A New Rule of Evidence: The Effect of Immigration Status in Illinois Civil ProceedingsBy Patrick M. KinnallyDiversity Leadership Council, November 2021The Illinois General Assembly has enacted 735 ILCS 5/18-2901, a new rule under which evidence related to a person’s immigration status is not admissible in any civil proceeding with certain exceptions.
The Confidentiality of Mental Health Records: When Are They Secret?By Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, May 2021When the focus of court mandates are mental health records, the bar for disclosure of such records and communications requires pause, perspicacity, and patience.
Free Speech and Soliciting Aliens to Violate Immigration Law: United States v. Sineneng SmithBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, December 2020In United States v. Sineneng-Smith, the U.S. Supreme Court determined whether provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allow a felony prosecution where any person encourages or induces and alien to enter or reside in the U.S. if the encourager knew or recklessly disregarded that such coming was in violation of law, is overbroad and a violation of the First Amendment.
Temporary Protected Status: It’s Time to Get It RightBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, December 2020A look at the varying interpretations and opinions as to what Congress meant when it created the temporary protected status 30 years ago.
Free Speech and Soliciting Aliens to Violate Immigration Law: U.S. v. Sineneng SmithBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, September 2020A summary of U.S. v. Sineneng Smith, which looks at whether a federal law criminalizing the act of encouraging or inducing illegal immigration for commercial advantage or private financial gain is unconstitutional on its face.
Contingent Fees: Success Fee—What Are They?By Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, August 2020A summary and analysis of Grund & Leavitt v. Stephenson, in which a law firm filed a complaint against a former client to recover under a written agreement whereby plaintiff would provide legal representation and services for defendant and defendant would pay plaintiff hourly attorney fees and costs as incurred and, additionally, a “final bill.”
A Primer: Expert Opinions—IRE 702-705By Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, May 2020The Illinois Supreme Court has repeatedly warned about the overuse of opinion witnesses.
Promises Kept and Unkept and Quasi ContractsBy Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, December 2019An analysis of recent opinions in Illinois courts that have brought into focus contract enforcement in both private and public settings.
Consular reviewability: It is time for the main eventBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, March 2019A U.S. citizen may not enjoy a cognizable legal liberty interest in his spouse’s application for an immigrant visa.
Denaturalization: A new government forayBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, November 2018An overview of issues that are often overlooked by those who seek citizenship without counsel.
Presumptions and powers of attorneyBy Patrick M. KinnallyTrusts and Estates, September 2018In Collins and Richard v. Noltensmeier, the appellate court upheld the the trial court's order granting summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that the defendant was unable to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that she had authority to self-deal.
Presumptions and powers of attorneyBy Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, July 2018In Collins and Richard v. Noltensmeier, the appellate court upheld the the trial court's order granting summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that the defendant was unable to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that she had authority to self-deal.
Champerty, contingent fees, and client advocacyBy Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, May 2018Prospect Funding Holdings, LLC, v. Keenan Saulter and Saulter Tarver, PC provides guidance for how to proceed if you are involved in addressing a client's need for a loan in connection with your representation.
Survival of claims—Renunciation of willsBy Patrick M. KinnallyTrusts and Estates, February 2018What happens if the surviving spouse dies before a renunciation is filed? Can the executor of the surviving spouse file a renunciation of the will during the seven-month period? The answer appears to be “no."
Trails, tribulations, and tort immunity: Then and nowBy Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, February 2018We have two opinions from the Illinois Supreme Court (Corbett v. County of Lake and Cohen v. Chicago Park District) which provide today’s perception of the judiciary’s interpretation of the Local Government Tort Immunity Act.
Interest on judgments and awards: Can your client collect?By Patrick M. KinnallyCivil Practice and Procedure, January 2018When does a judgment other than for child support begin to draw interest? At what rate? If you obtain an award or report, is the rule different?
“Chipping away at a promise”: Pretrial diversion agreements and immigration convictionsBy Patrick M. KinnallyInternational and Immigration Law, October 2017If an INA conviction is part of the pretrial diversion agreement or a statement during the PDA hearing that amounts to the requirements for such a conviction your client may become removable or inadmissible. In so doing the remedial object of the PDA for the immigrant defendant would be lost.
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