2017 Articles

Mandatory sentence overturned for being grossly disproportionate to the offense

March
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 28
Busse's sentence of 12 years in state penitentiary for burglary committed in a school was overturned as excessive.

Mapping Your Client’s Journey

By Ed Finkel
August
2017
Cover Story
, Page 26
What's the experience like at your law firm for the people who matter most - your clients? Isn't it time you asked them?

Medical payment amendment: Resolutions of claims related to inaccurate or updated enrollment information

November
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services ("HFS") adopted a new amendment aimed at resolving claims for Medicaid medical payments related to inaccurate or updated enrollment information (40 Ill. Reg. 15645).

Meet Your ISBA Staff

By Vincent F. Cornelius
January
2017
Column
, Page 11
View ISBA staff members in Springfield and Chicago with this pictorial directory.

“Minor modification” does not include six-percent increase in parenting time that would result in fifty-fifty split

July
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The appellate court upheld the dismissal of a parent's motion to modify parenting time under section 610.5(e) where the trial court found "an additional overnight every 14 days [was] not a minor modification as contemplated by [the section]."

Mobile homes-installed but not assessed and taxed due to untimely registration-fall within grandfather clause and are not taxed as real property

October
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Prior to January 1, 2011, mobile homes and manufactured homes were taxed as real property only if they were resting on a permanent foundation.

Moneyball for Lawyers

By Ed Finkel
April
2017
Cover Story
, Page 26
When it comes to optimizing your business, do you trust your gut? Don't. If you aren't using data to measure what works and what doesn't, you can't be sure you're winning the game.

Moving Toward a Paperless Office

By Steven J. Best
August
2017
Column
, Page 48
Ten tips to help you transition to a paperless office.

New airline passenger protections may be on the way

July
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Airline Passenger Protection Act, if passed, would prohibit involuntary removal of a passenger from aircrafts except for specific circumstances.

New conditions and fee structure added to Medical Cannabis Patient Registry

March
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 28
The Department of Public Health added more conditions for which patients may use medical cannabis under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.

New corrosion prevention rules for community water projects and bridge infrastructure

April
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 22
Public Act 99-0923 makes several changes to the Environmental Protection Act by adopting different corrosion prevention rules.

New court-approved family law, small claims forms will be released soon

By Matthew Hector
October
2017
LawPulse
, Page 12
The Illinois Supreme Court continues to build its library of court-approved forms, available to pro se litigants and lawyers alike.

New family-law act eases name changing, revises maintenance calculation

By Matthew Hector
November
2017
LawPulse
, Page 14
Changes to Illinois spousal maintenance law streamline the process for name changes, revise how the duration of maintenance is calculated, and increase the number of cases to which the law applies.

New income shares child support calculation method takes effect July 1

By Matthew Hector
June
2017
LawPulse
, Page 12
Heads up, family lawyers - beginning next month, Illinois will trade the percentage guideline child support formula for the income shares method used in the majority of states.

New insurance regulation puts onus of identifying “readily available information” on insurance provider

July
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Department of Insurance adopted a new Part to its regulations regarding Misrepresentation and False Warranties.

New Jersey regulators say lawyers can’t participate in Avvo client-linking service

By Matthew Hector
September
2017
LawPulse
, Page 12
Three New Jersey Supreme Court committees found that the "marketing fee" taken by Avvo is improper fee-splitting with nonlawyers.

New Judges, Lawyers Face Similar Challenges

By Hon. Russell W. Hartigan
August
2017
Column
, Page 10
New judges and lawyers both face obstacles and frustrations. For lawyers especially, ISBA resources can help.

New law addresses limitations on liability for service providers who remove snow and ice for private parties

January
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
With no retroactive effect, the Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation Act aims to void contracts that are deemed against public policy for indemnifying service providers who remove snow and ice for private parties.

New Law Broadly Expands Sealing of Criminal Records

By Janaan Hashim
November
2017
Article
, Page 32
Until now, only nine felonies qualified for sealing of records. With passage of HB 2373, nearly all felony convictions qualify. Here's what the expansion could mean for your client.

New law protects real estate purchasers who buy on contract

By Matthew Hector
October
2017
LawPulse
, Page 12
Contract buyers don't enjoy the protection of mortgage foreclosure law. The new Installment Sales Contract Act makes them less vulnerable to predatory sellers.
4 comments (Most recent October 10, 2017)

A New Look at Lawyer Lincoln

By Ron Spears
February
2017
Column
, Page 44
A new ISBA effort will generate articles and CLE about Lincoln's legal career and the lesson it can teach us.

New measures aimed at keeping lead out of drinking water

April
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 22
Public Act 99-0922 creates several measures directed at lead hazards in drinking water. The measures create a lead hazard cost recovery fee.

New policies for requesting publicly available records pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act

September
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Recent amendments adopted by the Illinois Community College Board implemented changes to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") regarding records, specific procedures, and provisions for appealing a denied request.

New regulations address crowdfunding

April
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 22
The Secretary of State adopted amendments that implement recent statutory changes by allowing investment in a new or existing business through crowdfunding or collecting funds on the internet.

New regulations for video gaming centers within malls

June
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
The Illinois Gaming Board adopted amendments to Video Gaming, adding a new section that regulates video gaming locations within malls.

New rule requires uninsured lawyers to do self-assessment

By Matthew Hector
March
2017
LawPulse
, Page 22
Beginning next year, lawyers who don't carry malpractice insurance will have to complete a four-hour assessment of their ethical knowledge and management practices.

A nexus can exist between the offense, items to be seized, and the place to be searched 10 days after the commission of a crime

July
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
Rodriguez was convicted of first-degree murder when he was 15-years-old. On appeal, Rodriguez argued that the trial court erroneously denied his motion to suppress evidence found during a search of his home.

No fiduciary duty for POA successor agents, high court rules

By Matthew Hector
August
2017
LawPulse
, Page 12
A recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling makes life less perilous for successor agents of POAs for property.

No willful and wanton conduct in physical education class injury

June
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 18
On March 23, 2017, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed a directed verdict in favor of defendants on supervisory immunity, holding there was no willful and wanton conduct involved in a school injury.

Non-governmental, for-profit entities with 50 or fewer employees receive reduced fee for the Department of Human Rights’ Training Institute

December
2017
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Amendments were adopted to the Access to Local Records of the Department of Human Rights modifying the Department of Human Rights' regulations regarding the cost for on-site training conducted by the Department's Training Institute.