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  • December 12, 2016 | People
    Norman F. Cone 1925-2016

    Norman F. Cone, age 91, passed away Monday, October 24, in Seal Beach, CA. Norman was born on May 12, 1925, in Chicago, IL, to Dorothea and Maurice Cone. He attended Benton Harbor (MI) High School. He then was a tech sergeant during World War II in Europe. After the war, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and then earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola of Chicago Law School.

  • December 7, 2016 | ISBA News
    Free Wi-Fi available at Joint Midyear Meeting

    In recognition of holding the Midyear Meeting at the Sheraton Grand Hotel for 22 years, the Sheraton has provided a one-time special thank you. There will be complimentary Wi-Fi in all ISBA meeting rooms and programs on Thursday afternoon, all day Friday and Saturday morning.

    Access Code: ISBA Midyear Meeting

    Password: isba2016

    Again, this is a one-time special concession offered by the Sheraton for ISBA’s long-term working relationship.

    1 comment (Most recent December 8, 2016)
  • December 6, 2016 | CLE
    CLE: Implicit Bias in the Criminal Justice System

    Join us in Chicago on January 13, 2017 for a comprehensive look at how implicit racial bias impacts the criminal justice system, including through wrongful convictions based on false identification. Prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, and others who attend this seminar will better understand: how implicit bias negatively impacts individuals caught in the criminal justice system; how the misidentification of criminal suspects is often a result of witness bias; the purpose behind the Conviction Integrity Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; why, as attorneys, it’s important to recognize bias within ourselves; the reasons behind false confessions and how the law can help prevent it from happening; the professional ethics issues that can arise during false confession cases; and much more!

  • December 2, 2016 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court appoints Stanton as circuit judge in the third subcircuit of Cook County

    Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Patrick T. Stanton as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 3rd Subcircuit.

    Mr. Stanton was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Delehanty.

    The appointment takes effect Jan. 1, 2017 and will conclude on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.

  • December 1, 2016 | People
    Peter J. Birnbaum celebrates twenty-five years as President and CEO of ATG

    Peter J. Birnbaum is celebrating twenty-five years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. (ATG®, http://www.atgf.com/).

    Under his leadership, the company has developed into a leading lawyer service organization with annual revenues in excess of $90 million.

    Birnbaum began his career at ATG as a law clerk in 1981 while a first-year student at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He then advanced to positions of staff attorney, and vice president and counsel.

  • November 29, 2016 | People
    George B. Collins 1931-2016

    George B. Collins never let the heat of legal battle get in the way of his old-fashioned, courteous manner.

    “George was the absolute gentleman, always,” said Collins’ law partner, Adrian M. Vuckovich. “And he also had the best sense of humor.”

    That humor, Vuckovich said, was usually directed at Collins and not at others.

    “He would never talk about a case where he was successful,” Vuckovich said. “He hated to lose, but he could make fun of it.”

    Collins died Friday at his home in Chicago. He was 85.

  • November 29, 2016 | People
    Daniel Riess 1936-2016

    Daniel Riess handled many cases as a patent attorney for nearly 50 years, but by far his best-known work was when he represented the Keebler Co. in what came to be known as the "soft cookie wars."

    Procter & Gamble Co. alleged Keebler and two other cookie-makers, Frito-Lay and Nabisco Brands, infringed P&G's 1984 patent on "dual-textured cookies," which were crisp outside and soft and chewy inside. P&G marketed the cookies under its Duncan Hines brand; Keebler's version is called Soft Batch.

    Riess and many other lawyers spent years on the case until the suits were settled in September 1989, with Keebler and the other two companies paying P&G $125 million.

    John Alex, a partner in what is now the Cook Alex law firm, called it "one of the most major patent cases of all time."

  • November 22, 2016 | CLE
    CLE: History on Trial: The Alton School Cases

    In 1897, Scott Bibb, an African-American father of two school-age children, resisted the newly-imposed racial segregation in the Alton, Illinois schools. Join us in Chicago on December 9, 2016 for a look at the family’s persistent legal efforts over the next 11 years and a panel discussion regarding how the case might have unfolded under current laws and rules. The program includes a video replay of the DePaul University Theater School production chronicling the events surrounding this case.

  • November 18, 2016 | Practice News
    Dieden appointed DuPage County associate judge

    Chief Circuit Judge Kathryn E. Creswell is pleased to announce that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts in Springfield, the Circuit Judges of the Eighteenth Judicial Court, DuPage County, Illinois have appointed Joshua J. Dieden to the position of Associate Judge.

    Mr. Dieden fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Judge Mary E. O’Connor.

  • November 18, 2016 | People
    Williams joins Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd.

    Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd. is pleased to announce the addition of William O. Williams, III who was recently admitted to the Illinois Bar. Williams is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. He will be working in Stellato & Schwartz, Ltd.'s Chicago office.