Illinois

Swift, Stunning Win for Prosecutor on Trial in Political Corruption Case: Judge Axes All Charges

A closely watched trial of an Illinois prosecutor that is believed to be the first in state history to put a sitting district attorney in the defendant’s seat in a felony case has ended with a swift and stunning victory for McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi. At the close…

Mar 23, 2011 9:11 PM CDT

Convicted Ex-Bankruptcy Attorney Could Get Up to 20 Years Per Count in Mortgage Fraud

A disbarred Illinois bankruptcy attorney has been convicted of three counts of wire fraud as part of a nationwide mortgage fraud prosecution involving 67 defendants. Lorie Westerfield allegedly purchased homes from two clients, misrepresented the purchase prices and down payments and her income to lenders from whom she obtained mortgages,…

Mar 23, 2011 5:38 PM CDT

DOJ Suit Supporting Teacher’s Requested Mecca Trip Is a ‘Legal Reach,’ Ex-AG Says

A Justice Department lawsuit supporting a math teacher who wanted a three-week unpaid leave for a Mecca pilgrimage is spurring criticism from former DOJ officials. The December lawsuit claims the school district in Berkeley, Ill., discriminated against middle-school teacher Safoorah Khan on the basis of her religious beliefs by denying…

Mar 23, 2011 12:28 PM CDT

2L Starts Possible Sports Law Career in a Big Way, Representing Bears Coach Lovie Smith

Matthew Smith is still a second-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. But he’s already a name in the news and thinking about potential conflicts of interest. That’s because he already has a celebrity client for whom he’s negotiated an estimated three-year, $5 million contract—his dad, Chicago Bears…

Mar 21, 2011 10:22 PM CDT

Prosecutor Accused of Using County Resources to Boost his Political Campaign goes on Trial

The bench trial set to begin today may help define the murky line between a prosecutor’s political and professional roles. McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi, accused of using county resources for political ends, will go on trial today, the Chicago Tribune reports. The 67-year-old prosecutor is accused of telling…

Mar 21, 2011 6:36 PM CDT

Did Renowned Journalism Prof Known for Innocence Work Give Evidence Only to the Defense?

Renowned for his work in helping those wrongfully convicted prove their innocence, a high-profile Northwestern University journalism professor is apparently benched from teaching his popular investigative reporting course this spring. David Protess was initially defended by Northwestern when prosecutors in a Cook County, Ill., case contended that they were entitled…

Mar 18, 2011 11:09 PM CDT

Indicted Lawyer Keeps Job Representing Striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Attorney Leonard Leibowitz, indicted on federal charges in New York for allegedly embezzling $150,000 from a defunct union, will keep representing the striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians. Leibowitz, 72, will continue working on the labor negotiations front of the dispute between management and DSO musicians, who went on strike in…

Mar 17, 2011 9:36 PM CDT

Robbins Geller’s Suit Is Tossed After Its Insider Source Disavows Claims

Perkins Coie got some surprising news when a purported confidential source supporting a securities class action showed up unannounced at its offices in November. Perkins was representing the defendant, Boeing Co., in a suit claiming shareholder losses because of the delayed 787 Dreamliner, the Chicago Tribune reports. The law firm…

Mar 14, 2011 1:52 PM CDT

New Illinois Law Seeks to Require Web Merchants to Collect Sales Tax

Cash-strapped Illinois has jumped on the bandwagon with a handful of states that are trying to collect sales tax on Internet transactions. Effective immediately, any Internet merchant with a physical presence in Illinois must collect and remit sales tax, under a bill signed today by Gov. Pat Quinn, reports the…

Mar 11, 2011 12:06 AM CST

Kirkland PPP Soars 23%, Topping $3M

Average profit per equity partner soared 23 percent at Kirkland & Ellis in 2010, topping the $3 million mark. Revenue at the Chicago-based international firm jumped 14 percent to $1.63 billion despite the fact that the firm’s attorney roster was cut from 1,461 to 1,379, reports Legal Week, relying on…

Mar 10, 2011 10:54 PM CST

Death Penalty Is Banned in Illinois

With Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature today, a bill banning the death penalty in Illinois is now official. The legislation will take effect July 1, Reuters reports. He also commuted the sentences of all 15 inmates on death row to life imprisonment without the possibility of release, calling the decision the…

Mar 9, 2011 7:56 PM CST

Lawyer Sues Ex-Fiancé, Also an Attorney, Seeking Alleged $63K Cost of Bora Bora Wedding

Robert Leighton’s alleged bad behavior after a Las Vegas bachelor’s party created a rift between Chicago attorney Lauren Serafin and her ex-fiance, who is also a lawyer. The result, she says, was the couple’s break-up prior to their planned Bora Bora destination wedding. But Serafin still is out nearly $63,000…

Mar 8, 2011 12:07 AM CST

Law Clerk at Corboy & Demetrio ‘A Little Freaked Out’ by Fire Sunday; Multiple Law Offices Closed

A quiet day at the office Sunday became unexpectedly dramatic for a number of workers after a fire broke out on the ground floor of a 25-story downtown Chicago highrise. Stephanie Sainsbury, who works as a law clerk at Corboy & Demetrio, was one of 10 to 15 people escorted…

Mar 7, 2011 9:32 PM CST

Students Have Right to Wear ‘Be Happy, Not Gay’ T-Shirt, 7th Circuit Appeals Court Rules

A suburban Chicago school district that promotes tolerance must also allow students to express opposing views, so long as they are not unduly disruptive, a federal appeals court ruled as it upheld the right of high schoolers to wear a “Be Happy, Not Gay” T-shirt. “A school that permits advocacy…

Mar 3, 2011 12:24 AM CST

Kirkland & Ellis Loses 3 Chicago Partners to Latham & Watkins

Three Chicago real estate partners from Kirkland & Ellis left Tuesday to join Latham & Watkins’ Chicago office. Robert Buday, Nathaniel Marrs and Gary Axelrod represented clients in complicated real estate dealings, the Chicago Tribune reported. The paper notes that established partners rarely opt to leave Kirkland because it is…

Mar 2, 2011 9:22 PM CST