Illinois

Illinois Allows Cameras in Trial Courts on Trial Basis

The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will allow cameras in trial courts, at least on a trial basis. The pilot project, effective immediately, authorizes coverage in circuit courts that have applied for approval from the Illinois Supreme Court. See the order (PDF). “This is another step to bring more…

Jan 24, 2012 5:03 PM CST

Ex-Lawyer Gets 15 Years for Misleading Sellers in Mortgage-Rescue Scheme

A disbarred Illinois lawyer has been sentenced to a 15-year federal prison term for participating in a fraudulent mortgage-rescue scheme. The U..S. Attorney’s office says Norton Helton, 50, received above-market fees for serving as a closing attorney at over 100 transactions, in which sellers who had falsely been assured that…

Jan 20, 2012 9:22 PM CST

Judge Says Defendant’s Facebook Posts Didn’t Influence Her Sentencing Decision

A judge in Will County south of Chicago says she didn’t consult the Facebook posts of a reckless homicide defendant before sentencing him on Wednesday to two months in jail. Prosecutors had told Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak that Facebook posts by 25-year-old defendant Tomasz Maciaszek would refute his courtroom statements made…

Jan 19, 2012 2:39 PM CST

State’s Attorney Sues Special Prosecutors Who Pursued Misconduct Charges Against Him

The state’s attorney in McHenry County northwest of Chicago has filed a $15 million lawsuit against special prosecutors who unsuccessfully pursued misconduct charges against him. State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi claims the prosecution was part of a conspiracy initiated by political enemies, report the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Herald and the…

Jan 19, 2012 2:14 PM CST

Woman Fired for Working on Lunch Hour Wins Unemployment Benefits Appeal

A suburban Chicago woman who was fired for working on her lunch hour has won an appeal upholding unemployment benefits. The realty company that had employed Sharon Smiley as a receptionist accused her of misconduct and insubordination when she skipped lunch in January 2010 to try to catch up on…

Jan 17, 2012 12:58 PM CST

Illinois Law Allows Fur Trappers to Scoop Up Roadkill

A new Illinois law aims to help clean up roadways by allowing people with the appropriate licenses to help themselves to roadkill. Under the law, anyone with a furbearer’s license can take animals killed on the road during trapping season for their pelts or for meat, according to the Associated…

Jan 9, 2012 1:58 PM CST

Bystander Struck By Flying Body May Sue Dead Man’s Estate, Appeals Court Says

A woman who was injured when she was struck by the body of a commuter killed by an oncoming Amtrak train may sue his estate for damages, an Illinois appeals court has ruled. The slain man, 18-year-old Hiroyuki Joho, was hurrying to catch a train in heavy rain in September…

Jan 3, 2012 1:28 PM CST

Another Feared Victim of Serial Killer John Gacy Is Found Alive and Well Decades Later

For at least the second time in less than two months, a family who thought a young man might have been murdered by a notorious serial killer decades ago got good news this holiday season. Carpenter Ted Szal, 59, was found living in a suburb of Portland, Ore., by Chicago…

Dec 21, 2011 10:16 PM CST

Bank of America to Pay Record $335M to Settle Claims of Countrywide Mortgage Lending Bias

Updated: Bank of America Corp. has agreed to pay a $335 million to settle claims that the Countrywide Financial unit it purchased discriminated against minorities by giving them mortgages with less favorable terms than the ones granted to whites. An independent monitor will be appointed to determine how the settlement…

Dec 21, 2011 9:31 PM CST

Suit Claims Longer Courthouse Wait for Out-of-County Attorneys Is Unconstitutional

A lawyer in LaSalle County southwest of Chicago sees a constitutional violation in his long courthouse wait in suburban Will County. Gary Peterlin claims in a federal class action suit (PDF) that he is forced to endure longer courthouse waits because of his out-of-county status in what amounts to a…

Dec 20, 2011 4:37 PM CST

Federal Judge Calls Blago Lawyer’s New-Trial Motion ‘Harebrained,’ Says Contempt Ruling Could Result

Updated: A federal judge today sharply scolded a lawyer for pointing a finger at the forewoman of a jury that convicted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich in a political corruption case, reports the Chicago Tribune. A motion signed by Lauren Kaeseberg that sought a new trial for Blagojevich based on…

Dec 19, 2011 5:59 PM CST

Criminal Defense Lawyer Disqualified Because He Represented Victim’s Dad a Decade Ago

An Illinois man facing a first-degree murder charge won’t be represented by his first-choice defense lawyer because attorney Liam Dixon has been determined by a judge to be conflicted out of the suburban Chicago case. A decade ago, Dixon defended the father of the slain 5-year-old in the current case,…

Dec 16, 2011 5:55 PM CST

Ex-Bulls Star Files Suit Claiming Websites Falsely Labeled Him as Bankrupt; Is Blog Tag Defamatory?

Former Bulls basketball star Scottie Pippen claims in a lawsuit that his net worth is at least $40 million—and website reports to the contrary have defamed him. Pippen’s suit filed Dec. 13 in Chicago federal court seeks $9 million in damages. The suit says Pippen has never filed for bankruptcy,…

Dec 14, 2011 3:20 PM CST

Illinois Judge Orders Homeless Man to Get a Job

An Illinois judge has ordered a homeless man in Chicago’s suburbs to get a job as part of his probation for following and yelling at a psychologist. DuPage County Judge Karen Wilson ordered Scott Huber of Naperville, Ill., to find a job and work at least 10 hours a week,…

Dec 9, 2011 3:17 PM CST

Impeached Ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Gets 14 Years in Federal Corruption Case

Impeached former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich finally admitted his guilt today at sentencing and apologized, telling U.S. District Judge James Zagel he made “terrible mistakes” and is “unbelievably sorry.” Zagel, who was asked by federal prosecutors to sentence the former governor to a 15- to 20-year term in the Chicago…

Dec 7, 2011 6:01 PM CST