News from 2025
Testimony in $11 million legal malpractice trial shows defense ‘on their heels’ by Keefe team
BENTON - Jurors at U.S. district court didn’t decide whether attorney James Borland of Springfield committed legal malpractice in St. Clair County but they heard fascinating testimony from him and from the lawyer who defeated him, Thomas Keefe III of Swansea.
Republicans can't challenge gerrymandered Democratic district maps, IL Sup Ct rules
Illinois' Democrat-dominated state Supreme Court sided with Democrats in ruling Republicans waited too long to challenge state legislative district maps, which GOP said Dems used to "rig" election results. A dissenting justice blasted the court's handling of the case, saying it indicated the court wasn't "neutral"
LIVE WEB - Immigration Law 2025: Updates and Essentials under the New Administration on April 11
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from our speakers as they offer an in-depth look at key immigration law developments since the Trump Administration began its work on January 20, 2025, as well as a discussion on how the current domestic political landscape has impacted immigration law.
LIVE WEB - Using the Collaborative Process on April 10, 2025
The collaborative process is a voluntary and confidential form of dispute resolution where two parties work together with a team of collaboratively trained professionals to avoid going to court.
In Major Victory for Survivors of Highland Park Mass Shooting, Judge Allows Majority of Claims in Civil Case Against Smith & Wesson and Firearm Retailers to Proceed
The survivors and loved ones of those killed in the Highland Park Fourth of July mass shooting secured a major victory today in their case seeking to hold Smith & Wesson and gun sellers Bud’s Gun Shop and Red Dot Arms accountable for enabling the shooter to carry out the massacre.
Post Cereals can't entirely dump suit over how much cereal is in boxes of Fruity, Cocoa Pebbles
Judge Stephen McGlynn said more proceedings are required before Post can end the class action lawsuit over claims the company misled consumers about the quantity of cereal in its boxes.
Attorney General Raoul Sues Trump Administration Over Unlawful Executive Order to Impose Sweeping Voting Restrictions
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 19 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order President Trump signed in March, which is an unconstitutional attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country.
Illinois can't force doctors to tell patients about abortion 'benefits,' judge rules
A federal judge has struck down a portion of an Illinois state law that would have stripped certain legal protections for doctors, other medical pros who refuse to tell patients about the "benefits" of abortion. The state can force docs to refer women to abortion providers, however. The case is headed to appeal
Supreme Court Approves 3 Proposals Impacting The Practice of Law in Illinois
The Illinois Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Executive Committee on the Practice of Law (Executive Committee) announced the adoption of three proposals to amend and create new rules that will impact the practice of law and help to address unmet legal needs in Illinois.
BTI Names Fox Rothschild Among Most Recommended Law Firms
Fox Rothschild earned high marks in peer-to-peer referrals by corporate counsel interviewed for BTI Consulting Group’s 2025 list of “Most Recommended Law Firms.”
Springfield Diocese: New IL abortion discrimination law tramples religious freedoms
A new lawsuit, led by the Springfield Diocese, accuses Illinois of essentially using a new law to strip religious organizations of their constitutional autonomy by forbidding them to speak against abortion or hire based on their beliefs concerning abortion or other "reproductive health" choices
Fifth District denies convicted murderer's petition to withdraw 'so-called' guilty plea
The Fifth District Appellate Court has found no merit in a Madison County convicted murderer's petition to withdraw a "so-called" guilty plea.
Attorney General Raoul Charges U.s. Postal Service Worker Over Alleged Paycheck Protection Program Loan Fraud
Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Cook County woman alleging she fraudulently received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for $40,000 while employed by the U.S. Postal Service.
Supreme Court Approves Free Remote Public Access to Reviewing Court Documents Effective May 1, 2025
The Illinois Supreme Court entered an order allowing free remote public access to reviewing court documents effective May 1, 2025.
Plaintiffs in Caseyville flood suit: 'We're going after CSX as landowner who just happens to be railroad company'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Flood damage claims that Caseyville and Keller Farms brought against CSX don’t involve the railroad’s bridge over a creek, village attorney Doug Stewart and Keller Farms counsel Jason Johnson argued on March 5.
Allerton Conference 2025 on April 2-4
Join us in Champaign as we explore hot topic issues impacting the civil practice and procedure arena – from how generative artificial intelligence is being used in the legal practice and the issues with deepfakes, to how courts are using artificial intelligence and the issues it is creating for judges.
Attorney General Raoul Issues Statement on U.s. Supreme Court Decision Upholding Federal Ghost Gun Regulations
Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision today upholding a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule regulating ghost guns, which are untraceable weapons often made at home from kits that are sold online.
St. Louis man sentenced to 12 years in scam involving online private car sales totaling $1.7 million
EAST ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a vehicle sale scheme using fake cashier’s checks and targeting victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties.
Attorney General Raoul Joins Bipartisan Effort to Protect Veterans’ Education Benefits
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 51 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in support of two military veterans and their families who were unlawfully denied their full G.I. Bill education benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Lawsuit: Champaign abortion doc left 'half of pre-born baby' in woman's body post-abortion
An Ohio doctor, who runs an abortion clinic in Champaign, has been accused of severely injuring a woman during an abortion, by allegedly perforating her uterus and leaving half of the unborn baby lodged in her pelvis, and then ignoring her requests for help amid the complications