Can a Defendant Be Charged with Both First-Degree Murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(2)) and an Aggravated DUI (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a) and 11-501(d)(1)(F))?By Dan FultzCriminal Justice, May 2025Illinois courts have upheld convictions where defendants were charged with both first-degree murder and aggravated DUI, as in People v. Eubanks and People v. Mischke. In Eubanks, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing a jury instruction on reckless homicide, a lesser included offense, because the difference lies in the defendant's mental state, which should be decided by the jury. In Mischke, the appellate court upheld concurrent sentences for both convictions, rejecting the defendant’s argument that the law required consecutive sentences. Overall, Illinois allows such dual charges when the defendant’s actions show a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm.
Canva: A Graphic Design Tool for the Busy AttorneyBy Heather GlocklerLegal Technology, Standing Committee on, February 2025Canva is an online platform featuring a drag and drop interface that helps users create well-designed marketing pieces ranging from social media posts to company newsletters and everything in between. It hosts thousands of customizable templates, access to a custom Brand Kit, and allows a user to collaborate with their team to create content quickly.
CAR v. PTO HijackingBy Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, September 2025Learn more about the new authorization process for the new trademark Correspondence and Attorney Representation (CAR) form.
Case BriefsBy ADR Section CouncilAlternative Dispute Resolution, November 2025Summaries of recent case decisions that may impact forms of alternative dispute resolution, including waiving arbitration in class action suits, enforcing arbitration agreements under third-party beneficiary theory, the consequencse of failing to comply with arbitral administrator's rules, severing unconscionable portions of arbitration clause agreements, and more.
Case BriefsBy ADR Section CouncilAlternative Dispute Resolution, August 2025Summaries of federal cases dealing with issues ranging from motions to compel arbitration, illusory arbitration agreements, delegation clauses, and more!
Case BriefsBy ADR Section CouncilAlternative Dispute Resolution, February 2025Summaries of written decisions issued in five cases of interest to ADR practitioners.
Case BriefsBy ADR Section CouncilAlternative Dispute Resolution, January 2025Summaries of written decisions issued in nine cases of interest to ADR practitioners.
Case Law UpdatesBy Michael L. EnglishTrusts and Estates, December 2025Summaries of cases that discuss mental capacity in modifying estate plans, quantum meruit awards, amendments to a trust shortly before death, undue influence, and removing trustees.
Case SummariesBy Thomas GrippandoAdministrative Law, September 2025Case summaries of Abbate v. Retirement Board of the Policemen's Annuity & Ben. Fund of Chicago and Benda v. Parkinson, including denial of pension due to conviction of aggravated battery and conflicts of interest.
Case SummariesBy Thomas GrippandoAdministrative Law, May 2025Summaries of written decisions issued in cases of interest to administrative law practitioners.
Case SummariesBy Joseph W. RogulReal Estate Law, February 2025Two recent Illinois cases are noted here that may be instructive in some practical respects for real state practitioners who have occasion to litigate similar issues.
Case SummariesBy Thomas GrippandoAdministrative Law, February 2025Summaries of written decisions issued in cases of interest to administrative law practitioners.
Case Summary of People v. Hoskins, 2025 IL App (4th) 240991By Evan BrunoTraffic Laws and Courts, October 2025This article reviews the recent case of People v. Hoskins, in which the Fourth District Appellate Court held that a drug dog’s alert to a vehicle remains sufficient to establish probable cause to search, even though the dog was trained to detect the odor of cannabis.
Case Summary Related to Easement Issue: 166 Symphony Way, LLC v. U.S. Property Investments Group, LLC, 2025 IL App (2d) 240040By James CreppelReal Estate Law, April 2025In 166 Symphony Way, LLC v. U.S. Property Investments Group, LLC, 2025 IL App (2d) 240040, the Second District Appellate Court considered the second appeal in a case involving a driveway easement dispute. The Defendant-Appellant, U.S. Property Investments Group, LLC (USP), argued that the trial court erred on remand by awarding attorneys' fees to the Plaintiffs-Appellees, 166 Symphony Way, LLC, and The Haight Company. USP also contended that the trial court wrongly denied its motion for indemnification. Ultimately, the court found USP’s arguments unpersuasive, as these issues were resolved earlier in the case and could not be relitigated.
Case Summary Related to Rental Support Issue: Ventus Holdings, LLC v. Harold Raddle, 2025 IL App (1st) 241169By James CreppelReal Estate Law, July 2025In Ventus Holdings, LLC v. Harold Raddle, 2025 IL App (1st) 241169, the First District Appellate Court analyzed whether the circuit court erred in denying Raddle’s summary judgment motion; and whether it erred in ruling that Raddle failed to prove his affirmative defense that Ventus waived its right to terminate. Ultimately, the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s ruling that Raddle failed to prove that Ventus waived its right to terminate the lease.
Case Summary: BorstBy Lindsey BeukemaWorkers’ Compensation Law, March 2025In Borst v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, 2024 Il App (2d) 230124WC-U, a maintenance technician failed to prove his repetitive trauma claim, and the court addressed a common evidentiary objection.
Case Summary: Card Dynamix, LLC v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation CommissionBy Olga BeznashchukWorkers’ Compensation Law, October 2025Third District Court rules that section 12 examination can be used by the employer not only to determine the nature and extent of disability but also to determine medical treatment and services to be included under open medical awarded.
