Business Advice and Financial Planning

Coe v. BDO Seidman, LLP

Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Arbitration
Citation
Case Number: 
2015 IL App (1st) 142215
Decision Date: 
Monday, August 31, 2015
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 1st Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
HARRIS
Plaintiffs sued consulting company for its advice to use distressed debt strategy to offset ordinary income and/or capital gain upon receiving substantial sum from sale of private company. Court properly granted motion to stay action pending arbitration and motion for protective order limiting discovery pursuant to arbitration clause. Arbitration provision in consulting agreement includes provision explicitly stating that services provided include issuance of opinion as to federal income tax consequences of transactions, and Defendant accepts responsibility for opinion it will provide to client. Thus, Plaintiffs' claims fall within arbitration provision of agreement. Under New York law (which applies due to choice-of-law provision in agreement), discovery limitation does not render agreement unconscionable.(CUNNINGHAM and CONNORS, concurring.)

Senate Bill 1877

Topic: 
Trusts and Trustees Act
(Silverstein, D-Chicago; McAsey, D-Plainfield) authorizes trustees to use a “certification of trust” form that may be relied upon by third parties without obtaining a copy of the trust instrument. It is modeled after Section 1013 of the Uniform Trust Code. Passed both chambers.

Senate Bill 1833

Topic: 
Personal Information Protection Act
(Biss, D-Skokie; Williams, D-Chicago) will expand the type of information that triggers a breach notification to consumers, including medical information outside of federal privacy laws, biometric data, contact information if combined with identifying information, and login credentials for online accounts. The bill also requires entities holding sensitive information to take “reasonable” steps to protect the information, to post a privacy policy describing their data collection practices, and to notify the Attorney General’s office when breaches occur. Entities will also have to notify the Attorney General’s Office in the event of a breach of geolocation information or consumer marketing information. Passed both chambers.

Senate Bill 90

Topic: 
Presumptions in probate
(Silverstein, D-Chicago) 1975 creates a rebuttable presumption that a will or codicil is void if it was executed or modified after the testator is adjudicated disabled. The rebuttable presumption is overcome by clear and convincing evidence that the testator had the capacity to execute the will or codicil at the time the will or codicil was executed, and that the rebuttable presumption does not apply if the will or codicil was executed in compliance with a court order. The court may enter an order authorizing the ward to execute a will or codicil if a verified petition by the plenary or limited guardian of the estate or the request of the ward is accompanied by a current physician’s report that states the ward possesses testamentary capacity. Provides that the court shall authorize the guardian to retain independent counsel for the ward with whom the ward may execute or modify a will or codicil. This subsection applies only to wills or codicils executed or modified after the effective date of this act. On second reading in the Senate after passing out of Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 90

Topic: 
Wills and disabled adults
(Silverstein, D-Chicago) creates a rebuttable presumption that a will or codicil is void if it was executed or modified after the testator is adjudicated a disabled adult. The rebuttable presumption is overcome by clear and convincing evidence that the testator had the capacity to execute the will codicil at the time the will or codicil was executed. The rebuttable presumption doesn’t apply if the following occurs: If a verified petition by the plenary or limited guardian of the estate or at the request of the ward that is accompanied by current physician’s report that states the ward possesses testamentary capacity, the court may enter an order authorizing the ward to execute a will or codicil. In so ordering, the court must authorize the guardian to retain independent counsel for the ward with whom the ward may execute or modify a will or codicil. This subsection applies only to wills or codicils executed or modified after the effective date of this act. Scheduled for hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Bill 1596

Topic: 
Wills deposited with county recorders
(Kotowski, D-Park Ridge) amends the Counties Code to allow a county recorder to implement a county will depository. If the recorder does create a depository, it must also provide a form affidavit for a depositor of a will to file with the deposited will. States the requirements of the form affidavit. Provides for the duties of the county recorders for acceptance of wills, storage of wills, release of wills, and destruction of wills. Provides for different fees the county recorder may charge. Scheduled for hearing next Tuesday in Senate Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 1332

Topic: 
The Probate Act of 1975
(Zalewski, D-Chicago) amends the Probate Act of 1975 to authorize that a licensed clinical psychologist, in lieu of a licensed physician, may sign a report relating to the adjudication of disability if the evaluation is limited to the respondent's mental condition. Just introduced and referred to House Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 90

Topic: 
Wills and presumptions
(Silverstein, D-Chicago) creates a rebuttable presumption that a will is void if it was executed or modified after the testator has been adjudicated disabled and the will was executed or modified without court approval. The presumption may be overcome by clear and convincing evidence that the testator had the capacity to execute the will or codicil at the time the will or codicil was executed. Just introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Assignments.