Illinois Bar Journal

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Articles in March, 2009 issue of Illinois Bar Journal

• Did Pat Fitzgerald say too much? Lawyers disagree about whether prosecutor Fitzgerald crossed the line when he said Rod Blagojevich's conduct "would make Lincoln roll over in his grave."
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Creative ways to fend off foreclosure: two lawyers think outside the box to help clients hang on to their homes, one by negotiating with lenders, the other by leveraging the power of chapter 13
  by Helen Gunnarson
• Court's failure to grant continuance plain error: the high court rules that a judge's failure to grant defense counsel's request for a continuance in a murder trial was plain error requiring a new trial
  by Helen Gunnarson
• Judges must rule before trial on motions in limine: a new ruling lets criminal defense attorneys know before deciding to let their clients testify whether their priors will be admitted at trial
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• The importance of timely service: thanks to an amendment to Supreme Court rule 103, plaintiffs who haven't been otherwise diligent in moving a case along must be especially diligent in obtaining service
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Understanding uninsured and underinsured motorist provisions: UM/UIM provisions can salvage what would otherwise be a no-recovery case, but you need to understand your clients' liability policies, not just tortfeasors'. Here's what to look for
  by Helen Gunnarsson
• Pleading civil rights claims: two recent cases, one from the Northern District and one from the Illinois Appellate Court, illustrate the challenges civil-rights claimants face in choosing the appropriate forum, shaping their pleadings accordingly, and mee
  by Jeffrey A. Parness
• An appellate justice's quick guide to appeals: a former appellate court justice offers advice to lawyers at every step in the appellate process, from the trial court before you know you'll be filing an appeal to the drive home after your oral argument
  by Robert W. Cook
• "Standard visitation" and the best interest of the child: courts too often grant "standard" every-other-weekend visitation without considering the advantages to children of more generous alternatives, this article argues. Here's a look
  by Scott A. Lerner
• When does an insured have a right to independent counsel? A conflict of interest between insurer and insured can entitle the policyholder to its own lawyer paid for by the insurer. This article looks at the kinds of conflict that trigger the right to inde
  by Robert P. Vogt
• Scientific evidence about grief in Illinois wrongful death cases
  by Timothy J. Reuland
• Directors' duty to creditors: directors and officers obviously owe a duty to the corporation and its shareholders. But if the corporation becomes insolvent, directors owe a duty to creditors as well
  by Lin Hanson
• Evidence resources for Illinois practitioners: there aren't many free evidence-related online resources for Illinois lawyers, but there is helpful information for those who know where to look
  by Tom Gaylord