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Central Illinois

  • July 14, 2011 | People
    David O. Rudd 1955-2011
    [caption id="attachment_21017" align="alignright" width="120" caption="David O. Rudd"][/caption] David O. Rudd, 56, of Springfield on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born March 4, 1955 in Elmhurst, IL to John Owen and Pauline Lumina Pelletier Rudd and they preceded him in death. David lived in Springfield for the past 27 years. He received a BA in Political Science in May of 1977 from SIU Carbondale and a JD from SIUC School of Law in May of 1980. He was employed by Gallatin-River Communications as a Lobbyist and Attorney and formerly worked at the Illinois Commerce Commission. He was a member of the Island Bay Yacht Club, Illinois Telecommunications Association, Illinois Bar Association and was a Registered Lobbyist. He enjoyed sailing and boating, traveling and was a great cook. He married Gayla S. Smith on July 14, 1984 and she survives. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Kendra (Allen) Millard of Shelton, WA and Nancy (Mark) Heard of Sesser, IL; a brother-in-law, Ron Smith of West Frankfort, IL; mother-in-law, Eileen Smith of West Frankfort, IL; several nieces and nephews and his Bouvier, Kozmo. A Private Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Protective League. StaabObituary.com
  • July 6, 2011 | ISBA News | Events
    Register now for 7th Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference

    [caption id="attachment_20808" align="alignright" width="140" caption="Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride"][/caption] You may be a Solo or Small Firm lawyer, but you are NOT alone. The Illinois State Bar Association will present the 7th Annual Solo & Small Firm Conference from Oct. 27-29 at the Springfield Hilton. Last chance to catch the Conference in Springfield before it moves to a new location! Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride will be the featured plenary speaker. Register by August 25 for the Early Bird discount! Earn up to 12 hours of MCLE credit, including all 6 hours of PMCLE credit. “Get Connected” to your peers, the latest in technology, and current practice updates at this year’s Conference. Learn how to:

    • Avoid the biggest business mistakes lawyers make
    • Market your practice on a tight budget
    • Properly manage non-lawyer assistants
    • Use social networking and understand the related ethical issues
    • Prepare for technology backup and disaster recovery

  • July 5, 2011 | Practice News
    Lyons appointed as circuit judge in 10th Circuit
    [caption id="attachment_20787" align="alignright" width="113" caption="Kevin W. Lyons"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that Kevin W. Lyons, longtime state’s attorney for Peoria County, has been appointed a Circuit Court judge to fill a judicial vacancy in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride recommended Mr. Lyons to the Supreme Court after an extensive application and evaluation process. The Peoria resident Circuit Court vacancy was created by the 2010 retirement of Judge Richard Grawey and is temporarily being filled by Judge Glenn Collier who left retirement to fill the position.
  • July 5, 2011 | People
    Hon. Lois Arlene Bell 1961 - 2011

    [caption id="attachment_20768" align="alignright" width="120" caption="Judge Lois Bell"][/caption] Lois Arlene Bell, 49, of Winchester, passed away Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2011, at her home. She was born July 4, 1961, in Savanna, the daughter of the late Roger W. and Grace Schaible Bell. Lois graduated from United Township High School in East Moline in 1979 and obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1982. She then attended the University of Illinois College of Law obtaining her Juris Doctorate in May 1985. She was admitted to practice law and engaged in private practice of law from 1985 until 2002 in Winchester, primarily as Bell & Mann Law Offices with Richard E. Mann. While in practice she represented many individuals, banks, municipalities and other districts. In November 2002, Lois was elected Resident Circuit Court Judge for Scott County, a position she continued to hold. As Judge she presided over cases in Scott, Greene, Morgan, Jersey, Macoupin and Sangamon Counties. She was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, ABA and PAD, and was a supported of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. She attended Lake Presbyterian Church in Osage Beach, Mo. Lois enjoyed traveling, boating on the Illinois river and Lake of the Ozarks, golfing, swimming, cooking, photography, gardening, reading and computers.

  • June 7, 2011 | People
    Richard Manzella 1965-2011
    [caption id="attachment_19882" align="alignright" width="137" caption="Richard Manzella"][/caption] Richard M. “Rich” Manzella, 45, Normal, passed away on June 2 at Heartland Health Care Center in Normal, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Oct. 6, 1965, in Chicago, he was the son of Richard and Cathy Manzella. He married Veronica Harcar on June 15, 1996, at St. Stephen’s Church, Streator. She survives in Normal. He is also survived by his children, Matthew and Jennifer Manzella, Normal; his mother, Cathy Manzella-Hensley, Joliet; sisters, Lorrie (Grady) Bourland, Plainfield, and Julie (Ward) McCloskey, Marseilles; a brother, Joe (Linda) Manzella, Escondido, Calif.; maternal grandmother, Loretta Koren, Bolingbrook; father and mother-in-law, Andrew R. and Maria Harcar, Streator; a sister-in-law, Theresa (Tim) Graves, Streator; a brother-in-law, Andy Harcar, Streator; nieces and nephews, Emma Graves, Kyle McCloskey, Karlee McClosky, Miranda Bourland and Cody Bourland; a great-niece, Taylor Bourland; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Manzella Sr.; stepfather, Paul Hensley Sr.; maternal grandfather, John Koren; paternal grandparents, Frank and Josephine Manzella; and an uncle, Frank Gluting. Rich was a 1984 graduate of Romeoville High School and a 1988 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received a bachelor of science degree in psychology.
  • May 13, 2011 | People
    Charles Flack 1927-2011
    [caption id="attachment_19475" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Charles Flack"][/caption] Charles "Chick" Flack, 83, passed away last month at Wesley Village Rehabilitation Center in Macomb. Mr. Flack attended Macomb schools and graduated from Northwester University in 1951 and Northwestern University Law School in 1954. He joined his father and George B. Kerman in the practice of law in 1954 and practiced until his retirement from Flack, McRaven and Stephen's in 1997. Mr. Flack served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the carrier USS Enterprise and USS Midway. Read the full obituary in the McDonough Voice.
  • May 11, 2011 | Practice News
    7 apply for 10th Circuit vacancy
    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride on Wednesday announced that seven candidates have applied to fill a judicial vacancy in the 10th Judicial Circuit. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill judicial vacancies. Chief Justice Kilbride uses an extensive application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the Supreme Court for judicial vacancies in the Third Judicial District. The process includes an opportunity for public comment, background checks by police authorities and with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Chief Justice Kilbride will also use a poll of all attorneys residing in the 10th Circuit, which will be conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association over the next 30 days. The attorneys will be surveyed on their opinions of the applicants’ integrity, temperament, legal ability, management skills and other professional qualifications. Chief Justice Kilbride will appoint a judicial screening committee made up of representatives from the community, including non-lawyers as well as members of the legal profession to evaluate all of the information. The names of that committee will be announced at a later date. Attorneys whose applications were received by the deadline were: David B. Collins, David M. House, Kevin W. Lyons, Christopher S. McCall, Theresa B. Murphy, Leann M. Niebuhr, and Scott E. Umland.
  • May 11, 2011 | People
    Pro Bono awards presented at Peoria County Bar Association Law Day
    The Peoria County Pro Bono Plan, a joint project of the Peoria County Bar Association and Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., presented their annual awards for outstanding contribution in providing free civil legal services to low income and elderly persons in the community at the Bar Association Law Day Luncheon on April 26, 2011 Rodney R. Nordstrom, of the law firm of Day and Day, received the award for Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. This award is given to an individual attorney who exhibits exceptional leadership and commitment in the provision of legal services on a pro bono basis. The law firm of Miller, Hall & Triggs received the award for Law Firm of the Year. This award is given to a firm that has shown an overall commitment and teamwork in providing pro bono legal services.
  • May 6, 2011 | Practice News
    Lucas appointed circuit judge in 10th Circuit
    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Friday that Associate Judge Timothy M. Lucas has been appointed a circuit judge in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride recommended Judge Lucas fill the Circuit Court vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. James E. Shadid upon his appointment as a federal district judge for the Central District of Illinois. Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court is given the authority to fill judicial vacancies. An associate judge in the 10th Circuit since 2001, Judge Lucas has presided over a wide range of cases including misdemeanor, traffic, civil, probate, juvenile abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency.
  • April 20, 2011 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Kilbride and 10th Circuit Chief Judge Michael Brandt announce foreclosure mediation program
    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Michael Brandt of the 10th Judicial Circuit announced Tuesday a new mediation program to help ease the financial and emotional burden of homeowners, lenders and taxpayers caused by residential mortgage foreclosures in Peoria County. Chief Justice Kilbride said he is hopeful that the foreclosure mediation program will help keep some families in their homes and help prevent vacant and abandoned houses that drive down property values and destabilize neighborhoods. The Illinois Supreme Court approved the program which is modeled after one which began last June in Will County. Both programs operate with no expense to taxpayers and are sustained by an increase in filing fees paid by lenders seeking to foreclose. "This is an important step forward for those who have suffered the effects of our nation's economic crisis in Peoria," said Chief Justice Kilbride. "The Supreme Court has a keen interest in programs that have the strong promise of achieving timely and lasting resolutions to tough problems." The program in Peoria County not only mirrors the one in Will County, but comes after another mortgage foreclosure initiative was announced last week by the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court. On the recommendation of Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, the Court appointed a special 14-person committee to study ways to ease the burdens of homeowners and to ensure fairness throughout foreclosure proceedings. It is anticipated that the Committee will propose procedures that can be implemented throughout the state. The Committee will examine the program in Will County and Peoria County as well as the one operating in Cook County, which is partially funded through county funds.