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Central Illinois

  • October 12, 2011 | People
    Kenneth K. Kinser 1917-2011
    Mr. Kenneth K. Kinser, 94, long-term Decatur attorney and faithful Christian, passed on Sept. 10, 2011, at Fair Havens Christian Home. Kenneth was born in Macon County, IL, the son of Roy Charles and Susan Caroline Albers Kinser. Kenneth was a member of First United Methodist Church, after graduating from law school, he worked for Chicago Title and Trust in Chicago during the early 40’s, and he then moved to Decatur and practiced law for over 55 years. Kenneth was a member of the Decatur Bar Association; he worked hard to represent his clients. He also did a great deal of pro bono work for groups such as the United Methodist Church, both locally and around the state. He served as the Conference Chancellor, giving precise and helpful legal counsel to the church. He also gave free legal counsel to the Preacher's Aid Society and served on the United Methodist Conference Foundation Board. He was a faithful supporter of the Chaddock Children's Home and he was a life-long blood donor. He was a very active and faithful member of his church family at First United Methodist Church of Decatur, he taught adult and children's Sunday school classes for many years.
  • October 12, 2011 | People
    Maurice Dailey Sr. 1922-2011

    Maurice Dailey, Sr., passed away in his sleep at his home in Edwardsville on Sept. 22, 2011.

    Maurice was born June 25, 1922 in Auburn, Ill., to Mae and Daniel H. Dailey. He started his schooling at St. Boniface in Edwardsville and moved to Taylorville when he was 8 years old. After graduating high school, he attended Illinois College in Jacksonville.

    While attending college, he worked for the deaf and blind school. Upon graduation he enrolled in Notre Dame Mid-Shipman's School. From there he served in World War II in the Pacific as captain of a mine sweeper.

    After the war, he returned to Taylorville, working in the mines and eventually entering John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where he graduated top of class in June, 1950.

    From college, he relocated to Granite City, Ill. Maurice became associated with Roscoe Forth in 1950.

    Maurice married Judith Ann Jester July 15, 1951, after meeting her in law school. They resided in Granite City until 1973, but his law practice continued in Granite City for a total of 52 years. His practice included real estate, condemnation, probate, banking, corporate and construction law.

  • October 11, 2011 | ISBA News | Practice News
    ISBA Environmental Law Section Council to host networking luncheon

    The ISBA Environmental Law Section Council is pleased to invite all Springfield-area attorneys practicing in the area of Environmental Law to a FREE networking lunch for ISBA members and non-members alike.

    When: October 21, 2011; Noon – 1:00 p.m.

    Where: Illinois Attorney General Office, Helen Radigan Hall, 500 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62706

    John Kim, Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois EPA, will present on the new Section 31 process, including compliance agreement (“CCA”) administrative enforcement.

    Kyle Rominger, Deputy Chief Counsel for the Illinois EPA will be speaking on permit streamlining and clean construction demolition debris (“CCDD”).

    Please join us for these brief informative presentations, a light lunch and the opportunity to visit with fellow practitioners in a relaxed setting.

    Please RSVP with Jane McBride, jmcbride@atg.state.il.us by Oct. 18.

  • October 6, 2011 | People
    Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award presented to Brent Holmes

    Attorney Brent Holmes was presented with the Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award.  This Award was created in 2011 in memory of Joseph R. Bartylak who was Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation's Executive Director from 1976 to 2003.  It honors a volunteer attorney who has directly achieved outstanding results for low income clients or who has supported Land of Lincoln staff in their delivery of high quality legal services to the poor and elderly.

    The Honorable Matt Sullivan presented the award to Mr. Holmes during a meeting of the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association. Mr. Holmes is a long-time volunteer through the Coles-Cumberland Bar Association who has consistently accepted referrals for eligible clients for over fifteen years.  He has devoted over 55 hours for the three cases he has closed in just the past two years, and he has donated more than 215 hours since he joined the pro bono panel after its formation in 1996.  He accepts contested family law cases in Cumberland County and Coles County.  He obtains divorce judgments, child custody orders, child support orders, QDROs, and other appropriate relief for clients who are unable to afford to hire attorneys.

    “Brent is a model of what the term pro bono lawyer means,” states Clare McCulla, Senior Supervisory Attorney with the Charleston satellite office.  “These are deserving people with meritorious cases who might not have been able to resolve their problems without his help.”

  • September 29, 2011 | People
    ATG's Butera and Miner take top posts with Illinois Land Title Association

    Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG), the premier lawyer service company in the U.S., announced that Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Augie Butera, was recently installed as president of the Illinois Land Title Association (ILTA).  Also, ATG’s Arden Miner, senior manager – underwriting and escrow, was elected to ILTA’s board of directors for a three-year term.  
     
    Both Butera and Miner were officially installed at a formal ceremony recently during ILTA’s 2011 annual convention in Springfield at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel.
     
    As a SVP and general counsel for ATG, Butera manages ATG’s legal and escrow departments, and handles title insurance claims and litigation.  He is also president of ATG subsidiary, The Judicial Sales Corporation.
     
    Butera has served on ATG legal staff since 1986.  He has considerable background in title searching and closing problems.  Prior to joining ATG, Butera worked eight years for the Cook County Recorder of Deeds.  He earned his Bachelor’s of Science and law degrees from Chicago’s DePaul University in 1982 and 1985, respectively.

  • September 28, 2011 | People
    Daniel M. Franklin 1952-2011

    Daniel M. Franklin, 52, of Pana died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 in Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was born Feb. 13, 1959, the son of Dr. Jacob James & Mary Edith Duck Franklin. 

    Dan was a graduate of Pana High School Class of 1977; University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1981; John Marshall Law School, Chicago, with Juris Doctorate Law Degree on June 10, 1984.

    He passed the bar exam and was admitted to practice in the State of Illinois November 16, 1984. He was admitted to practice as an attorney in Central District Court on December 9, 1987 and in the Southern District Courts on July 14, 2006. 

  • September 14, 2011 | People
    Samuel C. Patton 1923-2011

    Samuel C. Patton, 88, of Springfield, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Capitol Care Center in Springfield.

    He was born on March 20, 1923 in Springfield, the son of the late Stanley M. and Marie Patton. He married Betty G. DeFraties on Oct. 19, 1947 in Springfield and she survives.

    Mr. Patton was a self-employed attorney. He was a member of the Elks Club in Springfield. Prior to that he had been a member of the Springfield Jaycees. He also was a former member of Illini Country Club and was an avid golfer. He attended Lincoln College of Law in Springfield and was admitted to the Bar in 1952. He also served as corporation counsel for the city of Springfield for 2 terms.

    Besides his wife, Betty, he is survived by 2 sons, Todd C. (wife Kimora) Patton of Yonkers, NY, and Craig Dow Patton of Springfield. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

    Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by 3 sisters, Eleanor Powers, Betty Fahs, and Norma Daily.

    Arrangements are under the direction of Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen, Springfield. Private burial will take place at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield. Memorial services will be held on October 1, 2011 at 1 pm at Central Baptist Church in Springfield.

  • September 14, 2011 | People
    William L. Niemann 1920-2011

    William (Bill) Lovekamp Niemann, 91, passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona, on July 30, 2011. A resident of Evanston and Winnetka for many years, he will be greatly missed as a father, grandfather and friend.

    Mr. Niemann was born on July 20, 1920, in Jacksonville, Illinois. He grew up as the middle of three children in Arenzeville, Illinois. He earned a B.A. from Carthage College (1941) and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law (1947, Cum Lauda, Order of the Coif). His law school education was interrupted by World War II, during which he proudly served in the medical and transportation corps of the U.S. Army, eventually achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. His military service included tours of duty in Europe, Africa and Italy.

    Mr. Niemann began his law career in 1947 as an attorney with Snyder, Chadwell & Fagerburg in Chicago, and later served as regional attorney for Montgomery Ward & Company in Oakland, California. There he met and married (1956) Doris Elizabeth Greenstreet (1926-2008), his devoted wife of 52 years. They relocated to the Chicago area where Bill began a 25-year association with Brunswick Corporation in Chicago and Skokie, eventually serving as Vice President-Law, Secretary and General Counsel.

    During this time he and Doris lived in Evanston and Winnetka, where they raised two sons and attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston. Bill also served on the Board of Trustees of Carthage College, as a member of the Law Club of Chicago, as an officer of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, and as Director of the Oakton Community College Foundation. Doris and Bill retired to Tucson in 1990.

  • September 8, 2011 | People
    Uvaldo Herrera 1955-2011

    Uvaldo Herrera, 56, Bloomington, died Sunday (Aug. 21, 2011) at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

    Uvaldo was born July 19, 1955, in Los Pinos, Durango, Mexico, son of David and Rosalina Lopez Herrera. He came to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old, speaking only Spanish. With no official assistance in place, he mastered the English language and went on to complete high school. He obtained his bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Illinois in 1981, and obtained his juris doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1988.

    He began working at State Farm Insurance Cos. in March 1981 in a number of positions, working in auto claims, corporate law, and most recently, the Multicultural Business Development Group.

  • August 16, 2011 | Events
    Retrials of Mary Surratt to be held in Chicago and Springfield

    The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission will hold two retrials of Mary Surratt. Surratt was the first woman executed by the United States after she was convited of conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. 

    The first retrial will be held in Chicago on Sept. 23 at the Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State. The cast will include Judge James B. Zagel as Judge; Karen Conti and Ed Genson for the Defense; Jim Montgomery and Dan Webb for the Prosecution and Bill Kurtis as Reporter. Tickets are $25 and are still available by calling (312) 554-2057.

    The second retrial will be held on Oct. 3 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The case will include Justice Thomas Appleton as Judge; Aasne Vigessa as Mary Surratt; Steven Beckett and Greg Harris for the Defense; Bill Davis and Carol Posegate for the Prosecution and Rich Bradley as Reporter. Tickets are sold out for the Springfield show.

    Audiences will render a verdict on the fate of Surratt.