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Illinois Supreme Court

  • November 3, 2015 | People
    Former Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald passes away

    Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, who retired from the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010 after a long and distinguished career, passed away Sunday at his home. He was 74.

    Justice Fitzgerald's 34-year judicial career was marked by duty, grace, innovation, and an unparalleled dedication to advancing the quality of justice for those he served. He was a model for integrity.

    "Having joined the court shortly after his election in 2000, I had the privilege of serving with Justice Fitzgerald for a decade," Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "Before we both arrived on the Supreme Court, Justice Fitzgerald and I had known each other for almost 30 years – ever since we both became rather young members of the judiciary."

    "Over the many years, he never changed. He was a warm and caring person, and even when on the bench, his demeanor revealed his genuine concern about the people who appeared before him. Tom Fitzgerald was dedicated to serving the people of Illinois and to making the judicial system as fair, efficient, and accessible as it could possibly be."

    In addition to being a fine jurist, Chief Justice Garman said Justice Fitzgerald shared his gifts with others by teaching lawyers and other judges at numerous educational programs.

    "He was also a true scholar of the life and work of Abraham Lincoln and a devoted man of faith," Chief Justice Garman added. "The people of Illinois were privileged to have Thomas Fitzgerald as a member of the Illinois Supreme Court for a decade, and I was privileged to be his colleague and friend."

  • October 28, 2015 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court to hear 8 cases during November term

    Here is the Illinois Supreme Court Call of the Docket for November Term 2015:

    Call Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 9:30 A.M.

    • No. 117846 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Joshua Tolbert, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
    • No. 118672 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Gregory Hernandez, etc., appellee. Appeal, Circuit Court (DuPage).

    Call Thursday, November 12, 2015 - 9:00 A.M.

    • Nos.118693, 118694 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Wail Salem, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, Third cons. District
    • No. 118973 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Taron R. Burns, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, Fourth District.

    Call Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - 9:00 A.M.

    • No. 118496 - People State of Illinois, appellant, v. Eduardo Lerma, appellee. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
    • No. 117720 - Stone Street Partners, LLC, appellee/cross-appellant, v. The City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings et al., appellants/cross-appellees. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
    • Nos.119618, 19620, 119638, 119639, 119644 - Mary J. Jones et al., appellees, v. Municipal 1Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago et  al., appellants. Appeal, Circuit Court (Cook).
    • No. 118661 - People State of Illinois, appellee, v. Jerry Boston, appellant. Appeal, Appellate Court, First District.
  • October 22, 2015 | Practice News
    Quick take on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinion in "junk fax" case

    Ballard RN Center, Inc. v. Kohll's Pharmacy & Homecare, Inc.

    By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

    In this “junk fax” class action case, the court held that a motion for class certification filed contemporaneously with the complaint was sufficient to bar a claim of mootness by defendant, which tendered the full amount recoverable under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act after the complaint, and class certification motion, were filed. In partially reversing the appellate court and in affirming the circuit court, the supreme court centered its analysis on its opinion in Barber v. American Airlines, Inc., 241 Ill.2d 450 (2011).

    In Barber, plaintiff’s class action was properly dismissed because there was no motion for class certification pending when the defendant refunded the $40 baggage fee which was at issue, thereby mooting the class plaintiff’s claim. An underpinning of the reasoning in Barber was that in the absence of a motion for certification, the interests of the other class members were not then before the court.  

    Here, defendant argued, in part, that the motion for class certification was a “shell” motion that lacked content. The supreme court disagreed, saying that the motion contained a general outline of the action, and effectively communicated the fundamental nature of the putative class action.

  • October 15, 2015 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court updates rules due to technology, practice developments

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the adoption of several rule changes designed to bring attorney ethics rules up to date with advances in technology and developments in global legal practices.

    During its September Term, the Court approved amendments to the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and Supreme Court Rules 705 and 716. The Supreme Court Rules Committee recommended the changes to the Court after reviewing the proposals and holding a public hearing on July 22, 2015, in Chicago.

    All of the rule changes take effect January 1, 2016.

  • October 12, 2015 | People
    Influential Chicago journalist, Illinois Supreme Court press secretary passes away

    Joseph Tybor, the longtime Chicago journalist and press secretary for the Illinois Supreme Court, died Saturday at his home in Countryside. He was 68.

    Tybor’s 30-year journalism career included comprehensive coverage of a broad array of subjects, including the Vietnam War, Notre Dame football and his must-read “On the Law” column that ran weekly in the Chicago Tribune.

    For the past decade and a half he was a diligent advocate for the Illinois Supreme Court and spearheaded key changes to the Open Meetings Act, which allowed cameras into Illinois courtrooms for the first time.

    "My colleagues and I are deeply saddened by Joe’s passing. He was truly dedicated to his role as the voice of the Illinois Supreme Court, and we watched in awe as he continued to carry out his duties even as he fought his illness," Chief Justice Rita B. Garman said. "He was an example to us all of courage and strength. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, in which he took such great pride. We will miss his professionalism, his optimism, and his cheerful demeanor."

    “His relationships with reporters and his love and passion for the law made him such an absolute great fit at the Supreme Court,” Tybor’s son, Adam Tybor, said. “He was amazing at his job - he fought for his beliefs."

    2 comments (Most recent October 13, 2015)
  • October 8, 2015 | Practice News
    Quick takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil case Nelson v. Artley and the criminal case People v. Stapinski.

    CIVIL

    Nelson v. Artley

    By Alyssa M. Reiter, Williams, Montgomery & John Ltd.

    The liability of a rental car company who obtains a certificate of self-insurance from the Secretary of State is limited to the same minimum coverage provisions applicable to rental car companies who meet their financial responsibility obligations through purchasing an insurance policy. 

    Mr. Nelson was injured by an Enterprise rental car driven by Mr. Artley, who was uninsured. Nelson sued Artley, resulting in a default judgment of $600,000.  Nelson brought a supplementary action against Enterprise.

    Enterprise asserted various affirmative defenses, the most pertinent dealing with its financial exposure.  Enterprise argued that because it was self-insured, its total financial responsibility per occurrence was $100,000 (the statutory minimum coverage requirements for insurance).  Because $75,000 already had been paid or allotted to other claims arising out of the same incident, the circuit court issued a turnover order of $25,000 to Nelson. 

  • October 1, 2015 | Practice News
    Justice Burke announces vacancy in 13th subcircuit

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke announced today an application process for a vacancy in the 13th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County.

    The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas P. Fecarotta Jr., who served as a judge since 1998. His retirement took effect September 30, 2015.

  • September 24, 2015 | Practice News
    Quick takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court Criminal opinions

    A review of Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the criminal cases In re Q.P., People v. Fiveash and People v. Goossens.

    CRIMINAL

    In re Q.P.

    By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

    An officer responded to a call of a vehicle burglary in progress. Upon arriving, he located the minor, Q.P., who matched the description of the burglar. The officer handcuffed the minor and put him in the back of the squad car. The minor gave a false name and date of birth. Upon discovery that the information was false, the minor admitted to the officer that he was attempting to prevent the police from discovering that he had an outstanding warrant.

    The minor was charged with, and convicted of, obstructing justice based upon giving false information to the police with the intent to prevent his apprehension. The Supreme Court was called upon to determine the meaning of “apprehension.” The minor argued that he was already apprehended because he was in police custody at the time he provided the false information. The State argued that apprehension is specific to each criminal charge and thus, while the minor had been apprehended for the suspected vehicle burglary, he had not yet been apprehended on the outstanding warrant.

  • September 24, 2015 | Practice News
    Quick takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court Civil opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the civil cases Stevens v. McGuireWoods, LLP,  Lake Environmental Inc. v. Arnold, Seymour v. Collins, The Village of Vernon Hills v. Heelan and O’Toole  v. The Chicago Zoological Society.

    CIVIL

    Stevens v. McGuireWoods L.L.P.

    By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

    The court’s unanimous opinion in Stevens v. McGuireWoods, LLP, is grounded on the established points that legal malpractice plaintiffs must be able to establish actual monetary loss as damages, that such a plaintiff cannot be in a better position by bringing suit against the attorney than if the underlying action had been prosecuted successfully, and that damages obtainable in a corporate derivative action belong to the corporation, and not to plaintiff shareholders. 

    The plaintiffs here are former minority shareholders in an LLC.  They had retained the defendant law firm to bring claims against managers of the LLC as well as its majority shareholder.  Those claims were brought in both individual and derivative capacities.  Substituted counsel brought additional claims against the LLC’s corporate counsel.  Those claims were dismissed for various reasons, including standing and statutes of limitations and repose.  The plaintiff shareholders settled the underlying case, and relinquished all ownership interest in the LLC.

  • September 21, 2015 | Practice News
    Illinois Supreme Court disbars 11, suspends 36 in latest disciplinary filing

    The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on September 21, 2015, during the September Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.