2025 Joint Midyear Meeting PhotosFebruary 2026The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.
Audit Trails and the Scope of Medical Record Discovery in IllinoisBy Courtney A. Berlin & Mary DalenbergFebruary 2026As electronic medical records have become standard practice, discovery disputes focus on not only what appears in the patient chart, but how the chart was created, accessed, and modified. One of the most contested sources of that data is the audit trail, a system-generated log showing when records were accessed, altered, or reviewed.
Forum Non Conveniens Motion to an Adjacent CountyBy Albert DurkinMarch 2026It is rare that a plaintiff’s choice of forum would be overcome by a forum non conveniens motion to an adjacent county. In Seilheimer, the First District upheld a plaintiff’s right to select the forum for filing a personal injury claim.
Not So Exclusive Remedy: Allergic Reactions at WorkBy Dennis M. LynchMarch 2026A look at Rivas v. Benny's Prime Chophouse, a First District Appellate Court case that illustrates the important interplay between workers’ compensation law and direct liability claims against an employer.
Recent Developments in Motions for Substitution of Judge as a Matter of RightBy Dennis M. LynchMarch 2026Substitution of judge motions can be some of the most impactful motions in a case. Two recent appellate decisions have expanded the landscape of case law on substitution of judge motions and provide further guidance to judges and practitioners as to proper motion practice.
When Does the Deliberate Encounter Exception Apply to an Open and Obvious Condition?By Brent R. EamesFebruary 2026An analysis of the appellate court’s reasoning in Hertz v. City of Fairbury: Based upon the court’s reasoning in Hertz, it should be clear that any defect which only poses a minor inconvenience to navigate will not be considered valid for purposes of invoking the deliberate encounter exception to an open and obvious condition.
Wilcox v. Advocate Condell Is a Roadmap To Litigate System-Based Institutional NegligenceFebruary 2026The First District in Wilcox v. Advocate Condell Medical Center upheld the longstanding principle that a hospital’s direct liability is not limited strictly to “administrative functions." When appropriate, plaintiff’s attorneys should plead and prove institutional negligence claims in addition to claims for respondeat superior and/or individual providers’ medical negligence.
