Supreme Court access to justice initiativesBy Hon. Lloyd A. KarmeierBench and Bar, June 2013A look at the five proposals that the Supreme Court has recently considered and approved in its effort to improve access to justice.
Supreme Court adopts new foreclosure rulesBy Hon. Mathias W. DelortBench and Bar, April 2013An explanation of the new Illinois Supreme Court Rules that address practice and procedure in foreclosure cases.
The Supreme Court’s Vance v. Ball State University decision—Who is a supervisor for purposes of Title VII?By Carlos S. ArévaloLabor and Employment Law, September 2013On June 24, 2013, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Vance v. Ball State University, which held that an employee is a “supervisor” for purposes of vicarious liability under Title VII if he or she is empowered by the employer to take tangible employment actions against the victim.
Survival strategies and best practices for a personal injury plaintiff law firmBy John W. Olmstead, Jr.Law Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, November 2013Many personal injury plaintiff firms are facing challenging times. In the last few years many firms have had to deal with the impact of tort reform, increase competition from other law firms doing extensive advertising, and weathering the last recession.
Taking a bite out of justiceBy Hon. Michael B. HymanBench and Bar, February 2013A recent study shows that in order to keep mentally fresh and sharp on the bench, a judge should eat a healthy breakfast, never skip lunch, and take a break whenever not feeling his or her most productive.
Taking the plunge with WealthCounselBy Alan R. PressTrusts and Estates, January 2013This article outlines the author's initial impressions of WealthCounsel, an estate planning system, and he will follow-up in a few months with an update.
Taking video depositions of persons in other countriesBy Ruphene SidifallInternational and Immigration Law, June 2013Taking a deposition in a foreign country can be complicated, and in some cases it may even be illegal to take a deposition in another country if the person is not licensed or otherwise authorized to take evidence in that jurisdiction.
The tax effects of a civil union dissolutionBy Ray Prather & Padraig McCoidFederal Taxation, May 2013While the Civil Union Act relies on the IMDMA for dissolving civil unions and dividing property; federal tax law does not account for these issues in dissolutions with same-sex parties (due to DOMA) and possibly all civil unions (due to the fact that the parties are not married). The Internal Revenue Service has not provided guidance for these issues.
Tax pamphlet: Do you have canceled debt?By James CreechFederal Taxation, August 2013The Center for Economic Progress has provided a new pamphlet designed to answer frequently asked questions about issues that commonly occur for low income taxpayers.
TCPA damages not punitiveBy Michael HoscheitBench and Bar, September 2013In Standard Mutual Insurance Co. v. Lay, the Illinois Supreme Court held that “the [Telephone Consumer Protection Act] is remedial and not penal, and the TCPA-prescribed damages of $500 per violation are not punitive damages.” Therefore, an insurer cannot cite to the punitive nature of TCPA damages as a reason to deny coverage.
Technology for seniorsBy Hon. Edward J. Schoenbaum, Loren S. Golden, Gary T. Rafool, Don Mateer, & Frank V. ArianoSenior Lawyers, October 2013The latest installment of this regular column, and the registration form for our October 18th program, "Computer Basics for Senior Lawyers."
Technology for seniorsBy Hon. Edward J. Schoenbaum, Jr., Loren S. Golden, Gary T. Rafool, & Frank V. ArianoSenior Lawyers, June 2013This is the fourth of what has become a regular column in the ISBA Senior Lawyer Section Council newsletter.
Technology for seniorsBy Hon. Edward J. Schoenbaum, Frank V. Ariano, & Loren S. GoldenSenior Lawyers, February 2013This is the third installment of what hopefully will become a regular column in this newsletter.
Tetrachloroethylene toxicity changes result in lower liabilityBy Timothy AdamsEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, March 2013On February 19, 2012, USEPA posted revised toxicity factors to the Integrated Risk Information System, indicating that tetrachloroethylene is a “likely human carcinogen” but has a lower carcinogenic risk potential and a higher non-carcinogenic risk potential that previously assumed by EPA.
Thank you, JanetYoung Lawyers Division, June 2013After 20 years of working with the YLD, ISBA staff member Janet Sosin is retiring. But we couldn’t let her go without telling her just how much she’s meant to us.
Thank you to our authorsBy Darrell DiesTrusts and Estates, July 2013A listing of the articles published in this newsletter over the past year.
Thank you to our authorsInternational and Immigration Law, July 2013A listing of the articles published in this newsletter during the past year.
That was then, this is nowBy Robert K. DownsSenior Lawyers, June 2013Are the good old days long gone? Or are they now and still available to be enjoyed?
There is little interest in interest under the present WC ActBy Christine M. OryWorkers’ Compensation Law, August 2013If P.A. 83-1051 went into effect in July 1984, interest payments on an arbitrator’s award would have accrued at the rate of 9% per annum under §19(n). As of December 2008, the prime rate dropped to 3.25% where it remains. Therefore, if P.A. 83-1051 had gone into effect, the present interest rate on the arbitrator’s award would be at 4.25% per annum. This is nowhere near as good as it was in July 1984 and not as good as the 6% flat rate, but it certainly is better than what we have today.
Third-party litigation financing and the legal job marketBy Austin BortonCorporate Law Departments, November 2013TPLF is an outside finance company or hedge fund which infuses capital for litigation in exchange for a share of a plaintiff’s settlement or verdict. Essentially, these finance companies are turning the legal world into a stock market, by investing in litigation.
