Travis Akin News
I-LAW and local leaders join together to host 'Create Jobs, Not Lawsuits' public forum
Akin A national survey of CEOs from Chief Executive Magazine was just released and the State of Illinois is ranked the third worst state in the country to do business. Only New York and California fared worse than the Land of Lincoln.
Without lawsuit reforms, Illinois' 'legacy' will be lost jobs
Akin The General Assembly is weeks away from adjourning for the summer. So far this legislative session, the leaders in both the House and Senate have refused to allow any lawsuit reform legislation to advance.
Madison County judge's ruling is significant step toward reform
Akin Last December, Madison County once again was put back on the list of the nation's worst "Judicial Hellholes." The growing number of asbestos cases being filed in Madison County was one of the main reasons Madison County was put on the list after a four-year absence.
Voters waiting to see if judges restore common sense to courts
Akin In a crowded courtroom recently in Madison County, Associate Judge Clarence Harrison listened as defense attorneys argued to end the trial "reservation" system for asbestos cases while plaintiffs' attorneys made a passionate plea to keep the status quo.
Good Judges Matter
Akin Illinois' primary election is just around the corner. Mail boxes are starting to fill up with campaign mailers and the airwaves are getting crowded with one political commercial after another.
Contributions to judges needs more scrutiny
Akin The issue of contributions to judges has created quite a stir in Madison County after a judge was removed from overseeing the asbestos docket as a result of her decision to award 82 percent of the 2013 trial slots to three law firms that had donated to her campaign.
Madison and St. Clair Counties return to 'Hellhole Status'
Akin Timing is everything.
Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week highlights impact of litigation on taxpayers and consumers
Akin "Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week" is an opportunity to educate citizens about the tremendous economic and social cost we all pay as the result of personal injury lawyers who game the state's legal system to try to hit the "lawsuit lottery."
Money communities spend on litigation is money 'Down the Drain'
Akin Early this summer, my wife and I bought our two daughters their own baby doll strollers. Of course, the girls decided hauling each other in the strollers was much more fun than merely transporting dolls. So now, just a couple of months later, the strollers have to be trashed. The money spent on these strollers was essentially wasted.
Time to pass lawsuit reforms and reduce job loss in Illinois
Akin July was a brutal month for the state of Illinois as the unemployment rate jumped from 9.1 percent in June to a whopping 9.5 percent in July.
Settling lawsuits has made Chicago a big target for lawsuits and it is time for city officials to fight back
Akin Everyone has a daily routine. For some it is reaching for an early morning cup of coffee. For others, it might be going for a daily jog. Whatever the routine is everyone has something they do to get their day started.
McLean County continues inching closer to becoming a 'judicial hellhole'
Akin Illinois' reputation as a lawsuit magnet was not made overnight. It took time as hotspots such as Madison, St. Clair and Cook Counties became destination jurisdictions for personal injury lawyers looking to hit the "Lawsuit Lottery."
Lawmakers make some noise on lawsuit reform but once again fail to take any action
Akin If lawmakers were indeed serious about job growth and job creation, then they would have done more than merely talk about lawsuit reforms. Year after year lawsuit reforms are introduced in the Illinois General Assembly and year after year these bills get bottled up in committees and never see the light of day.
Yet another cookie cutter class action with ties to the Metro East
Akin On April 20, a news report from the British Broadcasting Corporation revealed that Apple Inc. could track the location of iPhone users through the iOS 4 operating system. On April 29, an Illinois resident working with a Metro East lawyer proposed a statewide class action against Apple Inc.
'Hidden Lawsuit Tax' adds to already heavy tax burden
Akin Tax Day has become a national day of protest as thousands of Americans gather in cities all across the state to voice their concern about the tax and spend policies coming out of Washington and Springfield.
McClean County cements status as 'judicial hellhole'
Akin Local personal injury lawyers scoffed last December when McLean County was named as a "jurisdiction to watch" in the American Tort Reform Association's annual report on the country's "Judicial Hellholes."
Keeping up with the Joneses
Akin Keeping up with the Joneses appears to be something St. Clair County personal injury lawyers take very seriously.
Wisconsin making the most of Illinois' fumbles
Akin It's been a rough few weeks for Illinois in its rivalry with its neighbors to the north in Wisconsin. The Chicago Bears were just one game away from heading to the Super Bowl until their hated rivals from Green Bay came to town and knocked them out of the playoffs this past weekend
House squashes 'Lawsuit Loan Shark' bill
Akin The waning days of the 96th General Assembly have been a major departure from a typical lame-duck session. The death penalty, pension reform, worker's compensation reform and tax increases are just a few of the big ticket items brought up during the lame duck session.
Madison County inching closer to 'Hellhole' status
Akin The release of the annual "Judicial Hellholes," report has once again delivered some bad news for Madison and St. Clair Counties.