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  • March 22, 2012 | People
    Stephen P. Carponelli 1947-2012

    Stephen P. Carponelli "Steve," 64, died Thursday, March 1, 2012, at his home in Barrington Hills, Ill., after a courageous fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/"Lou Gehrig's Disease").

    Born Dec. 11, 1947, in Chicago, to Peter J. and Diana M. Carponelli, he graduated from Forest View High School in Mount Prospect, Ill., in 1965. An athlete, he played baseball and football at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He graduated in 1969, earning a bachelor of science degree in marketing. He earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1972, graduating cum laude from The John Marshall School of Law, and was admitted to the practice of law by the Supreme Court of Illinois that same year.

    Early in his career, Steve co-founded the law firm Carponelli & Krug with friend, Robert F. Krug Jr. Over the course of his 40-year career, Steve combined the teamwork and competitive drive gained from athletics with the business acumen he developed at Drake and the knowledge and advocacy learned at John Marshall to become a highly respected litigator. He was a multi-year member of the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

    Steve was nominated by his peers to the Leading Lawyers' Network, Super Lawyers, and the trial lawyer honorary society, Litigation Counsel of America. In addition to his winning trial work, he also argued cases before the Appellate Court of Illinois, the Supreme Court of Illinois, United States District Court, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

  • March 22, 2012 | People
    John Carlton Sands 1929-2012

    John Carlton Sands, age 82, passed away with his family by his side, on March 1, 2012. John was born in Chicago on Aug. 16, 1929 to Lily Johnson.

    John graduated from Austin High School and the University of Illinois. He received his Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1958.

    John served in Army Military Intelligence from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. John devoted his 50 years as a plaintiff's trial lawyer to representing railroad and maritime workers who were unable to represent themselves. He was a distinguished member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys and the Illinois Trial Lawyer's Association, among others.

    John will be remembered as being proud, determined and no friend to defeat. He was known for his strong will, spirit, protectiveness, compassion and lasting love for his family. John was able to travel the world pursuing his favorite pastime, fly fishing. He was a jazz, sports, opera, theater, movie and history enthusiast.

    John is survived by his devoted wife of 36 years, Beverly; son, Jon Sands (Patty); son, Scott Sands (Dale); daughter, Colleen MacKimm (David), all born of his first marriage to Dianne Sands; he is also survived by Brandon, Carly, Elizabeth, Gracie, Lily, Ryan, Charles and Faith, his eight wonderful grandchildren that fulfilled his life. 

  • March 22, 2012 | Events
    St. PADdy’s Day Luncheon to benefit Misericordia on March 25

    Take some time to break away from work and bring your family to a wonderful luncheon. Phi Alpha Delta Law (PAD) Fraternity, International, Chicago Alumni Chapter is hosting a benefit to support the Misericorida-Heart of Mercy home in Chicago on Sunday, March 25.

    Misericorida is a 31-acre residential facility that provides services and programs for persons with developmental disabilities. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, it has its own gift shop and fabulous bakery that produces, among other treats, traditional Irish soda bread, which will be served at the corned beef and cabbage luncheon. This fun and very worthwhile fundraising event is scheduled to start around noon on Sunday, March 25th with a buffet luncheon at 1 p.m. Honorary co-chairs for the 2012 St. PADdy’s Day Family Fest will be former Cook County State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine and ISBA Past President John G. O’Brien and retired Judge Sheila Murphy. Misericordia currently serves over 600 children and adults and is operated by the Sisters of Mercy. It is located at 6300 N. Ridge Road in Chicago.

  • March 20, 2012 | Practice News
    Theis wins Supreme Court seat; Delort, Reyes, Neville take 1st District Appellate seats

    Key

    • HQ - Highly Qualified
    • Q - Qualified
    • NQ - Not Qualified   

    Winners in bold

    Judicial candidates are rated by the Illinois State Bar Association based on detailed information supplied by candidates, a background check by trained lawyers/investigators, and interviews of each candidate.  Ratings reflect the Illinois State Bar Association’s opinion of whether candidates have the necessary qualifications for judicial service and are not a reflection of the candidates’ abilities as lawyers.

    Candidates who do not participate in the process are found “not qualified”. 

    Supreme Court  – 1st District – Fitzgerald

    Mary Jane Theis HQ Aurelia Pucinski NQ Joy V. Cunningham Q Thomas W. Flannigan NQ James G. Riley (R) Q

     

  • March 15, 2012 | People
    Lahm joins Stellato & Schwartz Chicago office

    Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd. is pleased to announce the addtion of Kevin B. Lahm. He is a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law and will be working in the firm's Chicago office.

  • March 13, 2012 | People
    Sinas Dramis Law Firm opens Chicago office

    The Sinas Dramis Law Firm is pleased to announce the opening of our Personal Injury Practice in Illinois, now serving the greater Chicago Area.

    Serving both Michigan and Illinois, personal injury attorneys Bryan J. Waldman, James F. Graves and James M. Hofer specialize in representing plaintiffs in cases involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death.

    Conveniently located Downtown, contact us at 321 N. Clark Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60654-4714
    Main Office: (312) 332-6162
    Toll Free: (866) 758-0031

    We handle cases involving:

    • Personal Injury
    • Auto Accidents
    • Trucking Accidents
    • Wrongful Death
    • Aviation Casualty
    • Products Liability
    • Nursing Home Abuse
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Construction Accidents
  • March 13, 2012 | People
    Mark W. Bina appointed to ARDC Hearing Board

    Krieg DeVault is pleased to announce that Chicago office attorney Mark W. Bina was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Hearing Board for the Illinois Supreme Court’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC).

  • March 9, 2012 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court approves cameras for criminal cases in Kankakee County

    Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott of the 21st Judicial Circuit announced Friday that news cameras will be allowed in criminal trial courts in Kankakee County under a pilot program approved by the Supreme Court earlier this year. The 21st Circuit becomes the second circuit in Illinois approved by the Court for cameras in the courtroom and will join the 14th Judicial Circuit where extended media coverage has already been implemented under the experimental program.

    "I am very pleased that Chief Judge Elliott has applied and has been approved by the Supreme Court to take part in the project," said Chief Justice Kilbride. "I'm informed that the Chief Judge has met with stakeholders in the courtrooms and that they, too, have expressed not only their interest but their enthusiasm for the program.

    "The pilot program has been proceeding in the Quad Cities area with the cooperation of the media, judges, courtroom and county personnel for more than a month," said Chief Justice Kilbride."This will be another step to see if we can carefully balance the goals of greater openness and access with the guaranteed rights of defendants and parties to have fair proceedings."

    The 21st Circuit is comprised of Kankakee and Iroquois counties, but for now Chief Judge Elliott asked that the experimental program proceed only in the criminal courts in Kankakee County to provide a model before it is expanded to other courtrooms in the circuit.

  • March 8, 2012 | ISBA News | Events
    Young Lawyers Bean Bag Tournament is this Saturday

    The Illinois State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division will host its Annual Bean Bag Party and Tournament on Saturday, March 10, from noon to 4 p.m. Please join us in supporting this event to benefit the Illinois Bar Foundation/YLD Children’s Assistance Program. The YLD Children's Assistance Fund is a special fund of the Illinois Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable entity.

    • When: Saturday, March 10, 2012 from noon to 4:00 p.m.
    • Where: Mahoney’s Pub and Grille, 551 N. Ogden Ave. (on Ogden near Grand),Chicago
    • What: Appetizer bar and domestic draft beer, mixed well drinks and soft drinks
    • Cost: $35 per person per wristband or $100 for entrance fee for Bean Bag Tournament for a team of two with two wristbands. You must be 21 years old and older to participate.
    • Deadline: Bean Bag Team registration and wristband registration open until Friday, March 9 at noon and thereafter wristbands can be purchased at the door the day of the event
    • Register at www.isba.org/sections/yld/beanbag

    Prizes will be given to the first and second place teams. Questions? Contact: Matthew Coleman, mcoleman@ridgeassoc.comor or Elizabeth McKillip, Elizabeth.mckillip@icemiller.com.

  • March 8, 2012 | People
    Francis E. Youssi 1923-2012

    Francis E. Youssi, 88, of Batavia, Ill., passed away into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Delnor Hospital in Geneva. He was born on July 11, 1923, in Menomonie, Wis., the son of Edward G. Youssi and Wanda (Hendrickson) Youssi.

    His family moved to Batavia in 1925, where he resided until his death. Francis graduated from Batavia High School in 1941 and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until he was drafted in January 1943. He served in the U.S. ArmyAir Corps as a gunner, bombardier and navigator in the 441st and 442nd squadron of the 320th Bomb Group in the 12th Air Force and later in the 1st tactical division stationed in Sardinia, Corsica and France, during World War II. He flew 63 missions in total and earned the rank of Technical Sergeant.

    After the war ended, he attended Aurora College and earned his bachelor of science degree. He then attended law school at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, where he graduated first in his class in 1950. His love of Batavia brought him back to the community, and he opened his solo law practice at the First National Bank Building in downtown Batavia. He also opened a branch office in Aurora at the Law Office of Beamisch, Edwards and Brunnemeyer. He met the love of his life, Frances Gittleson of DeKalb, in 1950, and they were married in 1952 in Creston. They were inseparable until her death in 1997.