Upcoming CLE programBy Shannon M. ShepherdHuman and Civil Rights, March 2014Sign up now for this informative seminar that will take place later this week.
Use of unmanned aircraft by farmers: Legal considerationsBy Craig J. SondgerothAgricultural Law, January 2014While these aircraft may be a farmer’s next precision agriculture tool, the legal implications should also be considered.
USEPA wins cross state air transport pollution caseBy Raymond T. ReottEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, June 2014In a 6-2 vote, the United States Supreme Court has reversed the decision of the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals on an important Clean Air Act case.
Using spaghetti westerns to understand coal mining in today’s agricultural settingBy Jeffrey A. MolletAgricultural Law, December 2014This newsletter's editor has discovered that the present state of the mining industry can be summed up by simply referring to the titles of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti western “dollars” movies from 50 years ago.
Utah takes center stage in the marriage equality debateBy Michele M. JochnerFamily Law, January 2014The ruling in Kitchen v. Herbert was the first decision to strike down a state marriage ban after the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion on same-sex marriage this past summer in United States v. Windsor.
Veteran hiringBy Margery NewmanConstruction Law, March 2014On March 24, 2014 new rules from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs regarding Veteran went into effect. The author discusses the major provisions of the final rule here.
A view from the ChairBy Letitia Spunar-SheatsWomen and the Law, December 2014A message from Committee Chair Letitia Spunar-Sheats.
A view from the ChairBy Letitia Spunar-SheatsWomen and the Law, August 2014An update on the Committee's activities from Chair Letitia Spunar-Sheats.
A view from the ChairBy Mary F. PetruchiusWomen and the Law, February 2014A message from Committee Chair Mary Petruchius.
Virtual assistanceBy Dan BreenLaw Office Management and Economics, Standing Committee on, April 2014The author has compiled a handy list of a few options to consider when looking for out-of-office help.
Voting rights in America: A lunch with Justice GinsburgBy Daniel R. SaeediRacial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, January 2014The author recently attended a luncheon at which Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke about the Voter Rights Act.
Voting rights in America: The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014By Athena T. TaiteAdministrative Law, April 2014This article does not take a position on the Voting Rights Amendment but hopes to inform the debate regarding the aftermath of Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder (2013), in which the U.S. Supreme Court found part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be unconstitutional.
Voting rights in America: The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014By Athena T. TaiteRacial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, March 2014This article does not take a position on the Voting Rights Amendment but hopes to inform the debate regarding the aftermath of Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder (2013), in which the U.S. Supreme Court found part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to be unconstitutional.
Wake-up call: Wills and Supreme Court Rule 138By Mary CascinoTrusts and Estates, January 2014The Trusts and Estates Discussion Group recently brought up a very interesting discussion about Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, parts of which are to take effect January 1, 2015.
A warning to public sector employers: ERISA can apply to youBy Benjamin E. GehrtEmployee Benefits, June 2014Many HR professionals, elected officials, and even some attorneys share a common belief: ERISA does not apply to public sector employers. Unfortunately, they are wrong.
What is so great about a “No Further Remediation” letter anyway?By Matthew E. CohnEnvironmental and Natural Resources Law, January 2014When deciding whether to buy, sell, hold, investigate, remediate, manage, or do anything else with or to your contaminated properties, the most important things to have are good data, good science, good counsel, good motives, and a healthy understanding of your tolerance of risk.
What law governs the mediation privilege in federal cases?By Jonah OrlofskyIntellectual Property, September 2014Many states have mediation statutes that create statutory privileges for all communications that are part of the mediation process. There is, however, no similar federal statute. This raises the question of whether there is a mediation privilege for federal cases. Two recent Illinois federal district court decisions examined this issue
What law governs the mediation privilege in federal cases?By Jonah OrlofskyAlternative Dispute Resolution, May 2014Two recent decisions show that the question of whether there is a mediation privilege in federal cases will differ depending upon the basis for jurisdiction.
What you talk’n ‘bout, Willis?By Richard D. HanniganWorkers’ Compensation Law, May 2014A review of the recent case of James Paluch v. United Parcel Service.
When is a mailbox not a mailbox?By John J. HolevasCivil Practice and Procedure, October 2014According to the Second District Appellate Court, the use of FedEx delivery for service of a tax appeal does not trigger the “mailbox rule.”