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  • June 9, 2011 | People
    Michael P. Schostok awarded ITLA's Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award
    [caption id="attachment_20001" align="alignright" width="133" caption="Michael P. Schostok"][/caption] Michael P. Schostok of Waukegan will be awarded the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Convention on Friday, June 10, 2011. The convention will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort in Oak Brook, Illinois. The criteria of the award are as follows: “This award is given annually at the convention banquet to someone selected by a committee appointed by the president. The recipient is someone who has devoted, as Leonard did, a substantial part of their life and their practice to ITLA, someone who has done more than is called for. Someone who had the standards of Leonard, the work ethics of Leonard and the commitment to ITLA that Leonard had. At the same time, it keeps alive the memory of Leonard Ring.” Michael Schostok, 50, earned his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1983. In 1986, he received his law degree from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Schostok was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1986. Schostok served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Lake County from 1986 until 1989. His duties included prosecution of traffic, misdemeanor, juvenile and felony crimes. From there, he pursued private practice joining the Law Offices of Patrick A.
  • June 8, 2011 | People
    Charles W. Chapman 1942-2011
    [caption id="attachment_19966" align="alignright" width="124" caption="Charles W. Chapman"][/caption] Former Madison County circuit judge and appellate court justice Charles W. Chapman passed away last month at his home in Edwardsville. He was a name partner in the law firm LakinChapman LLC in Wood River. Chapman served as Circuit Judge in the Third Judicial Circuit of Madison County from 1979 to 1988. He was elected in 1988 to the Appellate Court for the Fifth Judicial District, Mt. Vernon, Illinois and served until 2001. Madison County Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian recalls when Chapman ran against him, but they still were close friends. "He was a hell of a nice guy. He was a good book man and a good trial lawyer," Matoesian said. Chapman earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a doctor of jurisprudence from St. Louis University in 1967. He completed his coursework for a master's degree in economics in 1980 and a master of law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992. Read the full obituary in the Alton Telegraph. Read the obituary by ISBA Member John J. Hopkins in the Madison St. Clair Record
  • June 8, 2011 | People
    Lewin joins Johnson Legal Group as special counsel
    [caption id="attachment_19956" align="alignright" width="150" caption="David Lewin"][/caption] David M. Lewin, experienced in commercial and insurance litigation and condominium association representation, is pleased to be acting as special counsel to Johnson Legal Group, LLC. Dave is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Seventh Circuit, the Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and several other District Courts nationwide including Colorado, Michigan and Iowa. He has practiced literally from coast to coast, handling cases from Washington to Florida. He was awarded a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1992. He obtained a B.A., graduating with honors, from Loyola University of Chicago in 1989. Dave is a recognized authority in risk shifting for contractors and the Illinois doctrine of "targeted tenders," and has written and spoken on the subject at several regional and national conferences. He has authored numerous publications regarding insurance and construction issues. Cindy Johnson, the firm's Managing Member and a member of the ISBA Commercial Banking, Collections & Bankruptcy Law Section Council, said, "We are very pleased to have someone with Dave's unique areas of expertise acting in a special counsel capacity to our firm."
  • 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.
  • June 2, 2011 | Events | People
    Hellenic Bar Association hosts Judge's Night
    [caption id="attachment_19712" align="alignright" width="300" caption="On hand for the Hellenic Bar Association's Judge's Affair were (left to right): Dean Kanellos (Director of the HBA), Hon. Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos, Hon. Nicholas Geannopoulos, Hon. Paul C. Lillios, Hon. Demetrios G. Kottaras, The Honorable Peggy Chiampas (Director of the HBA), and Harry J. Fournier, president of the HBA."][/caption] On March 21, 2011 the Hellenic Bar Association hosted a reception at the Greek Islands Restaurant in Greek Town to honor The Honorable Paul C. Lillios, The Honorable Demetrios G. Kottaras, The Honorable Nicholas Geannopoulos, and The Honorable Anthony C. Kyriakopoulos. Judge Lillios, a past president of the Hellenic Bar Association, was recently appointed as the Associate Chief Administrative Law Judge for the United States Social Security Administration. Judge Lillios leads and manages nationwide the administrative judiciary hearings process of the Social Security Administration.
  • June 1, 2011 | People
    Hood to lead expansion of Polsinelli Shughart's IP practice in Chicago
    [caption id="attachment_19695" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Gary E. Hood"][/caption] Polsinelli Shughart PC welcomes attorney Gary E. Hood as a shareholder in the firm’s Trial department, where he will assist in guiding the expansion of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Litigation practice. Hood regularly appears in courts throughout the United States. He represents individuals and organizations in a wide range of industries, including consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and accessories, agriculture and medical devices and methods. Hood joins a national team of intellectual property and technology litigation attorneys located in Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. Having successfully led dozens of cases involving everything from IP disputes, to general civil and business matters, to criminal charges, Hood’s practice now emphasizes efficient resolution of lawsuits involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, counterfeiting and piracy and other related federal and state claims. Hood earned his law degree, magna cum laude, from Gonzaga University where he served as editor-in-chief of the Gonzaga Law Review. He was also the regional champion and National Sweet Sixteen qualifier in the prestigious National Moot Court competition. He earned a B.S.
  • May 26, 2011 | People
    Christy S. Berkos 1926-2011
    Judge Christy S. Berkos passed away on May 10th, 2011 at the age of 85. Berkos was  a WWII Navy Veteran, the former Town of Cicero Attorney, Town of Cicero President & Criminal Court Judge of Cook County. He was  the beloved husband of Rita nee, Peacock, loving father of Cindy (Joel) Erickson, Daniel (Julie), & Kimberly (John) Kinnas; dear grandfather of Shane (Tim) Drey & Eric Sanford; uncle of many nieces & nephews.
  • 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 | 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 11, 2011 | People
    Benz opens solo office in Chicago
    [caption id="attachment_19421" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Mary Patricia Benz"][/caption] Mary Patricia Benz, an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, opened her practice in downtown Chicago concentrating on litigation and appeals, mediation and arbitration, and lawyer professional responsibility matters. In her business model, Ms. Benz often works with co-counsel, adding collaborative services and offering clients an efficient, creative and personal approach to complex legal problems. Ms. Benz has over 30 years of experience in state and federal courts and will focus on dispute resolution for individuals and businesses including lawyers, educators, and other professionals. Recent cases include a dispute among the principals of a real estate development company, a contract dispute among pharmaceutical vendors, an alleged class action involving claims of violation of individuals’ rights of publicity, insurance disputes involving property damage coverage and title insurance, consumer disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, employment disputes, professional malpractice and malicious prosecution claims, disputes related to attorney’s fees and professional discipline, and legal ethics counseling. For more than 10 years, Ms. Benz served as a volunteer on the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) hearing and inquiry boards providing her with a solid base for representing lawyers at ARDC and counseling lawyers about ethics issues.