Chicago Area

As a young lawyer in the 1960s, Michael R. Galasso represented individuals in difficult divorces and child custody battles and saw up close the need for the justice system to do more to help families and couples in crisis. During a 16-year judicial career he was able to do something about it, instituting reforms for the system’s handling of divorce cases and offering help to troubled youths. And in the final decade of his career in private practice at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck he shared his expertise and wisdom with young lawyers and with clients.

Judge Galasso died Friday, January 23 at the age of 78.

“Our firm lost an outstanding attorney, a respected, admired judge and a good friend with the passing of Mike Galasso,” said Donald C. Schiller, senior partner, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck. “He showed great foresight as a judge, bringing psychological services, mediation and evaluation to divorce cases in DuPage County. He was so respected he was appointed to the Appellate Court. Mike simply excelled at everything he did.”

Mr. Galasso spent the bulk of his career litigating family law cases in DuPage County after graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1961. He was appointed an Associate Judge in DuPage County in 1984 and went on to serve as Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations and Law Divisions and Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of DuPage County.

Chicago based Carmen D. Caruso Law Firm welcomes the addition of three new members to its trial and appellate legal team: attorney Shane D. Valenzi, Of Counsel attorney Seamus M. Ryan, and senior litigation paralegal Craig A. Nelson.

The boutique firm concentrates in franchise and general and sharply contested business disputes.

Lead attorney Carmen D. Caruso has been in practice since 1983 and is known for his aggressive and creative representation of clients, including large companies as well as individual plaintiffs.

“We pursue high-stakes litigation and look for cases that are likely to go to trial,” said Caruso. “Our skilled and dynamic new team brings depth and allows us to efficiently represent our clients as we prepare and go to trial,” added Caruso.

Shane D. Valenzi brings invaluable experience recently gained as a federal court law clerk. Valenzi graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, one of the top intellectual property law journals in the country. While attending Vanderbilt Valenzi served as a legal writing teaching assistant, and was an octofinalist in the annual Mock Trial Competition.

Lawrence E. Morrissey, age 78, passed away at home on the morning of January 8, 2015, after a brief, but courageous, battle with an aggressive cancer discovered last fall. He was a loving husband to his wife of 48 years, Kathleen (nee Landreman).

Born July 19, 1936, in Joliet, Illinois, he was raised by his mother after the sudden loss of his father just days before Christmas in 1944. A graduate of St. Raymond Elementary School, Joliet Catholic High School, the University of Illinois and The John Marshall Law School, he worked jobs to pay his tuition the entire way. He served in the Marine Corps. He began his legal career in 1964 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and, in 1967, was appointed Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering section for the Northern District of Illinois.

In 1969, he received a meritorious service award from United States Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, who credited him with helping disband the Chicago crime syndicate. In 1974, he opened his own practice in downtown Chicago while at the same time working at O`Brien, Garrison, Berard & Kusta, a Joliet law firm that he credited for the development of his civil litigation skills. Although he represented defendants in numerous high profile government probes and scandals, his real passion was providing representation to the less fortunate, often on a pro bono basis. He took great pleasure in helping people from all walks of life.

Guerino J. Turano, aka: Jake Turano or Willie Turano, passed away on Wednesday, January 21st at the golden age of 85.

Guerino was a retired Vice President and General Counsel of Chicago Title Insurance Co. He was a 1954 graduate of DePaul University College of Law. He was an avid author and lecturer on technical issues of the practice, he wrote for Illinois State Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association publications, the law reviews and journals of The John Marshall Law School, and Chicago Title's newsletter, Titles Issues.

Turano served on the ISBA State and Local Taxation Section Council from 1980 to 1984 and was its chair in 1982 to 1983. He also chaired the CBA State and Municipal Taxation Committee. He was a member of the Real Estate Law Section Council from 1990 to 2001, Turano was an editor of its newsletter for most of the years he served. He received a 10-year Newsletter Editor Service Award in 2000.

Loving Son of the late Carmen and the late Giosina, nee Fabis, Turano. Dear Brother of the late Raphaella (the late Joseph) D'Onofrio. Dear Uncle of the Alex (Vickie) D'Onofrio, Joseph, Jr. (Mary Ann) D'Onofrio, Mary Jo Adal-Aziz and Michael (Linda) D'Onofrio. Dear Great and Great-Great Uncle to many.