The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on Sept. 12, 2014, during the September Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.
Practice News
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September 15, 2014 |
Practice News
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September 12, 2014 |
Practice News
The Circuit Judges of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, DuPage County, unanimously elected Judge Kathryn E. Creswell to the position of Chief Judge. Judge Creswell's term as Chief Judge will commence on Dec. 1, 2014. Judge Creswell will succeed Chief Judge John T. Elsner.
Judge Creswell is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. She was appointed as an Associate Judge in 1995 and was elected a Circuit Judge in 2002. Prior to her selection as Chief Judge, she had served as Presiding Judge of the Felony Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit.
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September 11, 2014 |
Practice News
Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Glenn R. Schorsch as an associate judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Schorsch received his undergraduate degree in 1981 from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, and his Juris Doctor in 1988 from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL. Mr. Schorsch is currently affiliated with the Stephenson County Public Defender's Office in Freeport, IL.
1 comment (Most recent September 11, 2014) -
September 11, 2014 |
Practice News
Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Sixth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Jeffrey S. Geisler as an associate judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
Mr. Geisler received his undergraduate degree in 1982 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and his Juris Doctor in 1986 from Memphis State in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Geisler is currently affiliated with Geisler Law Offices in Decatur.
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September 11, 2014 |
Practice News
Recent federal court decision reinterprets the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and may create venue defense for current or future debtor defendants in debt collection suits.
By: Joseph R. Marconi 1
In Suesz v. Med-1 Solutions, LLC, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 12562 (7th Cir. 2014), the Seventh Circuit recently reinterpreted the venue provision of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). The issue for the court was whether township small claims courts in Marion County, Indiana (Indianapolis) constituted separate “judicial districts or similar legal entities” for purposes of section 1692i of the FDCPA. The en banc majority held that debt collectors must file collection actions in the “smallest geographic area that is relevant for determining venue in the court system in which the case is filed.”
Implications for Cook County Lawyers
In doing so, the Seventh Circuit not only overruled its own 1996 precedent in Newsom v. Friedman, 76 F.3d 813 (7th Cir. 1996), but also applied the en banc Suesz decision retroactively. Debt collectors previously relied on Newsom to file collection actions in a court in the debtor’s county — but not in the township or intra-county small claims court in the area where the debtor resided or where the debtor contract was signed. Per Suesz, for those of us in Cook County, collection lawsuits should be filed in the Municipal District where the debtor resides or where the contract was signed. For lawsuits that are already pending, an immediate motion to transfer to the appropriate Municipal District is most prudent. -
September 10, 2014 |
Practice News
Q. Do I violate Rule 4.2 if I give another lawyer’s client a “second opinion” on a pending legal matter in which I am not involved?
A. Rule 4.2 provides that “[I]n representing a client, a lawyer shall not communicate about the subject of the representation with a person the lawyer knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter” without that lawyer’s consent.
However, Comment [4] to the Rule makes it clear that it does not “preclude communication with a represented person who is seeking advice from a lawyer who is not otherwise representing a client in the matter.”
ISBA members can browse past ISBA Ethics Opinions, access our Ethics Hotline, and other resources on the ISBA Ethics Page.
[Disclaimer. These questions are representative of calls received on the ISBA’s ethics hotline. The information provided is meant as an educational tool to highlight potentially applicable Illinois RPC or other ethics resources that might help the lawyer answer the question posed. The information provided isn’t legal advice. Because every situation is different, often complex, and the law is constantly evolving, you shouldn’t rely upon this general information without conducting your own research.]
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September 10, 2014 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Two weeks ago I was asked by the managing partner of a 16 attorney insurance defense firm about staffing and growth models for an insurance defense firm and I listed the following models and discussed the first model – Grow Your Own Associate Staffing. Last week I discussed the second and third models - Lateral Associate Staffing and Contract - Staff Associate Staffing.
Attorney staffing/growth models include:
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September 8, 2014 |
Practice News
Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
The DeWitt County resident circuit vacancy is created by the death of Judge Garry W. Bryan. Judge Bryan had served as a resident circuit judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit since 2008.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies until the next General Election. The application process will lead to final Court approval. The applicants will undergo an evaluation and screening process.
Notice of the vacancy has been posted in courthouses throughout the Circuit. The application form and instructions may be obtained by visiting the Supreme Court’s website at www.illinoiscourts.gov and following the instructions in the “Latest News” scroller announcing the Sixth Judicial Circuit vacancy. Applications must be submitted by mail to:
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September 3, 2014 |
Practice News
Asked and Answered
By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC
Last week I was asked by the managing partner of a 16 attorney insurance defense firm about staffing and growth models for an insurance defense firm and I listed the following models and discussed the first model - grow your own associate staffing.
Attorney staffing/growth models include:
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September 2, 2014 |
Practice News | People
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, a national law firm with 460 lawyers in 22 offices around the country and Barger & Wolen LLP, a California-based law firm with 45 attorneys in six offices, announced today they will join forces. The merger creates one of the largest insurance law practices in the United States with 120 full-time attorneys dedicated to providing legal counsel to companies that shape the insurance and financial services industries.
The partner votes took place on August 28, 2014, and the merger will become effective on October 1, 2014. The combined firm will keep the name Hinshaw & Culbertson and have over 500 attorneys in 11 states as well as London.