Illinois

Malpractice Suit Alleges Ungaretti & Harris Lawyer Authorized Document Destruction

Updated: A malpractice suit alleges a high-profile lawyer at Ungaretti & Harris authorized the destruction of documents despite a judge’s order requiring their preservation. The suit by Peoples Energy names the law firm and lawyer Theodore Tetzlaff, a Democratic fundraiser and former adviser to Mayor Richard M. Daley, Crain’s Chicago…

Dec 16, 2010 3:59 PM CST

Bar Trip to Cuba Leads to Cubs ‘Caribbean Classic’ Talks

A Chicago Bar Association-sponsored trip to Cuba staged so Chicago judges and lawyers could learn more about the Cuban legal system could lead to some baseball diplomacy. Chicago and Cuban officials are discussing a “Caribbean classic” baseball series with the Chicago Cubs, according to Crain’s Chicago Business (sub. req.). Illinois…

Dec 15, 2010 3:44 PM CST

DOJ Sues School District for Allegedly Refusing to Accommodate Teacher’s Pilgrimage to Mecca

By refusing to consider a request by a Muslim school teacher for nearly three weeks of unpaid leave that would allow her to take a pilgrimage to Mecca, a suburban Chicago school district violated her civil rights, the U.S. Department of Justice contends. In a lawsuit filed in federal court…

Dec 15, 2010 2:00 AM CST

Lawyer Sues Ex-Fiancé for Jilting Her Four Days Before Planned Wedding

A suburban Chicago lawyer has sued her former fiancé, alleging he should reimburse her for nearly $100,000 she spent on a wedding that he called off just four days before the scheduled date. Hoffman Estates, Ill., lawyer Dominique Buttitta claims breach of a promise to marry and intentional infliction of…

Dec 13, 2010 1:49 PM CST

Parents of Boy, 11, Hit in Head by Ball Sue Aluminum Bat Maker

The parents of an 11-year-old pitcher who was struck in the head by a line drive earlier this year are suing the maker of the aluminum bat with which the ball was hit. In the federal lawsuit they filed today, Robert and Cheryl Schutter of Mokena, Ill., say the bat…

Dec 7, 2010 10:32 PM CST

Illinois OKs Civil Unions for Same-Sex—and Opposite-Sex—Couples

Following the lead of five other states that have already approved some form of recognized same-sex relationships, lawmakers in Illinois today approved a bill to provide for same-sex—and opposite-sex—civil unions. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act approved today by the state senate says civil unions will be…

Dec 1, 2010 9:38 PM CST

Civil Suit Against Ex-Lawyer Languishes Along With Criminal Sex Investigation

Four years after swift action was promised in an investigation of underage sex accusations against a then-prominent downstate Illinois personal injury lawyer, the probe is not on a fast track and a related civil suit is hence stalled, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Although Tom Lakin is serving time for…

Nov 24, 2010 4:11 PM CST

Police Haven’t Ruled Out Homicide in Lawyer’s Golf Cart Death

Police are investigating the possibility that a Chicago lawyer who was run over by his golf cart could have been the victim of a homicide. Lawrence Schad died on Nov. 10, three days after the cart ran over him, pinning him beneath it. Police had said he was playing solo…

Nov 23, 2010 12:19 PM CST

Lawyer Got Secretary to Take His CLE Courses, Disciplinary Complaint Contends

In a situation that will likely strike a chord with a number of attorneys who have been seen reading the newspaper, reviewing draft filings or otherwise appearing inattentive at live continuing legal education courses, a longtime Illinois practitioner has drawn disciplinary fire for allegedly arranging for a secretary to take…

Nov 23, 2010 12:43 AM CST

Bankruptcy Lawyer Charged With Beating His Wife Outside of Courtroom; Another Lawyer Intervenes

Reportedly angered over a protective order taken out by his wife that limited access to his home law office, a suburban Chicago bankruptcy lawyer allegedly began beating her Friday morning outside a Joliet, Ill., courtroom after a judge refused to rescind the order. Robert Gold-Smith, 48, was arrested at about…

Nov 22, 2010 1:55 PM CST

Prosecutor Says Student Wire Raises ‘Serious Legal & Ethical Questions’ in Innocence Probe

At least one journalism student at Northwestern University wore a wire while talking to a potential witness during an Innocence Project investigation in the case of Anthony McKinney, casting doubt on the validity of the wrongful conviction probe, an Illinois prosecutor says. Because state law requires the consent of the…

Nov 18, 2010 8:04 PM CST

Censure PD Who Copied Docs He Found on Machine & Was Entitled to Discover, Panel Says

A longtime senior lawyer in an Illinois public defender’s office should be censured for photocopying documents he was entitled to discover, but had not yet received through normal channels, an ethics hearing panel has recommended. Because lawyers in the Lake County public defender’s office often handled both sides of guardian…

Nov 17, 2010 12:11 PM CST

Hospital Tries to Nix Power of Attorney After Daughter Seeks More Care for Her Mom

An adult daughter who holds a power of attorney to make medical decisions for her 86-year-old mother says Dolores Bedin, who is suffering from inoperable pancreatic cancer, isn’t strong enough to go home. But Northwestern Memorial Hospital disagrees. In an effort to get Bedin discharged, the medical center has asked…

Nov 9, 2010 3:13 PM CST

Chicago Sees ‘Astonishing’ Drop in Suits Against Cops, Credits No-Settlement Strategy

The city of Chicago has seen an “astonishing” drop in lawsuits against police officers after it started trying cases that it once settled to avoid the expense of trial. The city predicts that 50 percent fewer police misconduct cases will be filed this year, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Rather than…

Nov 9, 2010 2:33 PM CST

DOJ Sues Ex-Seyfarth Partner for Alleged Sham Tax Shelters

A former partner at Seyfarth Shaw has been accused in a Justice Department complaint of selling sham tax shelters that resulted in $370 million in improper deductions. The complaint alleges lawyer John Rogers peddled the shelters from at least 2003, the same year he joined Seyfarth after the bankruptcy of…

Nov 4, 2010 12:38 PM CDT