The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Central Illinois

  • October 6, 2015 | People
    James Cummings 1931-2015

    James Allen Cummings, age 84, of Peoria passed away at 10:22 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

    Born April 22, 1931, in LaSalle-Peru, Ill., he was the son of Florence Herberger-Lindner. On Sept. 6, 1952, James married the love of his life, Gail Mary Michael, at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Peoria.

    He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management, as well as his Juris Doctorate, from the University of Illinois.

    James served on the Peoria Park District board for more than 40 years was an active member and past president of the Peoria Republican Party and was head of the Peoria Diocese Council of Catholic Men. James also was a member of the Knights of Columbus St. Jude Council 4333, past president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Downtown Kiwanis Club. He was head of the U of I Newman Club, head of the U of I Ethics Committee and founder of the Lincoln Statue Committee and the Lincoln Award Committee.

    James was a brilliant attorney and an avid and excellent bridge player who enjoyed golfing, fishing, antiquing and auctions. He will be remembered for his love of dogs, enjoying long Sunday drives and being an Abraham Lincoln expert.

  • October 2, 2015 | People
    James Kane joins Johnson, Bunce & Noble, P.C

    James Kane has joined the Peoria, Ill. Law firm of Johnson, Bunce & Noble, P.C. Kane is a nearly 40 year attorney, focusing in real estate, estate, and business transactions.

  • October 1, 2015 | CLE
    CLE: Computer Basics 2015: Is This Thing On?

    Competent representation not only requires legal knowledge, skill, and preparation, but also requires you to keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with technology. Don’t miss this program in Springfield on October 9, 2015 that’s designed to give you the individualized, personal, hands-on computer training you need that’s directly applicable to the practice of law! Attorneys lacking basic computer skills who attend this seminar will better understand: how to use computer hardware, including the keyboard and mouse; how to create documents in Microsoft Word; how to create an email account and what to do with it once it’s created; the dangers of opening attachments and spam; using the Internet for your online legal research; the importance of converting documents to PDF; how to safeguard yourself and your practice against the dangers of advanced technology; and much more!

    The program is presented by the ISBA Senior Lawyers Division and co-sponsored Young Lawyers Division. It qualifies for 3.50 hours MCLE credit, including 3.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • September 21, 2015 | People
    Phyllis Jean Beverly 1953-2015

    Phyllis Jean Beverly, 62, of Glenarm, died at 8:12 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, at her home.

    Phyllis was born June 17, 1953, in Springfield, Ill., the daughter of Gerald and Elsie Wallsten Heckler. She married Thomas E. Beverly on Feb. 15, 1980, at First Presbyterian Church in Springfield.

    Phyllis worked at The Apple Barn in Chatham for over 20 years. Prior to that, she worked 17 years for the Attorney General. She had also been employed by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Medical Society. Phyllis was a member, past deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, being outside, and spending time with her family.

    She was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Stephen G. Beverly.

    Phyllis is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Beverly of Glenarm; four children: April Bridges of Bloomington, Thomas (Carmen) Beverly of Chatham, Heather (Jason) Konzelmann of Georgia, and Dylan Beverly of Glenarm; eight grandchildren: Shelby, Jayden, Nathan, and Katrina Beverly, Keegan and Summer Bridges, and Carly and Audrey Konzelmann; three sisters: Nancy Schwermin of Springfield, Cheryl (Victor) Linderman of Glenarm, and Joyce Padget (Bill Peters) of Chatham; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

    Services have been held. Please visit boardmansmith.com to offer your condolences.

  • September 21, 2015 | People
    Gary L. Cline 1956-2015

    Gary L. Cline, 59, of Franklin, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Memorial Medical Hospital in Springfield.

    He was born on May 23, 1956, to George and Mary Louise Kaiser Cline. In 1978, Gary married his high school sweetheart, Linda Bergschneider, and she survives. Together they raised their three children, John Cline of Austin, Texas, Nicholas (Mallory) Cline of Evanston, and Elizabeth Cline at home. He is also survived by three sisters, Cathy (Dave) Rhea of Waverly, Connie Fairless of Jacksonville, and Carol (Robert) Seymour of Franklin. He loved his family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many nieces and nephews.

    Gary earned a bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois. He was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1981 and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 1985. He was a past president of the Sangamon County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and a member of the ISBA Assembly, Lincoln-Douglas Inns of Court, and Trial Lawyers Association. Gary joined Rammelkamp Bradney as a partner in 2002. Gary also taught a business law class at Illinois College.

    Gary’s service to the community laid a foundation for pieces of his children’s lives. He spent many years serving on the Franklin CUSD #1 school board, as a scout leader, and a cross-country coach. In the past several years he, donated countless hours volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County both locally and internationally.

    Gary was generous with his time and skills. He always saw the best in the world around him and worked to see it realized.

  • August 27, 2015 | Practice News
    Justice Kilbride seeks public comment on applicants for 2 judicial vacancies in 9th Circuit

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride is seeking public comment on six attorneys who have applied to fill two vacancies in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

    The vacancies were created by the announced retirements of Circuit Judge Steven R. Bordner and Chief Judge James B. Stewart. Judge Bordner's retirement took effect August 20, 2015 and Chief Judge Stewart's retirement will take effect October 1, 2015

  • August 14, 2015 | ISBA News
    Illinois Bar Foundation names 2015 Recipients of Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF), the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, has awarded its 2015 Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program grants to three 2015 law school graduates.

    The Fellowships, which provide clinical support for three law school legal clinics, were awarded this summer to Calli Leigh Burnett, of Chicago; Bryan McIntyre, of Urbana, and Marishonta M. Wilkerson, of Milwaukee.

    The foundation launched its Post Graduate Legal Fellowship Program in 2014 to fund public interest jobs for recent law graduates, according to Shawn Kasserman, IBF president. The foundation will award $25,000 to each of the three fellowships. The law schools will each contribute a stipend to help fund the positions.

    Wilkerson will serve at NIU Law’s Zeke Giorgi Clinic in Rockford; McIntyre will work in the Civil Litigation Clinic at the University of Illinois; and Burnett will support the Community Law Center Clinic at Loyola University Chicago.

  • August 13, 2015 | People
    Brett K. Gorman 1966-2015

    Brett Keller Gorman, 48, of 1845 Jersey, Quincy, died Sunday afternoon, June 7, 2015.

    Brett was born Nov. 30, 1966, in Urbana, the son of Dennis and Barbara Keller Gorman.

    He graduated from Quincy High School in 1985 and the University of Illinois in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and the Acacia fraternity.

    In 1992 he earned his juris doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and was admitted to the Illinois Bar.

    On Jan. 9, 1993, he married Deborah K. Grandcolas in Belleville, and she survives.

    For 23 years, Brett practiced law in the area of civil litigation, first with Bullaro, Carton & Stone in Chicago and then, beginning in 1996, with the law firm of Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell LLP in Quincy, where he was a partner.

    Brett's professional expertise and scholarly talent as a trial lawyer were recognized in 2013, 2014 and 2015 with the designation of "Super Lawyer" in Illinois in the area of business litigation. Brett served by appointment on the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee since 2008 and had been the committee's chair since 2013.

  • August 5, 2015 | People
    Robert E. Bradney 1923-2015

    Robert E. Bradney (“Brad”), born August 10, 1923, passed away after a brief illness on July 15, 2015. A lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Brad lived a life that transcended his humble roots.

    He was president of his senior class at both Jacksonville High School and Illinois College. During World War II, he served with the 76th Infantry Division, 1943-1946, in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany, and was awarded a Purple Heart. Back in the states, he  earned a JD at Harvard Law School in 1950, then returned to Jacksonville where he spent the next half century as a trial lawyer in the firm now known as Rammelkamp Bradney Attorneys at Law.

    A member of the Illinois State Bar Association, he served on many committees over the years, and earned multiple awards and honors, including the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors Award, induction into the first class of Laureates by the ISBA, and Pillar of the Bar in the Seventh Judicial Circuit for his distinguished professional and community activities. He was a sought-after lecturer to lawyer groups for his expertise in legal ethics and trial tactics.

    He served his community in a number of leadership roles at Trinity Episcopal Church, the YMCA, Morgan County Red Cross, Illinois College, and Passavant Hospital.

  • July 13, 2015 | People
    Robert C. Strodel 1930-2015

    Peoria attorney Robert C. Strodel passed away Monday, June 8, 2015, in Peoria, Ill. He was 84.

    Born Aug. 12, 1930, in Evanston, Ill., to Imogen (Board) Strodel and Carl F. Strodel, he was a 1952 graduate of Northwestern University, a 1955 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year.

    He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, and afterwards in the Army Reserves.

    Bob married Mary Alice (Shonkwiler) Strodel on June 17, 1956, in Monticello, Ill.

    He is survived by his wife and his three daughters, Julie Olson of Wilmette, Ill., Lindy Strodel of Tinley Park, Ill., and Sally Munn of Bethesda, Md.; plus three granddaughters, Kathryn Olson, Lindsey Olson and Taylor Munn.

    Strodel was a former Assistant State's Attorney, and his private practice focused on civil litigation and personal injury litigation. He authored and published two books on the acquisition and use of medical evidence.