2007 Articles

Reflecting the continuing importance of rail travel and the concern over the aging railways in the state, the Illinois General Assembly has passed the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Act (Act) in an effort to work in conjunction with other Midwestern states in the hope of improving and developing railway transportation throughout the region.

On February 16, 2007, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, reversing the Circuit Court of Cook County's order of summary judgment for defendant Clark USA (CUSA).

 In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, the Illinois General Assembly recently added section 25-75 to the Illinois Procurement Code. 

The Illinois General Assembly has added Section 2XX to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, forbidding performing music groups from misleading the public into false associations with other recording music groups.

On December 7, 2006, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, reversed in part the holding of the Circuit Court of Du Page County, which denied plaintiff Gacki's motion for summary judgment and granted summary judgment to defendants Raymond and Lori Bartels, because the plaintiff's claimed easement would impair or reduce the value of the servient estate.

In order to protect the rights of the criminally accused, the Illinois General Assembly amended the Criminal Code of 1961 (Code), 720 ILCS 5/1 et seq, to provide penalties for confessions given under duress. 

The Illinois Appellate Court, First District, recently reversed the Circuit Court of Cook County's judgment against defendant H. E. Miller, Sr., ordering him to pay a $1,172,100 penalty for "knowingly failing to timely remit child support payments withheld from his employee's wages."

In order to make Illinois residents more aware of the risks of financial identity theft, the Illinois General Assembly amended section 2-105 of the Illinois Vehicle Code by adding subsection (f). 625 ILCS 5/2-105(f). 

The Illinois General Assembly has changed the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, 405 ILCS 5/2-107 et seq.

On August 17, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, reversed the judgment of the Circuit Court of Cook County dismissing the plaintiff's legal malpractice action pursuant to Illinois Code of Civil Procedure section 2-619 based on the theory of judicial estoppel. 

On June 7, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, reversed the Circuit Court of Lake County's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants Richard Sandore and Associates for Women's Health.

On June 29, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, remanded the order of the Circuit Court of Cook County awarding judgment in favor of Lula Stoval due to the circuit court's error in applying an absolute bar to General Motors Acceptance Corporation's (GMAC) deficiency judgment against Stoval.