News from 2025
Attorney General Raoul Co-leads Coalition of Attorneys General in Support of Law Firm Targeted by Trump Executive Order
Attorney General Kwame Raoul co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of the law firm Susman Godfrey, which is challenging an unconstitutional executive order issued as retribution against the firm for representing clients in the aftermath of the 2020 election and defending the integrity of that election.
Sheppard Mullin Named 2025 Trademark Disputes Firm of the Year
Sheppard Mullin was named “Trademark Disputes Law Firm of the Year” in the West Coast region as part of the Managing Intellectual Property’s Americas Awards for 2025.
LIVE WEB - Online Evidence: Evidentiary Best Practices on April 30, 2025
Learn how to better secure, memorialize, and archive evidence from the internet with this informative online program! Intellectual property lawyers, federal civil practice attorneys, family law practitioners, and any other attorney with intermediate practice experience tasked with finding online evidence who attends this seminar will better understand how to ensure that secured evidence is evidentiarily competent and how to avoid the pitfalls associated with ad hoc screenshotting by clients, attorneys, and staff.
Raichle responds to asbestos bankruptcy abuse allegations; Accuser claims plaintiff lawyers misappropriated $5-10 billion
CHARLOTTE - Asbestos lawyer Marcus Raichle Jr. of St. Louis objected to an allegation that he and others have abused bankruptcy trusts so badly that future claimants will collect a fifth of what past claimants received.
LIVE WEB - All About Real Estate Transactions: New 8.0 Contract, Post-Closing Agreements, Surveys, and Associations on April 29, 2025
Enhance your understanding of several key issues in residential real estate law, including the newly approved Multi-Board 8.0 Contract, with this half-day seminar!
Yandle takes jurisdiction in downtown Highland development dispute
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle decided to exercise jurisdiction over a claim that developers of a project in downtown Highland failed to honor a construction contract.
Attorney General Raoul Obtains Guilty Plea Against Former Suburban Public Works Director
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced his office obtained a guilty plea in a case against a former suburban public works director who used village resources to finance a bathroom upgrade.
IL high court: State OK to restrict constitutional challenges to state laws solely to Chicago, Springfield courts
The Illinois Supreme Court has let stand a partisan law, backed by Democrats, that blocks judges outside of Chicago and Springfield from hearing cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws. The court declined to use the ruling to end a rule limiting lawsuit 'forum shopping,' outcome sought by trial lawyers
Paraquat plaintiffs and defense ask for stay at Seventh Circuit while discussing settlement
CHICAGO - About 5,600 plaintiffs who claim weed killer paraquat caused Parkinson’s disease joined with defendants Syngenta and Chevron in a motion to stay proceedings at U.S. Seventh Circuit for 60 days to settle almost all claims.
Attorney General Raoul Announces $12 Million Settlement With Alternative Retail Electric Supplier Over Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $12 million settlement with Direct Energy Services LLC (Direct Energy) that resolves allegations the alternative retail electric supplier (ARES) engaged in fraudulent, unfair and deceptive business practices to mislead Illinois consumers into paying millions of dollars more for electricity than consumers who stayed with their default public utility.
Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Associate Judge Vescogni As at-large Judge in Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Justice Mary K. O’Brien and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Associate Judge Michelle A. Vescogni as an At-Large Circuit Judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Counties ask judge to rope IL state govt, private 'tax buyers' into class action over property tax 'takings'
Suburban counties of DuPage, Lake, Will and Kane, along with three downstate counties, say they can't be forced to wear the blame and foot the bill for unconstitutional takings under a property tax system the state created and private investors are allowed to profit from
St. Clair Co. judge reversed over improper jury trial and leaving out necessary party
MOUNT VERNON - Retired St. Clair County Judge Julie Katz held a jury trial she had no business holding and left a necessary party out of it, according to an April 15 decision of Fifth District appellate judges.
Insurer Owed Law Firm Defense Despite Questions Over Claims
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently held that an insurer was obligated to provide defense for an attorney under a professional liability policy even though the claims brought against the lawyer, according to the insurer, did not involve “damages” as defined in the policy.
Illinois Amends One Day Rest in Seven Act to Prohibit Retaliation
Last month Governor JB Pritzker signed SB 3180 into law prohibiting retaliation under the One Day Rest in Seven Act.
LIVE WEB - An Introduction to Pooled Special Needs Trusts on April 24, 2025
Don’t miss this introductory look at pooled special needs trusts, including its different types and why we need them.
Foley Named Among Leading Health Care Law Firms
Foley & Lardner LLP is ranked among the leading health care law firms in Modern Healthcare‘s 2025 Largest Health Care Law Firm list.
Illinois Supreme Court Eliminates Fees in Minor Guardianship and Small Claims Cases
The Illinois Supreme Court announced amendments to M.R. Order 29741 which will eliminate filing and appearance fees in minor guardianship cases and appearance fees in small claim cases.
LIVE WEB - Small Firm Tech in the Age of Artificial Intelligence on April 22, 2025
Join us for a look at how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry, particularly for small law firms.
Sierra Club gives up on suit alleging Prairie State Generating operates Marissa plant without permit
BENTON - Sierra Club has ended its effort to shut down the Prairie State Generating power plant near Marissa.