Case summary—attorney has duty to report fraud to ARDCBy Robert T. ParkMay 2000Skolnick v. Altheimer & Gray (3/23/00)--Plaintiff attorney was investigated by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee (ARDC) based on letters sent to the ARDC by his law firm and one of its member lawyers
Collegiality creates civilityBy Roger W. EichmeierAugust 2000Beginning in the mid 1990's a Code of Courtroom Civility was proposed for the purpose of making lawyers engaged in litigation more courteous and respectful toward one another.
Costs: an imbroglio for trial courts and practitionersBy Patrick M. KinnallyOctober 2000What constitutes an allowable "cost" is not subject to any bright line test. In large part, this uncertainty stems from Illinois cost statutes that do not say what "costs" are recoverable.
McDonnell v. Partlin and the empty chair defense: clarity or quagmire?By Roger M. ScrivnerSeptember 2000In a unanimous decision, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that defendants may use the "empty chair" defense in a medical negligence case, even though there is no opinion evidence of professional negligence offered by a defendant against the missing party.
Physician’s duty to disclose financial arrangements with HMOBy John M. BurkeMay 2000It is difficult to ignore the raging controversy concerning the liability of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) to patients for negligent care or lack of care.
Recent decisions—punitive damagesBy Joseph G. Bisceglia & Rudy KratzMarch 2000The recovery of punitive (or exemplary) damages--indeed, the mere threat of punitive damages--can radically alter the landscape of a civil dispute.
Recovery for reduced or unpaid medical costsBy Robert T. ParkOctober 2000Courts in Illinois and elsewhere have long struggled to deal fairly with plaintiffs who benefit from free or low-cost medical services.
Rule 213 opinion witness case updateBy Daniel P. WurlMay 2000The Illinois Supreme court recently passed on its first opportunity to provide some guidance as to the scope of Rule 213(g), which mandates the disclosure of the identity of opinion witnesses and their opinion testimony.
Special interrogatory—the silver bulletBy Robert H. HanafordMarch 2000Anyone who has had a verdict torpedoed by a special interrogatory can attest to the dangerousness, or effectiveness, of this trial tool
