Small claims court mediation in Will CountyBy Robert BerlinerAlternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012An overview of the 12th Judicial Circuit's free mediation program, which began offering its services in March 2010.
Small law, big plansBy Katherine A. ChamberlainYoung Lawyers Division, August 2012A new solo practitioner explores the woes and wows of making it work in the working world.
Social media policies—The National Relations Board provides guidance on emerging issuesBy Marlene Fuentes & Gregory G. ThiessCorporate Law Departments, June 2012There are currently three cases involving social media questions pending before the National Labor Relations Board and those decisions will provide still more guidance on employee use of social media outside of the immediate workplace.
Some perspective on modification of the nullity rule: Downtown Disposal Services, Inc. v. City of ChicagoBy Marc Christopher LoroAdministrative Law, April 2012In February 2011, the First District Appellate Court published an opinion in which it held, among other things, that the “nullity rule” (hereinafter, the NR), did not require the circuit court to dismiss a complaint for administrative review that had been filed by the president of the corporation seeking the review.
Someone you should know: John Kamis, Senior Advisor to Governor Pat QuinnBy Tiffany ElkingGovernment Lawyers, June 2012As Senior Advisor to Governor Pat Quinn, John Kamis knows the interplay between the lobbyists and community interest groups, and understands the inner-workings of both chambers.
Someone you should know: Patrick Blanchard, Independent Inspector General for Cook CountyBy Sharon L. EisemanGovernment Lawyers, October 2012We have chosen to feature IIG Blanchard in this issue of The Public Servant so we might learn what made him aspire to be the first lawyer serving in such an important role and how this relatively new office and officer are faring since the position was created only four years ago.
Sperm donor can keep it in his pocketBy Angela PetersFamily Law, October 2012Can a biological father, who has paid child support for five years, file a MotiontoTerminatetheParent/ChildRelationshipbasedonhis claim that he merelydonated his sperm?
Spotlight on accomplished committee member Gary ZhaoBy Sharon L. EisemanRacial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, November 2012Gary embodies the values the ISBA encourages and cherishes in its best attorneys.
Standing to childrear: 2013By Jeffrey A. ParnessCivil Practice and Procedure, October 2012For now, standing to childrear in Illinois will be generally limited to biological and adoptive parents. But that may change soon with increasing calls for statutory reforms and precedents recognizing that children’s best interests, as well as societal and quasi-parental interests, should not automatically yield to superior parental rights seemingly waived without any judicial oversight.
Start spreading the newsBy Hon. Michael B. HymanBench and Bar, December 2012Unless addressed, ignorance of what occurs in our courthouses and courtrooms will imperil not only the public’s general perception of justice, but also, in time, the overall stability and even role of the justice system itself.
Starting somewhereBy Frank V. ArianoSenior Lawyers, June 2012Some guidance for attorneys who haven't yet used an iPad.
Starting—Building—Managing—a law firmBy John W. OlmsteadLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, May 2012A few survival tips for each phase of firm development.
State and federal regulatory agendasBy William A. PriceAdministrative Law, June 2012Some useful information about where to find state and federal regulatory agendas online.
State legislative updateBy Phil MilskEducation Law, June 2012A list of recent bills of interest to education law practitioners.
The state of community mediation: NAFCM’s 2011 findingsBy Shauntal Van DreelAlternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012The National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) recently released The State of Community Mediation: 2011 Report, provides an up-to-date summation of where the community mediation field stands, what it has accomplished, and where its future may lead.
Stop the killingBy Hon. Ann Breen-GrecoAlternative Dispute Resolution, May 2012Many schools have ADR practices written into their Code of Conduct but somehow it is not working as well as it should.
A strategy for dealing with medical providers who refuse to submit their bills to health insuranceBy Dennis L. BerkbiglerTort Law, February 2012There are a number of situations where the personal injury client may benefit more by having his or her medical expenses paid by health insurance rather than out of the tort recovery. The following letter, or some variation of it, may be used in an attempt to induce the recalcitrant provider to comply with the demand to submit the client’s bills to his or her health insurance.
Street Law’s Legal Diversity Pipeline ProgramBy Charlotte FriarDiversity Leadership Council, June 2012This year Street Law, Inc., celebrated 40 years of providing accessible, engaging, and interactive programs to empower students and communities to become active, legally-savvy contributors to society.
Strength of arbitration clauses upheld in Marmet Health Care Center, INC., v. Clayton BrownBy Madeline MotonAlternative Dispute Resolution, April 2012The Supreme Court restated that federal law preempts anystate law which attempts to prevent arbitration in instances where arbitration is agreed upon or required within a contract on the basis of “a particular type of claim.”
Sudden burst of FOIA binding opinions from the Public Access CounselorBy John M. O’DriscollLocal Government Law, March 2012It appears that the Public Access Counselor has focused on increasing the number of binding opinions, presumably to offer some guidance to governmental entities and the public. However, it also appears that there is a long way to go before some of the holes in the legislation are filled.
Sufficiency of tender terminating right to judgment interestBy Mark RouleauCivil Practice and Procedure, February 2012The recent First District case of Poliszczuk v. Winkler, 2011 Ill. App. 1st Dist. 101847, discusses in detail what constitutes a sufficient tender of payment of judgment so as to toll the defendant’s further obligation to pay judgment interest pursuant to Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
Summary suspension notice through the mailBy Edward M. MaloneyTraffic Laws and Courts, March 2012Counsel should advise clients that if they receive a postcard indicating that they have a letter for certified mail, they should contact their attorney first before accepting and signing for the letter.