Illinois

Mortgage Lender Didn’t Show Enough Damages to Sue Law Firm for Defamation Over Marketing Mailer

A mortgage lender didn’t show enough damages to establish jurisdiction to sue a California law firm for defamation in federal court, a federal judge has ruled. While Guaranteed Rate Inc. contended that its reputation had been damaged by a mailer sent on behalf of Costa Mesa-based NHT Law Group, there…

Jul 10, 2012 8:36 PM CDT

Sheppard Mullin Opens New Office in Chicago with 5-Lawyer Team from K&L Gates

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton announced Monday that it has opened an office in Chicago with a five-lawyer team from K&L Gates. The new office of the California-based international firm also includes a labor and employment partner from Winston & Strawn on its attorney roster, as well as Sheppard Mullin’s…

Jul 9, 2012 4:16 PM CDT

Former Legal Assistant Gets Time for Writing Checks for Own Expenses on Law Firm Trust Account

A former office manager and legal assistant for a downstate Illinois law firm has pleaded guilty to federal mail-fraud charges of stealing $150,000 from Erwin Martinkus & Cole over a 10-year period. Laura R. Tholen is expected to be sentenced in September to a stipulated 21-month federal prison term and…

Jun 28, 2012 5:01 PM CDT

Illinois Seeks to Discipline Lawyer with History of Taking Frivolous Positions in Federal Tax Cases

An Illinois lawyer faces potential attorney disciplinary action in his home state following prior sanctions by federal appellate courts for taking frivolous positions in tax cases. Jerold W. Barringer, 54, has a history of taking frivolous positions in federal tax cases, including an argument that Internal Revenue Service doesn’t have…

Jun 27, 2012 8:34 PM CDT

Former Legal Secretary Takes Plea in $550K Theft From Suburban Chicago Law Firm

A former legal secretary at an unidentified law firm in suburban Chicago has taken a plea in a felony theft case. Mary Marra has pleaded guilty to two charges and made $100,000 restitution to the Downers Grove legal practice, the Chicago Tribune reports. Prosecutors said she began taking money in…

Jun 21, 2012 9:30 PM CDT

Attorney Pleads to Prostitution Misdemeanor, Gets Court Supervision

A young attorney who resorted to prostitution several months before getting her Illinois law license has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Reema Bajaj had originally faced a felony case. She was sentenced to court supervision, community service and a $2,500 fine, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Her conviction can be…

Jun 20, 2012 9:41 PM CDT

Who Will Defend Illinois’ Gay Marriage Ban? State and Local Prosecutors Support Lambda

The prosecutor for the county that includes Chicago has conceded that Illinois’ ban on gay marriages violates the state constitution. The concession by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez leaves defense of the law to any outside group that can prove standing, the Chicago Tribune reports. The American Civil Liberties…

Jun 15, 2012 12:00 PM CDT

7th Circuit Nixes ‘Feeble’ Sears Class Action, Says Its ‘Only Goal’ Is Fees for Plaintiffs Lawyers

Saying that a shareholder derivative suit’s “only goal” appeared to be generating fees for the plaintiffs counsel, a federal appeals court on Wednesday not only held that a federal district judge had erred in refusing to permit an objector to intervene in a shareholder derivative suit but directed the judge…

Jun 14, 2012 4:42 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Tells Discipline Panel He ‘Didn’t Think Anything of’ Roommate’s Drug Activities

A 30-year-old former prosecutor told an Illinois attorney disciplinary panel on Wednesday that he “didn’t think anything of it at the time” when a college friend and roommate dealt drugs from their shared home in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Aaron Isaacson told the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission that…

Jun 14, 2012 4:06 PM CDT

Felony Franks Closes Restaurant Staffed by Ex-Offenders

The owner of Felony Franks has given up his battle to keep operating a hot dog stand staffed by ex-offenders on Chicago’s near west side. But although Jim Andrews said he was worn down by a long battle with City Hall over the legality of his sign and problems with…

Jun 13, 2012 11:22 PM CDT

Illinois Town Whose Comptroller Is Accused of Embezzling $53M Blames Auditors in Civil Suit

An Illinois town of some 16,000 residents that says its comptroller skimmed $53 million from its coffers over a period of a little more than 20 years has sued two firms that served as its auditors over the past five years or so, contending that Samuel S. Card, CPA and…

Jun 13, 2012 5:44 PM CDT

Philip Corboy, a ‘Jack Nicklaus of Trial Lawyers,’ Dies at 87

Philip Corboy, one of Chicago’s best-known and longest practicing trial lawyers, died at his home in the city early Tuesday. He was 87 years old. A personal injury lawyer known for his big-verdict cases, bar leadership and generous mentoring of others, he had practiced for more than 50 years at…

Jun 12, 2012 5:01 PM CDT

Illinois Attorney Is Accused of Overbilling Client for Document Review

An Illinois attorney is facing disciplinary action for allegedly overbilling a client for document review. Ronald Jay McDermott is accused of submitting billing materials to his law firm for up to 250 or more hours of document review that he claimed to have done in July and August of 2011…

Jun 8, 2012 7:51 PM CDT

Mom Sues, Says Deputy Broke Law OKing Public Breast-Feeding by Sending Her to Courthouse Bathroom

LIke a growing number of states, Illinois has a law that expressly allows mothers to breast-feed their babies in public, even if they do so in a manner that others deem to be immodest. But a suburban Chicago mom says news of the Right to Breastfeed Act apparently hasn’t reached…

May 31, 2012 4:01 PM CDT

$4.1 Million Settlement with Shackled, Pregnant Jail Detainees Wins Preliminary Approval

A federal judge gave preliminary approval to a $4.1 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the Cook County (Ill.) Jail on behalf of a group of female inmates who say they were shackled while pregnant and in labor. Unless objections are raised, the Chicago Tribune reports, roughly 80 former…

May 23, 2012 6:16 PM CDT