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  • April 22, 2014 | ISBA News
    ISBA Mutual holds Board election

    During its Annual Meeting on April 18 at its Chicago headquarters, ISBA Mutual Insurance Company re-elected several board members to another three-year term. They are Jack Carey, David A. Decker, James J. DeSanto, Robert K. Downs, Christopher Mullen and John E. Thies.

    The board also announced its newest member, Paula H. Holderman, president of the Illinois State Bar Association, who was elected to a three-year term.

    In remarks at the meeting, Jon DeMoss, president and CEO of ISBA Mutual Insurance Company, stated that “the company has retained our “A” Excellent Rating from A.M. Best Rating Company and that the Board of Directors declared a 10 percent policyholder dividend for 2013 equaling $1.7 million.” The company has returned a total of $14.7 million to policyholders since 2000.

  • April 22, 2014 | People
    Richard J. Elrod 1934-2014

    Former Cook County Sheriff Richard J. Elrod has died at age 80.

    The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Elrod died Saturday of liver cancer and cirrhosis.

    Elrod served four consecutive terms as sheriff between 1970 and 1986 and was a Cook County Circuit Court judge from 1988 until his death.

    Before he was elected sheriff, Elrod was an attorney for the city of Chicago. In 1969 he suffered a broken neck while assisting a police officer who was apprehending a man. As a result, Elrod used a crutch to walk. He was subsequently elected to the Illinois House for one term before his successful run for sheriff.

    His son, Steven Elrod, says his father was proud to be recognized for his efforts at youth counseling and drug awareness.

    1 comment (Most recent May 12, 2014)
  • April 21, 2014 | People
    Mary J. McNichols 1956-2014

    Mary J. McNichols, 57, of Downers Grove, lost her brave battle with cancer on April 6, 2014. Beloved wife of Patrick Tallon; loving mother of John Tallon; cherished daughter of John and the late Lois Jeane McNichols. Treasured sister of John Patrick (Michelle) McNichols and Megan (David, M.D.) Mahon; dear sister-in-law of Joan (Robert) Swigon. Special aunt and cousin of many.

    Mary graduated from York High School in Elmhurst and earned a degree in vocal performance from Illinois Wesleyan University. She earned her J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Mary was an accomplished lawyer and a talented singer, director and teacher. She combined her love of music and law as a soloist and director of the Chicago Bar Association Christmas Spirits production for many years.

    More recently, she opened the McNichols Studio and shared her musical gifts with young students and created a performance venue, Mama Mac’s Cabaret, in Downers Grove. Loving, wise, creative and kind, Mary touched many lives and will be dearly missed.

    Donations to the American Cancer Society appreciated. For funeral info: 630-852-3595.

  • April 15, 2014 | People
    RoxAnne L. Rochester 1961-2014

    RoxAnne L. Rochester passed away on Saturday, April 12, in Florida after valiantly battling cancer. There will be burial services in Florida and a memorial service in Chicago, details are below.

    She was a staff attorney in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division, where she was responsible for reviewing, analyzing and recommending the appropriate disposition of contested pre-trial motions in legal disputes involving personal injury, contracts, business torts and construction litigation.

    Before joining the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ms. Rochester worked for 17 years in the private practice of law. Ms. Rochester was the founder and principal of the Law Offices of RoxAnne L. Rochester, a firm she spearheaded for over a decade.

    Prior to her work in the private sector, Ms. Rochester served as a legal extern with the United States District Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, and as a Law Clerk to Judge Richard L. Curry in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division.

  • April 15, 2014 | People | Practice News
    Jenner & Block taps Terrence Truax as managing partner

    Jenner & Block LLP today announces that Terrence J. Truax – a 26-year veteran of the firm and co-chair of its Patent Litigation and Counseling Practice – has been elected managing partner, effective May 1, 2014.  He will succeed Susan C. Levy, who leaves the 450-attorney firm at the end of April to assume her new position as executive vice president and general counsel at Northern Trust Corporation.

    Mr. Truax served on the firm’s Management Committee starting in January 2007 and subsequently has served on the firm’s Policy Committee since 2009.  Mr. Truax joined Jenner & Block as an associate in 1988 and was promoted to partner in 1997.  Based in the firm’s Chicago office, Mr. Truax has represented clients from around the world and has been involved in some of the firm’s most complex and high-profile matters.

  • April 11, 2014 | People
    Staci A. Williamson joins Goldberg Segalla

    Goldberg Segalla is pleased to announce that Staci A. Williamson has joined the law firm in its Chicago office.

    Ms. Williamson, a partner, is a member of the firm’s Product Liability Practice Group. She focuses her practice on defending product liability claims, including those involving fire and explosion, product labeling and warnings, and other issues arising under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

    Ms. Williamson handles premises liability litigation, and represents clients in connection with mass tort class action litigation, appellate litigation, arbitration, and mediation. She has worked on a variety of complex matters, including precedent-setting, multimillion-dollar personal injury, fire, and consumer class action cases.

    A frequent contributor of articles on product liability defense to publications of the Defense Research Institute and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Ms. Williamson received her juris doctorate at Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2006) and her bachelor of arts degree from Ohio University (2000).

    Previously, she practiced in the Chicago office of Wiedner & McAuliffe.

  • April 10, 2014 | Practice News
    Martin appointed Cook County Circuit Judge

    The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Marc William Martin to be a Circuit Judge of Cook County, 11th Subcircuit. This appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Carol A. Kelly. It is effective May 1, 2014 and terminates on Dec. 5, 2016.

  • April 9, 2014 | People
    John R. McInerney joins DiTommaso Lubin, P.C.

    DiTommaso Lubin with offices in Chicago and Oakbrook Terrace is pleased to announce that John R. McInerney has joined the firm. He will concentrate his practice in the areas of complex commercial and class action litigation.

    DiTommaso Lubin is a litigation-focused firm with more than 50 years of combined experience in the areas of complex commercial, class action, and First Amendment litigation. Our attorneys are at home in the courtroom and have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments and settlements for our clients. Our list of clients is as diverse as our skill sets ranging from large corporations to individuals. John who has a background in business and finance will make a welcome addition to the DiTommaso Lubin team. For more information about DiTommaso Lubin and John visit www.ditommasolaw.com.

    John can be reached at DiTommaso Lubin 17W220 22nd St., Suite 410, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181; Telephone: 331.225.2137; Email: jrm@ditommasolaw.com

  • April 9, 2014 | People
    Karla Baumler joins Robbins Schwartz

    Robbins Schwartz is pleased to announce our newest associate.

    Karla J. Baumler joins our Chicago office where she will concentrate her practice in the area of labor and employment. Karla received her J.D. from the University of Iowa in 2010 and her B.S. from Drake University in 2006.

    Prior to joining Robbins Schwartz, Karla focused on labor and employment law on behalf of private sector employers.

    About Robbins Schwartz:
    Since its founding in 1970, Robbins Schwartz has provided a full range of legal services to educational institutions, public entities and private sector clients.  With offices in Chicago, Mokena, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Collinsville and Rockford, Robbins Schwartz is uniquely positioned to serve schools, colleges and municipal bodies, as well as clients in the corporate sector throughout Illinois.  For a complete description of the legal services provided by Robbins Schwartz visit the Firm’s website at www.robbins-schwartz.com.    

  • April 7, 2014 | CLE
    CLE: 1st Annual Elder Law Bootcamp: Basics and Beyond

    Within the next decade, the aging population will explode due to the wave of baby boomers reaching retirement age, making it imperative that attorneys be prepared to assist and counsel both the elderly client and their children. Don’t miss this first annual elder law bootcamp in Chicago on April 24-25th that offers you the guidance and information you need to effectively represent an aging client! Attorneys with all levels of practice experience who attend this two-day seminar will gain a better understanding of: how to communicate with clients of diminished capacity; how to handle the cognitively impaired attorney; the new Elder Justice Center in Cook County; the alternatives to guardianship; wills vs. trusts; estate planning for families with a special needs member; guardianship litigation; grandparents raising grandchildren; important case law and statutory developments; preventing and prosecuting financial exploitation against elders; Long Term Care and the costs associated with it; and much more!

    The program qualifies for 13.25 hours MCLE credit, including 2.5 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

    Click here for more information and to register.