing By Hon. Ann Breen-Greco Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012 Many schools have ADR practices written into their Code of Conduct but somehow it is not working as well as it should.
A strategy for dealing with medical providers who refuse to submit their bills to health insurance By Dennis L. Berkbigler Tort Law, February 2012 There are a number of situations where the personal injury client may benefit more by having his or her medical expenses paid by health insurance rather than out of the tort recovery. The following letter, or some variation of it, may be used in an attempt to induce the recalcitrant provider to comply with the demand to submit the client’s bills to his or her health insurance.
1 comment (Most recent February 10, 2012)
Street Law’s Legal Diversity Pipeline Program By Charlotte Friar Diversity Leadership Council, June 2012 This year Street Law, Inc., celebrated 40 years of providing accessible, engaging, and interactive programs to empower students and communities to become active, legally-savvy contributors to society. 
Strength of arbitration clauses upheld in Marmet Health Care Center, INC., v. Clayton Brown By Madeline Moton Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 2012 The Supreme Court restated that federal law preempts anystate law which attempts to prevent arbitration in instances where arbitration is agreed upon or required within a contract on the basis of “a particular type of claim.”
Sudden burst of FOIA binding opinions from the Public Access Counselor By John M. O’Driscoll Local Government Law, March 2012 It appears that the Public Access Counselor has focused on increasing the number of binding opinions, presumably to offer some guidance to governmental entities and the public. However, it also appears that there is a long way to go before some of the holes in the legislation are filled.
Sufficiency of tender terminating right to judgment interest By Mark Rouleau Civil Practice and Procedure, February 2012 The recent First District case of Poliszczuk v. Winkler, 2011 Ill. App. 1st Dist. 101847, discusses in detail what constitutes a sufficient tender of payment of judgment so as to toll the defendant’s further obligation to pay judgment interest pursuant to Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
Summary suspension notice through the mail By Edward M. Maloney Traffic Laws and Courts, March 2012 Counsel should advise clients that if they receive a postcard indicating that they have a letter for certified mail, they should contact their attorney first before accepting and signing for the letter.
The supervisory authority of the Supreme Court of Illinois: A powerful tool for the court and practitioner alike By Matthew R. Carter Civil Practice and Procedure, April 2012 Illinois Supreme Court Rule 383 provides the requirements for a motion for supervisory order. These motions are rarely granted, yet they have been used successfully at every stage of litigation in Illinois.