Do parties have an absolute right to directly question prospective jurors during voir dire?By Scott D. LaneSeptember 2001Two cases have recently addressed the issue of whether parties have a right to directly question jurors during voir dire: People v. Allen, 313 Ill.App.3d 842, 730 N.E.2d 1216 (2nd Dist. 2000) and Grossman v. Gebarowski, 315 Ill.App.3d 213, 732 N.E.2d 1100 (1st Dist. 2000).
Editor’s noteSeptember 2001The editors apologize for having failed to identify the authors of the following articles in the June 2001 edition of Trial Briefs:
Illinois physicians and the enforceability of covenants not to compete in the wake of Carter-ShieldsBy Michael K. GoldbergSeptember 2001Recently, the Fifth District Appellate Court reversed an Order of the Circuit Court of Madison County granting partial summary judgment to defendants, a medical corporation and its assignee, in an action involving the enforceability of a contractual covenant not to compete against a board-certified family-practice physician.
Jury instructions: when is a “normal life” lost?June 2001Several years ago, I was involved in a trial where the plaintiff was suing my client, a local municipality, because she fractured her leg rather severely while snow sledding with her children.
Liability waivers/releases: when are they enforceable?By Steven R. McMannon & Ana M. McNamaraMarch 2001This fall my eight-year-old daughter participated in gymnastics, ballet and soccer. She also took Tae Kwon Do and swimming lessons.
Overlapping class actions and the proposed amendments to Rule 23By James E. PfanderOctober 2001During its June 2001 meeting, the Standing Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference of the United States--the Committee charged with the promulgation of proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure--took up class action reform.
Recent supreme and appellate court opinions in briefMarch 2001The supreme court has overruled prior cases regarding the impact of a criminal conviction on a subsequent civil lawsuit resulting from the same incident.
Rule 213 opinion witness case updateBy Daniel P. WurlNovember 2001This article provides an update on recent decisions in opinion witness disclosure and testimony under Supreme Court Rule 213.
Soto restates the law governing opinion testimony as to permanency of injuryBy Robert HandleyNovember 2001A recent decision from the Second Appellate District has reexamined the criteria a trial court should consider in deciding whether a physician may render an opinion on the issue of the permanency of a plaintiff's injuries.