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  • May 10, 2011 | ISBA News
    Chicago Police Officer Marek Drozd receives ISBA Law Enforcement Award
    ISBA Board member Bernard Wysocki (second from left) presented Chicago Police Officer Marek Drozd (center) with the ISBA’s annual Law Enforcement Award at the Polish American Police Association (PAPA) annual dinner on May 6 at the White Eagle Banquets and Restaurant in Niles. Looking on are the police officer’s nominators, Assistant State’s Attorney David Williams (left) and attorney Anna Krolikowska. Second from right is PAPA President Thomas Surma. The ISBA Law Enforcement Award was created to recognize sworn law enforcement officers for conduct that promotes justice and to distinguish those individuals whose service to the public brings honor and respect to the entire criminal justice system. It is given sparingly to recognize those who truly excel in the field of law enforcement.
  • May 5, 2011 | ISBA News
    DuPage County detective receives ISBA Law Enforcement Award
    John G. Locallo, president-elect of the Illinois State Bar Association (second from right) presents Dave Chiesa (second from left), a detective in the DuPage County Sheriff’s office, with the ISBA’s annual Law Enforcement Award at the DuPage County Bar Association’s (DCBA) annual Law Day Luncheon on Wednesday, May 4, at the Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton. Looking on are the detective’s nominees, Steven M. Ruffalo (left), the DCBA president, and DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin.
  • May 4, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA election results are in - online voting a hit
    Election results are in and five candidates have won seats on the Illinois State Bar Association's Board of Governors. This was also the first time online voting was available for an ISBA election and members chose that method over written ballots by a nearly 10-1 margin (Electronic-3,565; Written-379). The Board members who were elected from Cook County are Umberto Davi, Western Springs; Christopher T. Hurley, Chicago; Stephen M. Komie, Chicago; and John Nisivaco, Chicago. Jennifer Walsh Hammer of Springfield was elected for the Under 37 - Downstate Board seat. Uncontested winners were Shari R. Rhode of Carbondale for Area 7 and Frank A. Sommario of Chicago for Under 37 - Cook. Richard D. Felice of Wheaton was the previously announced winner in the uncontested race for 3rd Vice President. He will become president of ISBA in 2014 after serving a year in each of the three vice presidential posts. Here are the Board election results (winners in bold):

    Board of Governors - Cook County

    • Patrice M. Ball-Reed, Chicago 856
    • Umberto Davi, Western Springs 1,060
    • Martin L. Glink, Arlington Heights 944
    • Christopher T. Hurley, Chicago 1,041
    • Stephen M. Komie, Chicago 1,100
    • John Nisivaco, Chicago 965

    Under 37 Downstate

    • Jennifer Walsh Hammer, Springfield 1,329
    • Tara H.
  • May 2, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA volunteers answer 231 calls on Ask a Lawyer Day
    Lawyer volunteers answered phone calls from citizens across the state on Saturday, April 29, as part of the 30th annual Ask a Lawyer Day. Bar associations that operate a lawyer referral service are invited by ISBA to participate in the public service project during which callers receive legal information about their situation and, if needed, a referral to a lawyer through the bar's referral service. Participating bars were: Chicago Bar Association, Northwest Suburban Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, and Will County Bar Association. Lawyer volunteers answering phones at the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield were: Tom Carlisle, Randy Cox, Rex Gradeless, Henry Hagen, David Hennessy, Julie Hubbard, Don LoBue, Bill McNutt, Mike Robinson, Jason Schultz, Ron Stradt, John Taylor and Tim Tighe. A total of 231 calls were handled at the Springfield location alone. Ask a Lawyer Day is conducted each year on or around Law Day, May 1, as a way of providing a service to the public and promoting awareness of lawyer referral services offered by bar associations. Thanks to all who participated and provided this public service.
  • May 1, 2011 | ISBA News | Practice News
    Illinois Law programs review Business Law issues (May 2011)
    Choice of Business Entities Covenant not to Compete
  • April 28, 2011 | Events | ISBA News
    ISBA's Academy of Illinois Lawyers inducts 7 new Laureates
    [caption id="attachment_19099" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Class of 2011 Laureates includes (front row, left to right): John B. Kincaid, William V. Johnson, Gino L. DiVito, Peter J. Birnbaum; (back row, left to right): David B. Sosin, Leo H. Konzen and presented and chancellor of the Board of Regents John G. O'Brien. Rosalyn B. Kaplan was inducted posthumously."][/caption] The Illinois State Bar Association’s Academy of Illinois Lawyers inducted its 11th class of Laureates during a luncheon on Tuesday, April 26 at The Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, in Chicago. The 2011 Class of Laureates, who were recognized during a ceremony conducted by ISBA Past President John G. O’Brien, chancellor of the Academy Board of Regents, brings the total to 102 distinguished Illinois attorneys to be so honored. The Academy was established in 1999 to celebrate excellence in the practice of law by individuals who maintain the highest standards of professional and public service. The 2011 class, nominated by their peers in the profession is:
    • Peter J. Birnbaum, Chicago, President and CEO of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.
    • Gino L. DiVito, Chicago, Partner in Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC
    • William V. Johnson, Chicago, President of Johnson & Bell, Ltd.
    • Rosalyn B.
  • April 28, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA to host Ask a Lawyer Day this Saturday
    Consult a lawyer - at no cost - on Saturday, April 30 Anyone in Illinois with a question about a legal matter can call and talk to a lawyer – at no cost – on Ask A Lawyer Day, Saturday, April 30. Lawyer volunteers will answer phones at six locations from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Any Illinois resident can call toll-free, or a local number in some areas, for a free phone consultation with a lawyer. The 30th annual Ask A Lawyer Day, part of Law Day activities in Illinois, is a public service sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) in cooperation with bar associations in Chicago, Northwest Suburbs, DuPage County, Lake County and Will County. Lawyer volunteers will be able to answer questions about consumer problems, family law, estate planning, personal injury, or any other legal situations affecting individuals. Callers will be advised of steps they can take to resolve their legal problems and, if they need additional legal services, they will be advised to see their lawyer. If they don’t have a lawyer, they can receive a referral to a lawyer who practices in their area through the referral service offered by participating bar associations. “We find that many people hesitate to see a lawyer, even when they know they have a legal problem,” said Mark Hassakis of Mt.
  • April 27, 2011 | ISBA News
    2 days left to vote in ISBA election
    Have you voted yet? There are only two days left to vote in the ISBA election. Online voting ends at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, April 29. Paper ballots must be received at VR Election Services in Texas by 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, April 29, 2011 in order to be counted. VR Election Services, ISBA’s election provider, has e-mailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses and mailed paper ballots to members without email addresses. If you haven’t received your e-ballot, please check your email spam under the suffix vres.us. If your e-ballot is not in your spam folder, please contact VRES at (800) 218-4026 or email custserv@vres.us. The Tellers of the Election will complete the Canvass of the Election no later than May 4, 2011. All members with their dues paid by March 1st are eligible to vote if there is a contested election in their area. The two contested elections are Cook County Board of Governors, and Downstate under 37 Board of Governors. Because there is no 3rd Vice President contest, out-of-state members do not vote.
  • April 18, 2011 | ISBA News
    Voting underway in ISBA election
    VR Election Services, ISBA’s election provider, has e-mailed e-ballots to members with valid email addresses and mailed paper ballots to members without email addresses. If you haven’t received your e-ballot, please check your email spam under the suffix vres.us. If your e-ballot is not in your spam folder, please contact VRES at (800) 218-4026 or email custserv@vres.us. Online voting ends at 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, April 29th. Paper ballots must be received at VR Election Services in Texas by 4:30 p.m. CT on Friday, April 29, 2011 in order to be counted. The Tellers of the Election will complete the Canvass of the Election no later than May 4, 2011. All members with their dues paid by March 1st are eligible to vote if there is a contested election in their area. The two contested elections are Cook County Board of Governors, and Downstate under 37 Board of Governors. Because there is no 3rd Vice President contest, out-of-state members do not vote.
  • April 12, 2011 | ISBA News | Member Services
    Illinois Lawyer Finder makes over 700 referrals in March
    The Illinois State Bar Association’s Lawyer Finder Service provides referrals to local lawyers Mondays through Fridays. The Service makes referrals in a number of areas of law. For the month of March 2011, ISBA helped people in need of legal services find lawyers in the following areas:
    • Administrative Law - 10
    • Animal Law - 6
    • Bankruptcy - 15
    • Business Law - 16
    • Civil Disputes - 54
    • Civil Rights - 30
    • Collection - 32
    • Consumer Protection - 16
    • Contracts – 9
    • Criminal Law - 58
    • Education Law - 11
    • Employment Law - 78
    • Estate/Probate Law - 21
    • Family - 148
    • Government Benefits -14
    • Health Law - 8
    • Immigration - 3
    • Insurance Disputes - 8
    • Intellectual Property - 4
    • Municipal Law - 11
    • Personal Injury - 103
    • Real Estate - 31
    • Social Security - 17
    • Tax - 7
    • Workers Compensation - 11
    These numbers do not include additional referrals made through the online Lawyer Finder service. Want to be part of the ISBA Lawyer Finder Service?  Call (800) 252-8908 and ask for the Legal Department, or visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.com Clients should call (800) 922-8757.