Cook County Landlord Tenant Law: A Compass to Guide YouBy Laura L. LundsgaardReal Estate Law, June 2021As of June 1, a new ordinance redefines landlord-tenant law and residential purchase and sale transactions in Cook County.
Copyright Trolls in the Construction BusinessBy Margo Lynn HablutzelCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, June 2021There are two main lessons to take from this article. First, copyright trolls will thrive as long as their targets are unfamiliar with decisions such as Lexington Homes and Signature Construction, and decide it is easier to pay a fee to avoid litigation. Second, in an industry where design elements are limited and certain combinations are expected, copyright infringement requires direct and unquestionable copying for liability. Merely echoing certain elements is insufficient to sustain a claim.
Copyright Trolls in the Construction BusinessBy Margo Lynn HablutzelIntellectual Property, May 2021There are two main lessons to take from this article. First, copyright trolls will thrive as long as their targets are unfamiliar with decisions such as Lexington Homes and Signature Construction, and decide it is easier to pay a fee to avoid litigation. Second, in an industry where design elements are limited and certain combinations are expected, copyright infringement requires direct and unquestionable copying for liability. Merely echoing certain elements is insufficient to sustain a claim.
Copyright Trolls in the Construction Industry—But Is It Good Law and Bad Facts?By David C. BrezinaIntellectual Property, September 2021In Design Basics LLC v. Signature Construction Inc., Judge Sykes described a problem of copyright trolls. In the copyright context, this was said to be a cottage industry of registering many architectural graphics and then suing for copyright infringement, hoping to collect, at a minimum, statutory damages, and potentially an infringer’s profits. But this label made no difference to the result in the case. Not all copyrighted works have the same enforcement potential. Some works may contain highly original content, while others might only have bare minimum originality— “thin” copyrights.
Cornucopia of Legislative Developments for EUTT IndustriesBy Christine ZemanEnergy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation, December 2021Summaries of recent legislation of interest to the Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications and Transportation Law Section.
The Corporate Transparency Act (Title LXIV of the NDAA, H.R. 6395)By William A. PriceBusiness and Securities Law, March 2021Congress included the Corporate Transparency Act in the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation requires filing information on beneficial owners of new U.S. entities and foreign entities which apply for permission to do business in the U.S.
COVID Considerations: Long COVID Now a DisabilityBy Barbara E. Hoey & Sebastian ClarkinLabor and Employment Law, September 2021On July 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division jointly published guidance on whether long COVID may qualify as a disability subject to the nondiscrimination requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Affordable Care Act.
COVID Litigation: Predictions vs. ExperienceBy Marcie Lape, Chuck Smith, & Amy Van GelderCorporate Law Departments, April 2021A look at the impact of COVID-19 on litigation one year in and tentative predictions for the near future.
COVID-19 and Mental HealthBy Dr. Alexandra TsangBench and Bar, May 2021Strategies to manage your well-being during COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Mental HealthBy Dr. Alexandra TsangWomen and the Law, March 2021Strategies to manage your well-being during COVID-19.
COVID-19 and Mental HealthBy Dr. Alexandra TsangMental Health Law, February 2021Strategies to manage your well-being during COVID-19.
COVID-19 and the Practice of LawBy Stephen B. CohenAlternative Dispute Resolution, April 2021A look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the practice of law.
COVID-19 Impact on Office Building AssessmentsBy Thomas BattistaState and Local Taxation, September 2021A look at the impact of COVID-19 on office building vacancy in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Crawford v. Hayen: The Infamous Count VIBy Michael J. RooneyReal Estate Law, September 2021The first district appellate court published an opinion last November, Crawford v. Hayen, where the narrow and precise holding may be correct, but the opinion itself is highly suspect.
Creating and Construing a Trust and the Problem of the Unsigned Amendment Under the Illinois Trust CodeBy Chuck NewlandTrusts and Estates, December 2021Practitioners should make sure that their trust documents expressly allow for the documents to be amended and revoked and set forth a clear method of amending. They should also impress upon their clients that it is important to substantially comply with the method if they want the amendment to be enforceable.
Criminal Convictions No Longer an Automatic Disqualifier for EmploymentBy Carl R. DraperLabor and Employment Law, September 2021Public Act 101-656 made two significant changes to the Illinois Human Rights Act, including limiting the ability of employers to rely on conviction records in making employment decisions.
Criminal Records ReliefBy Brittany ShawLaw Related Education for the Public, December 2021An overview of the options available to individuals in Illinois seeking relief from the burden of a criminal record.
The CROWN ActBy Janelle A. DixonDiversity Leadership Council, November 2021California became the first state to ban natural hair discrimination through the CROWN Act and, since being signd into law in 2019, 14 states, including Illinois, have passed similar laws.
Cybersecurity Best PracticesBy Adam Ford & Jenifer L. JohnsonGovernment Lawyers, August 2021With the rash of recent cybersecurity attacks nationwide, cyber hygiene has never been more important for government lawyers.
DCFS Odds and EndsBy Jared A. GiuffreChild Law, March 2021A brief summary of how to handle cases under the Juvenile Court Act and administrative cases with the Department of Children and Family Services.
Decennial Liability in Egypt: A Brief SummaryBy Howard L. StovallInternational and Immigration Law, March 2021Under the Egyptian Civil Code, architects and contractors generally face strict liability for the collapse of a building they erected, for a period of 10 years from the date of delivery.
