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  • September 18, 2014 | People
    Eugene Mitchell Snarski 1927-2014

    Eugene Mitchell "Gene" Snarski, a resident of Waukegan, Illinois, since 1958, passed away on September 2, 2014, after a long illness . Gene was born on April 15, 1927, to Charlotte R. Snarski and Narcyz (Nicholas) Snarski of North Chicago, Illinois. His maternal grandparents were Adam Ratajczak and Maryanna Ratajczak of 918 14th St., North Chicago, Illinois. His paternal grandparents were Anthony Snarski and Marcianna Malkiewich of Trusy, Poland.

    Gene attended Holy Rosary Catholic Grade School in North Chicago starting in 1931, and graduated in May of 1940. Thereafter, he attended Waukegan Township High School (WTHS). He played in the Junior band for a half year and then entered into the ROTC program at WTHS as a private and progressed through the ranks, attaining the rank of Captain during the early stages of World War II. He graduated from WTHS in May of 1944.

    In June of 1944, he began studies at the University of Notre Dame. His studies there were interrupted when he was drafted at the age of 18 into the United States Army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. After completing basic training, he was transferred to Camp Hood, Texas, where he became an Infantry Rifleman First Class. He served at the Field Artillery Camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma from June 21, 1945, to October 31, 1946, when he was honorably discharged as a private First Class Infantryman from the Headquarters Battery of the Fifth Field Artillery Group Army of the United States.

  • September 17, 2014 | Practice News
    Rohm appointed associate judge in DuPage County

    Chief Circuit Judge John T. Elsner is pleased to announce that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, the Circuit Judge of the 18th Judicial Court, DuPage County, have appointed Robert W. Rohm to the position of associate judge.

    Mr. Rohm fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Thomas C. Dudgeon.

  • September 17, 2014 | People
    Anderson & Associates, P.C. expands and relocates Cook County office

    Orland Park divorce law firm Anderson & Associates, P.C. is pleased to announce the opening of their new law office. The Cook County family law firm has relocated their Orland Park office suite in order to better assist clients located in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago. The new office suite is located at the Executive Tower at 15255 S. 94th Avenue, Suite 201, Orland Park, Illinois.

    The Orland Park law office is located just east of LaGrange Road and is easily accessible for clients who live in either Cook County or Will County. The experienced Orland Park family attorneys represent clients at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago, the Fifth Municipal District Courthouse in Bridgeview, the Sixth Municipal District in Markham and the Will County Courthouse located in Joliet.

    "We are excited to have a new space to work in as we continue to grow our firm to effectively meet our clients’ needs," says Founder and Attorney at Anderson & Associates, P.C. Jonathan G. Anderson.

    Anderson & Associates, P.C. has proudly represented clients in Cook County and Will County for over 30 years. In its new office suite, the Orland Park family law firm continues to provide a wide-range of family law services including divorce, child custody, child support and maintenance, post-decree issues, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, division of property, high asset/complex divorce, collaborative law, adoption and guardianships. Additionally, the firm assists clients with legal matters pertaining to bankruptcy, loan modifications, foreclosures, estate planning and probate.

  • September 17, 2014 | People
    Elizabeth Felt Wakeman joins Crystal Lake family law firm Botto Gilbert Gehris Lancaster, PC as Partner

    McHenry County family law firm Botto Gilbert Gehris Lancaster, PC is pleased to announce trial lawyer Elizabeth Felt Wakeman has joined the firm as Partner. Wakeman comes to Botto Gilbert Gehris Lancaster, PC with over 20 years in practice in litigation.

    Experienced Crystal Lake trial lawyer Elizabeth Felt Wakeman combines her skills as a litigator and mediator to gain effective results for her clients. She focuses her legal practice primarily on family law, personal injury, medical malpractice, civil litigation, mediation and alternative dispute resolution. She has handled a wide variety of family law matters including complex divorce, high-value estates, custody issues, paternity claims and post-decree disputes. Wakeman also has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in complex personal injury and medical malpractice litigation including cases involving the failure to diagnose various types of cancer, dental malpractice and vaginal mesh claims. She has successfully litigated numerous personal injury cases dealing with car accidents, construction accidents, slip and fall accidents and wrongful death matters.

  • September 15, 2014 | Events
    IBF to honor Birnbaum with Distinguished Award for Excellence at 16th Annual Gala

    The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) will present its Distinguished Award for Excellence to Peter J. Birnbaum, president and CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. on Oct. 17 at the 16th Annual Gala.

    The 2014 Gala will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago. The event is co-chaired by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. IBF board co-chairs are Deane B. Brown, Beermann Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove LLP, and Shawn S. Kasserman, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC.

    The award, selected by the Illinois Bar Foundation’s board of directors, celebrates one attorney each year for making a major contribution to law and society. Past winners include Mayor Richard M. Daley, Scott Turow, Mary A. Dempsey, Jerold S. Solovy, Joseph A. Power, Jr., Bernard M. Judge, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Burke, and Newton N. Minow. IBF is the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association,

  • September 12, 2014 | Practice News
    Creswell elected Chief Judge of DuPage County

    The Circuit Judges of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, DuPage County, unanimously elected Judge Kathryn E. Creswell to the position of Chief Judge. Judge Creswell's term as Chief Judge will commence on Dec. 1, 2014. Judge Creswell will succeed Chief Judge John T. Elsner.

    Judge Creswell is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. She was appointed as an Associate Judge in 1995 and was elected a Circuit Judge in 2002. Prior to her selection as Chief Judge, she had served as Presiding Judge of the Felony Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit.

  • September 12, 2014 | Events
    Juvenile Justice Initiative to honor Preckwinkle, Colman

    The Juvenile Justice Initiative will honor Cook Couny Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Jenner & Block Partner Jeffrey D. Colman for their work ensuring individualized and proportionate justice for every child in conflict with the law.

    The event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark, 45th floor, Chicago. RSVP is required and no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are $100 each ($50 for students and nonprofit). Sponsorships and ad space are available. Please visit www.jjustice.org for more information and to buy tickets.

  • September 11, 2014 | Practice News
    Debt Collectors Beware: Venue Provision of FDCPA Reinterpreted

    Recent federal court decision reinterprets the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and may create venue defense for current or future debtor defendants in debt collection suits.

    By: Joseph R. Marconi 1

    In Suesz v. Med-1 Solutions, LLC, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 12562 (7th Cir. 2014), the Seventh Circuit recently reinterpreted the venue provision of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). The issue for the court was whether township small claims courts in Marion County, Indiana (Indianapolis) constituted separate “judicial districts or similar legal entities” for purposes of section 1692i of the FDCPA. The en banc majority held that debt collectors must file collection actions in the “smallest geographic area that is relevant for determining venue in the court system in which the case is filed.”

    Implications for Cook County Lawyers
    In doing so, the Seventh Circuit not only overruled its own 1996 precedent in Newsom v. Friedman, 76 F.3d 813 (7th Cir. 1996), but also applied the en banc Suesz decision retroactively. Debt collectors previously relied on Newsom to file collection actions in a court in the debtor’s county — but not in the township or intra-county small claims court in the area where the debtor resided or where the debtor contract was signed. Per Suesz, for those of us in Cook County, collection lawsuits should be filed in the Municipal District where the debtor resides or where the contract was signed. For lawsuits that are already pending, an immediate motion to transfer to the appropriate Municipal District is most prudent.

  • September 11, 2014 | People
    Clifford Law names ex-judge new managing partner

    Clifford Law Offices in Chicago, one of the nation’s most renowned personal injury and wrongful death law firms, has named the Honorable Henry R. Simmons (Retired) as the new Managing Partner of the firm.

    Thomas K. Prindable, who has served as Managing Partner for 20 years, will become Senior Partner at the firm.

    Judge Simmons was on the bench in the Cook County Circuit Court for 19 years until he retired in 2011 when he became a Certified Mediator with ADR Systems of America. His experience on the bench included serving in the Law Division as well as the Criminal Division where he was a Felony Trial Judge.

    Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Simmons served as an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. For 12 years, Judge Simmons handled assignments in the Felony Trial Division, Juvenile Court, Felony Review, Appellate Division and the Consumer Fraud Unit where he served as supervisor.

    He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the Committee on Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases from 1994-2004. He has been recognized by several organizations for his work and his dedication to the profession including receiving the American Legion Award of Excellence (Post#808). The Cook County State’s Attorneys’ Office Recognition of Service Award was bestowed upon him for his serving as a weekly volunteer for the HighSight Organization in Chicago that supports high school students in the area of academics and social support from 2006-2008. He will be honored in November, 2014, as the Judge of the Year by the Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) for his volunteer work with this organization that helps lawyers in need.

  • September 10, 2014 | People
    Andrea Giampoli joins Daley Mohan Groble as associate

    Andrea M. Giampoli has joined Daley Mohan Groble as an associate. Prior to joining Daley Mohan Groble, Andrea was a law clerk for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She holds a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law, and a B.A. in Communications and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.