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  • March 24, 2010 | People
    George E.Q. Johnson Jr. passes away
    [caption id="attachment_9828" align="alignright" width="150" caption="George E.Q. Johnson Jr."][/caption] George “Gene” E.Q. Johnson Jr., 93, a prominent Chicago attorney, died March 23 at his home in Lakeside, Mich. He was the loving husband of Mary Ann (nee:Barry) Johnson, father of Charles E Johnson, stepfather of Philip W. Collins III and Tierney Eson, endearingly known as “Poppy” to the grandchildren whom he loved, Christopher Eson, Erin Collins, Michelle Eson and Mackenzie Collins. A native of Chicago's South Shore neighborhood, Gene attended Bryn Mawr Elementary School, University High School, Northwestern University, and Northwestern University Law School. A World War II Veteran, Gene served as a LT Commander in the US Navy. As commanding officer of the USS PC 1243, a “sub chaser,” and Executive Officer of the USS Courage, Gene served in the South Atlantic, North Atlantic, Pacific, South and North China Seas. Upon returning from military service, Gene began his career as an attorney with his father, specializing in probate law. Having practiced law for well over fifty years, Gene became an authority on probate law and served as a special arbitrator for the Illinois Attorney General's Office into his 80's. He was a member of the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations. Gene was very active in church work and was a past chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bryn Mawr Community Church in Chicago.
  • March 24, 2010
    Breaking legal news for Wednesday, March 24

    State

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

  • March 24, 2010 | People
    Hon. Harold W. Sullivan passes away
    Judge Harold W. Sullivan, a past member of the Board of Governors (served several terms between 1978 and 1996) and a leader of the Illinois Judges Association since its founding in 1971, died this week. Visitation is Thursday and service is Friday morning. Judge Sullivan, age 83, of Skokie, beloved husband of Mildred Mary Sullivan nee Dolan; loving father of Mildred Mary (William) Nelson, Sharon Marie (Thomas) Snitzer, Harold W., Jr. (Lisa), Eunice Kennedy Sullivan (Michael McGuire), Peter Dolan (Sheli), Mary Mackin (Jeff) Joseph, Beth Ann (Dean) Walsh Sr., Theresa Sullivan, D.C., Paul Joseph (Terry), Shawn Michael, Julie Ann (Todd) Maus and James Xavier (Kara) Sullivan; dear grandfather of 40; fond brother of George (Mary) Sullivan and the late Margaret (the late Jack) O'Connor. Visitation Thursday 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral Friday 9 a.m. from Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd. at Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL, 60077, to Saint Joan of Arc Church, 9248 North Lawndale, Evanston, IL, 60203, Mass 10 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Evanston. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Daughters of Charity Foundation, 9404 New Harmony Rd., Evansville, IN, 47720, or Saint Joseph Services, 2516 W. Cortez St., Chicago, IL, 60622. Info., www.donnellanfuneral.com or 847-675-1990.
  • March 23, 2010
    Breaking legal news for Tuesday, March 23

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

    Southern Illinois

    Nation

    This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.
  • March 23, 2010 | People
    Blandin appointed to ARDC Hearing Board
    [caption id="attachment_9676" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Stephan Blandin"][/caption] Stephan D. Blandin, a partner in the Chicago personal injury law firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, has been appointed as a member of the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC). The Commission has administrative responsibility for the registration and discipline of Illinois lawyers.  Members of its Hearing Board, who are appointed for a one-year term, sit in panels of three and preside over the hearing of disciplinary, disability, and reinstatement cases. Blandin, who has been practicing law for nearly 25 years, received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1986 and his undergraduate degree from DePaul in 1983.  He resides in Park Ridge. Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, is a law firm concentrating in catastrophic personal injury.  The firm provides clients with experienced, skilled and caring representation in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and workers’ compensation claims.  To date, the firm has won nearly 40 verdicts or settlements of $1 million or greater.  They have obtained the largest medical malpractice verdict in Cook County in 2009 against a hospital ($22.3 million). Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, is located at 33 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60602, contact www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.
  • March 23, 2010 | People
    Veteran entertainment lawyers team up at new firm
    [caption id="attachment_9708" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jerry W. Glover"][/caption] A trio of lawyers, recognized for their breadth of experience in entertainment law, their contributions to non-profit arts organizations, and their scholarly endeavors, have joined forces to create Leavens, Strand, & Glover, LLC, a Chicago-based law firm representing creative artists and companies in television, radio, film, music, publishing, theater, and in new online and mobile media. "Chicago's growing influence in the entertainment industry, and the synergy created by our three practices, spurred this partnership," explained Thomas R. Leavens, who with Peter J. Strand, and Jerry W. Glover are partners in the new enterprise. "We're eager to help boost, protect, and grow the incomes of this city's enormous talent pool." As one of the few Chicago law firms concentrating exclusively in entertainment law, among its roster of well-known clients are Harpo, Inc., Old Town School of Folk Music, Rachel Barton Pine, Pitchfork Media, Inc., Telepictures Productions, Inc., WFMT Radio/98.7, and WTTW/Chicago.
  • March 23, 2010 | People
    J. Patrick White joins the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll
    [caption id="attachment_9666" align="alignright" width="150" caption="J. Patrick White"][/caption] J. Patrick White has joined the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll as an associate. Formerly an associate at Lavin Law Offices, White has worked in many areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, including medical malpractice, construction accidents and transportation negligence. “We are thrilled to have Pat join our office,” said Jeffrey Kroll, principal of the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll. “His law experience and passion for working with clients is a perfect fit for our firm.” White, 30, has been involved in obtaining settlements in excess of $1 million for past clients, including a $4.5 million settlement for a 34-year-old man who was rendered a paraplegic after undergoing an unnecessary surgery to remove an abdominal tumor, and a $1.9 million settlement for the family of a young mother who suffered a permanent neurological injury and later died from an undiagnosed infection stemming while recovering in the hospital after surgery. White is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. White graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in January 2007, having worked full-time as a clerk for Chicago firm Corboy & Demetrio during law school. He attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and earned a degree in political science in 2001.
  • March 23, 2010 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court to hold public hearings on evidence law proposals
    The Special Supreme Court Committee on Illinois Evidence will hold public hearings on proposed new rules codifying Illinois evidence law at the following locations:
    • Tuesday, May 18, 10 a.m.: Supreme Court Building, 160 N. LaSalle, Room C-500, Chicago
    • Thursday, May 20, 10 a.m.: Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 3101 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield
    The proposed new rules are available on the Supreme Court website. The Special Supreme Court Committee on Illinois Evidence invites public comments on the proposed rules. Written comments should be submitted by Tuesday, May 4, 2010, to: Special Supreme Court Committee on Illinois Evidence, c/o Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
  • March 22, 2010
    Breaking legal news for Monday, March 22

    State

    Central Illinois

    Chicago area

  • March 22, 2010 | ISBA News
    “School Discipline” and “Tax Time and Beyond” to air on Illinois Law
    [caption id="attachment_9163" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nancy Z. Hablutzel will discuss tax-related issues with William M. Gasa on "Tax Time and Beyond.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_9162" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Stephen G. Katz and Deborah E. Decker will appear with moderator Nancy Z. Hablutzel (front) on "School Discipline.""][/caption] School Discipline and Tax Time and Beyond, half-hour programs presented by the Illinois State Bar Association, will air on Chicago Access Network Television, Channel 21 in Chicago in March and April. School Discipline will air on on Tuesdays, March 23 and April 6 at 10 p.m. Appearing on the show, moderated by Chicago lawyer Nancy Z. Hablutzel, are Stephen G. Katz, visiting associate director of Labor & Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and attorney Deborah E. Decker, of Tabet DiVito & Rothstein, LLC, in Chicago. Tax Time and Beyond will air on on Tuesdays, March 30 and April 13 at 10 p.m. Chicago lawyer Nancy Z. Hablutzel will discuss tax-related issues with William M.