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  • January 26, 2012 | People
    Illinois Supreme Court appoints Marconi to advise Discovery Committee

    Effective January 1, 2012, the State of Illinois’ Supreme Court appointed Johnson & Bell, Ltd. Shareholder Joseph R. Marconi as Advisor to the Judicial Conference Committee on Discovery Procedures. Mr. Marconi is the chair of the Business Litigation/Transactions group at the firm.

    The Committee is comprised of circuit court judges from around the state and is chaired by Justice Maureen E. Connors of the First District Appellate Court. As directed by the Supreme Court, the Committee “shall investigate and make recommendations on innovative means of expediting pretrial discovery and ending any abuses of the discovery process so as to promote early settlement discussions and encourage civility among attorneys.” The Committee reappointed Advisors Eugene Pavalon of Pavalon & Gifford (Chicago), Paul E. Root (Chicago), and David Mueller of Cassiday & Mueller (Peoria). Professor Marc D. Ginsberg of The John Marshall Law School was also reappointed as “Professor-Reporter” to the Committee.

  • January 24, 2012 | People
    John C. Hedrich 1931-2012

    John C. Hedrich, 80, of Las Vegas, Nev., formerly of Princeton, died Jan. 6, 2012, in Las Vegas.

    Mr. Hedrich was born Feb. 23, 1931, in Tiskilwa to Arthur W. and Mabel (Steimle) Hedrich.

    He graduated from Tiskilwa High School in 1949, the University of Illinois in 1953, and the University of Illinois School of Law in 1955. He served two years in the U.S. Navy before starting his law practice in Princeton in 1957.

    He was a magistrate of the circuit court from 1961-1964, an assistant state’s attorney from 1964-1968 and the Bureau County Public Defender from 1992-1994. He served for years as attorney for St. Louis Catholic Church and the village of Tiskilwa. He was a member of Bureau County Bar Association, including a term as president, and was a member and officer of numerous civic and private organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Elks Club, Rotary Club, and Bureau Valley Country Club.

    He was the last owner of the historic American House Hotel. He retired from the practice of law in 1998.

    Survivors include his wife, Chung; five children, Susan Wallace of River Forest, Richard of Henderson, Nev., James of Norcross, Ga., Mary Katherine (Stacy) Pomonis of Champaign and John (Jane Chadesh) of Oak Park; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Richard of Atlantic Beach, Fla.; nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and his first wife, Ann Hanak.

    He was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur W. Hedrich Jr.

    Memorials may be directed to St. Louis Church.

  • January 23, 2012 | People
    Borree and Hogan elected to partnerships at Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC

    Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC is pleased to announce that Michael Borree and Timothy Hogan have been elected to the partnership.

    Michael Borree's practice is focused on professional malpractice defense, products liability defense, and commercial litigation. Mr.
    Borree joined the firm after practicing at a Chicago litigation firm. He graduated from DePaul University College of Law, cum laude, in 2003. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1999.

    Timothy L. Hogan's practice is concentrated on professional liability, products liability and commercial matters. Mr. Hogan joined the firm following a clerkship with Judge Lynn M. Egan in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2002), where he was on the Dean's List, staff editor of the Loyola University Consumer
    Law Journal, and a member of the London Advocacy Program. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University.

    About DBMS

    Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC is one of Chicago's pre-eminent trial practice boutiques. Founded in 1995, the firm successfully tries difficult, high exposure cases in the country's most challenging jurisdictions. The firm is known as one of the "go to" firms in Chicago for particularly difficult or high stakes cases and, since its founding, no firm in Chicago has tried as many complex cases as successfully as DBMS.

  • January 23, 2012 | People
    Adam J. Lagocki 1977-2012

    Adam J. Lagocki, 34, of Peoria passed away at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, in Lacon.

    He was born on Nov. 7, 1977, in Bloomington, the son of Dr. James and Janet Lagocki. He married Angie Speck on June 26, 2004, in Peoria.

    Adam is survived by his wife; two children, Addison (4) and Andrew (1); his parents; a sister; and countless loving friends.

    Adam graduated from St. Thomas Grade School, Peoria Notre Dame (1996), Indiana University (1996 to 2000) and the University of Illinois Law School (2000 to 2003).

    Adam shared his enjoyment of life with everyone he met.

    His interests included cheering for Indiana University Hoosiers, golf, fantasy football, being a lifelong Jimmy Buffett fan, movie or music trivia and weekend brunches with the kids.

    Adam was a respected member of the legal community. His professionalism and dedication earned local and statewide recognition. He was active in the Peoria County Bar Association, Abraham Lincoln American Inn of Court and the Greater Peoria Claims Association. He also was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and American Bar Association.

    Adam was a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

    Please visit Adam's story at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com.

    Memorial contribution checks should be made out to Edward Jones. Sent to Edward Jones, 8500 N. Knoxville, Suite F, Peoria, IL 61615-2079, in care of Addison and Drew.

  • January 23, 2012 | People
    Hon. Frank J. McGarr 1921-2012

    Judge Frank J. McGarr, the son of a Chicago plumber, sat on the federal bench for 18 years and presided over a number of significant cases that included Oakland A's owner Charles O. Finley's lawsuit against then-baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

    Judge McGarr also was chairman of then-Gov. George Ryan's Commission on Capital Punishment in the early 2000s, which paved the way for the state's 2011 abolition of the death penalty.

    "Frank was the perfect guy to chair this group, to lead the discourse on a topic that was and remains such a lightning rod issue," said U.S. District Court Judge Charles P. Kocoras. "Looking back on what took place back then, I can't imagine a better person to bring about a consensus from people with such discordant views."

    The commission's report concluded that the system was deeply flawed and offered scores of proposals, a dozen of which Judge McGarr said at the time were essential to "meaningful reform," including the videotaping of interrogations.

    Judge McGarr, 90, the chief judge for the U.S. District Court's Northern Illinois District from 1981 to 1986, died Friday, Jan. 6, at his Downers Grove home, after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.

    "As a judge, he never took himself too seriously," said his daughter Patricia DiMaria. "He would say, 'You don't have honor and intelligence, just by putting on a robe.' "

  • January 23, 2012 | People
    Christ Troupis 1923-2011

    Christ Troupis, 88, of Mendota, passed away on Dec. 19, 2011.

    Mr. Troupis was born Jan. 28, 1923 in Mendota to Theodore and Efterpe Troupis. He married Marion Roberts on Jan. 2, 1947 in South Bend, Ind.

    Mr. Troupis served in the Pacific Theater of Operations with the Army Air Force during World War II. He attended Northwestern University and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1949. Following law school, Mr. Troupis returned to Mendota where he practiced law for more than 50 years. Before his retirement, he was active in the La Salle County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar. His practice focused most often on estate and probate matters although he was well known for his representation of school districts and other local units of government.

    He was elected mayor of Mendota in 1953 and served until 1961. During his tenure the Mendota Community Pool was built. He was elected to the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees in 1967 and served as board president during the acquisition and construction of the campus on the south bluff of the Illinois River. For nearly 20 years, Mr. Troupis also served on Mendota Community Hospital Board of Trustees and was president of that board for several years. He was a member of VFW Post 4079 and the American Legion and was a past member and former president of Mendota Lions Club and Mendota Jaycees. He served as chairman of the local chapter of the American Red Cross and was a past member of the Mendota Elks Lodge and Mendota Moose.

  • January 17, 2012 | People
    Rothstein named chair of local ADL board

    Michael I Rothstein, a founding partner of Chicago Loop law firm, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC, was elected on January 9, 2012, to a two-year term as the Chair of the Anti-Defamation League's Chicago/Upper Midwest Regional Board.

    Mr. Rothstein is a 1987 graduate of the Boston University School of Law and a 1982 graduate of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. A certified public accountant, he previously worked in the audit department of Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst & Young).

  • January 17, 2012 | People
    Edward Allen Verchota III 1961-2012

    Edward Allen Verchota III, a resident of Champaign, passed away Thursday (Jan. 12, 2012) in Champaign.

    Mr. Verchota was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Paris, Ill.

    Mr. Verchota graduated from Champaign Central High School in 1979. He earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois in 1983 and a juris doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law in 1987.

    Allen was admitted to practice law in the state of Illinois in 1988 and was a respected attorney in the Champaign-Urbana area, specializing in litigation and personal injury law.

    Allen loved spending time with his son, playing golf and traveling, especially enjoying warm weather, going to the beach and taking cruises.

    He also was an avid University of Illinois sports fan and an active participant in a local investment club. Allen's life was ended far too soon by complications from liver disease and alcoholism; another gifted and much loved individual's life cut short by addiction.

    A private memorial service will be held for family and close friends. Allen will be greatly missed by all.

    Mr. Verchota is survived by his son; his wife, Kristen Conley Verchota of Savoy; his parents, Judy and George Bryan of Champaign and Edward Allen Verchota Jr. of Paris; one brother, Michael (Kara) Verchota of Monticello; four sisters, Valari Verchota (Richard) Dillingham of Monticello, Anne Bryan (Paul) Peebles of Houston, Texas, Melissa Bryan (Thomas Harrison Jr.) of Berwyn and Brandi Verchota (Rich) Temples of High Ridge, Mo.; as well as five nieces and four nephews. He is further survived by other relatives and many dear friends.

    1 comment (Most recent January 20, 2012)
  • January 12, 2012 | ISBA News | People
    President-elect Thies meets with Chinese delegation

    ISBA President-elect John E. Thies recently gave a speech to representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Justice who were visiting the University of Illinois.

    He covered several topics including: an overview of the ISBA; the range and purpose of U.S. bar associations and the services they provide; the regulation of the legal profession; the licensing of lawyers; the accreditation of law schools (and the education of law students); minimum continuing legal education; legal aid; and limited scope representation.

    Group leader Mr. Ma Chi (photo at right) presented President-elect Thies with a lovely rolled print as a token of the delegation's appreciation. Ma Chi serves as the Vice Deputy Chief Judge from Gansu Province.

  • January 12, 2012 | People
    Philip C. Wherry 1939-2011

    Philip Comstock Wherry, 72, of Chicago, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, from complications due to Parkinson’s disease.

    He was born in 1939 in Pekin, to Dr. Roland C. and Miriam Platt Wherry. He was raised in Pekin.

    His parents preceded him in death.

    He is survived by his wife, Cookie; his daughter, Chandler; his brother, Richard (Nancy) Wherry; and a loving circle of family and friends.

    He was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; and graduated from the University of Miami, where he met “the love of his life” and future wife, Helen “Cookie” Reichert.

    After moving to Chicago and graduating from IIT Kent College of Law, Philip became a senior clerk to the late Federal Judge Julius J. Hoffman in Chicago. He became an associate at the law firm of Winston & Strawn before founding the firm of Abrams & Wherry, which specialized in business litigation, both in Chicago.

    Philip had a life-long devotion to the community and historic preservation. He worked closely with Burt Natarus, former alderman of the 42nd Ward, to achieve down-zoning of the Near North Side of Chicago. For 30 years, Philip was involved with the North Dearborn Association, ultimately serving seven terms as its president. He was a co-founder of the Near North Preservation Coalition, which helped retain the beauty of that neighborhood.