With the November term in full swing and the holidays rapidly approaching, the Illinois Supreme Court has announced that the Court expects to file opinions on three remaining days in 2012: November 29, December 13 and December 28. The Court’s civil docket is largely up to date, accounting for the usual time between argument and … Continue Reading
In the final days of its September term, the Illinois Supreme Court allowed a petition for review in Standard Mutual Insurance Co. v. Lay. [pdf] In Lay, the Court will decide whether the Federal statutory penalty for sending junk faxes is in the nature of punitive damages, and thus uninsurable under Illinois law. The defendant in … Continue Reading
During its May term, the Illinois Supreme Court decided Harris v. Thompson, which posed the question of whether a public entity or employee could be held liable for negligent operation of an ambulance. At the close of its September term, the Court allowed a petition for review in Wilkins v. Williams. Wilkins poses the inevitable follow-up question … Continue Reading
We complete our preview of the new civil review grants at the Illinois Supreme Court with DeHart v. DeHart [pdf], a will contest which raises a range of issues from how do you prove lack of testamentary capacity, to undue influence, to whether or not Illinois should adopt the theory of "equitable adoption." Like many … Continue Reading
We continue our preview of the new civil review grants from the Illinois Supreme Court with Russell v. SNFA, which raises questions of general and specific jurisdiction over a French-based manufacturer. Russell [pdf] arose from a 2003 helicopter crash in Illinois. The decedent’s estate sued, alleging that one of the helicopter’s tail rotor drive-shaft bearings had … Continue Reading
In a time of budget cuts — including cuts directed against public employees — Griggsville Perry Community Unit School District v. Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board [pdf] may wind up offering important guidance to the state and local lawmakers. There, the underlying party worked as a noncertified paraprofessional for the plaintiff school district. After a long series … Continue Reading
Today we continue our previews of the new civil review grants from the May term of the Illinois Supreme Court. In Skokie Castings, Inc. v. Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund, [pdf] the Court will face questions about the operation of the Illinois Insurance Guaranty Fund with respect to self-insurers. A worker was seriously injured on the job. At … Continue Reading
Earlier today, we previewed Bjork v. O’Meara, a case about the perils of challenging a will too late. Now we preview a case about timing your claim for attorneys fees: Rodriquez v. Department of Financial and Professional Regulation [pdf]. The defendant Department sued Rodriquez for violating the Medical Practice Act. The parties agreed to stay all proceedings … Continue Reading
Today in our continuing series of previews for the Illinois Supreme Court, we bring you two cases on the perils of waiting too long: Bjork v. O’Meara and Rodriquez v. Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In Bjork [pdf], the plaintiff died, and his will was probated. Plaintiff filed an appearance in the probate proceeding, and … Continue Reading
Our second new grant of the May term at the Illinois Supreme Court is McFatridge v. Madigan [pdf]. McFatridge involves a simple question: if an elected official gets sued for his or her official actions, who pays the lawyer? Turns out, there’s conflicting statutory language on that one. Plaintiff used to be the State’s Attorney — an … Continue Reading
Today we begin a new feature for Appellate Strategist — detailed previews of civil cases just granted review in the latest term of the Illinois Supreme Court. This week we will review the late May grants, and the feature will continue shortly after the end of each term of the Court. Poris v. Lake Holiday Property … Continue Reading
