Illinois

Big Indy Firm Coming to Chicago, Plans 50-Lawyer Office

A more than 370-lawyer international law firm headquartered in Indianapolis is reportedly coming to Chicago in a big way. Baker & Daniels is establishing a presence in the Windy City with a seven-lawyer contingent from Schuyler Roche, and expects to have a 50-lawyer Chicago office in the near future, according…

Jun 2, 2008 10:34 PM CDT

Sonnenschein Layoffs Signal Sea Change in Law Firm PR Strategy

An announcement that Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal is laying off 37 lawyers and 87 staffers was noteworthy for the size of the reduction alone. But even more noteworthy, perhaps, is the fact that the more than 700-attorney Chicago-based international law firm took a highly nontraditional approach to the reduction in…

May 29, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

Judge Bars Sketch Artist From R. Kelly Trial

The Chicago judge in R&B singer R. Kelly’s high-profile child pornography trial has barred the Chicago Tribune’s sketch artist from the courtroom for the duration of the proceedings. Judge Vincent Gaughan asserted that the artist, Cheryl Cook, violated his strict order not to create images of jurors for publication, the…

May 22, 2008 12:04 AM CDT

7th Circuit Chief: Be On the Lookout for ‘Cranky’ Judges

Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook this week asked practitioners and judges to be on the alert for any aging, cranky judges who may need a call from his office. “I urge all of you—judges and lawyers alike—to keep in mind that you are the chief judge’s eyes and ears in dealing…

May 21, 2008 9:58 PM CDT

Jerry Springer’s Words of Wisdom Win Over Skeptical NU Grads

Students at Northwestern University School of Law protested when they heard that television reality show host and NU law grad Jerry Springer was to be their commencement speaker. But when they heard what he had to say last week, he got a standing ovation from about half of the audience,…

May 21, 2008 5:47 PM CDT

Actuaries Face Lawsuits for Underestimating Pension Liabilities

Actuaries who advise governments about pension fund obligations are facing lawsuits when shortfalls arise. Suits have been filed over rosy economic assumptions made by actuaries advising the state of Alaska, San Diego, Milwaukee County and Evanston, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, the New York Times reports. The story outlines some…

May 21, 2008 1:03 PM CDT

U of C Law Grad Accused of Submitting Phony Grades to Sidley Austin

Updated: A lawyer who attended the University of Chicago Law School has been accused in an ethics complaint of lying about his grades when he applied for a summer position at Sidley Austin. Loren Elliotte Friedman is accused in a complaint filed May 6 by the Illinois Attorney Registration and…

May 20, 2008 8:30 PM CDT

Chicago Not Liable in 21 Nightclub Deaths; No ‘Willful and Wanton’ Conduct

Chicago cannot be held liable for the deaths of 21 patrons in a 2003 nightclub disaster that injured dozens more, because it cannot be shown that the city’s conduct was “willful and wanton,” a state appeals court ruled today. The plaintiffs had alleged that the city knew of dangerous building…

May 16, 2008 10:02 PM CDT

Man Gets 20 Years in 9th DUI Case

A suburban Chicago man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for what is reportedly his 9th drunken driving conviction. After Taurino Maldonado’s conviction in April by a DuPage County jury of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, Judge Kathryn Creswell could have sentenced the 42-year-old Bensenville man…

May 16, 2008 6:38 PM CDT

R. Kelly Trial Offers Lessons About Avoiding Jury Service

Despite days of voir dire, lawyers in the R. Kelly child pornography trial in Chicago are still nowhere close to having a jury selected. In fact, the Chicago Tribune says in gavel-to-gavel coverage by the newspaper, all the dismissed prospects have provided ample material to write a book, How to…

May 15, 2008 3:45 PM CDT

Foie Gras Is Once Again Legal in Chicago

The Chicago City Council has repealed a controversial ban on the sale of foie gras in the city, heeding the mayor’s plea to put the item back on the menu. Mayor Richard Daley had previously called the ban “the silliest law the city council has ever passed,” the Chicago Tribune…

May 15, 2008 2:16 PM CDT

After 6 Years, R. Kelly Trial Begins

After a six-year delay, jury selection began today in Chicago in the child pornography trial of R&B star R. Kelly. Kelly, 41, whose full name is Robert Kelly, is accused of having sex on videotape with a girl as young as 13, although the alleged victim, now 23, denies that…

May 9, 2008 6:45 PM CDT

Rezko Defense Rests Without Calling Any Witnesses

Jurors in the corruption trial of political fundraiser Antoin ”Tony” Rezko could get the case for deliberations as early as next week. Prosecutors in Chicago wrapped up their case today after nine weeks of testimony, and Rezko’s lawyer did not call any witnesses, the Chicago Tribune reports. U.S. District Judge…

May 5, 2008 5:15 PM CDT

Vietnam Vet Arrested After Pointing Finger at Town Meeting

In the midst of a contentious town meeting in a small Chicago suburb earlier this year, resident Greg Kachka committed a criminal act, officials contend: Wearing a custom T-shirt with a Marine Corps insignia that states “Don’t Move. If You Run, You’ll Only Die Tired!!” the 60-year-old Vietnam veteran pointed…

May 2, 2008 8:22 PM CDT

7 Partners Leave Locke Lord Bissell, Form New Chicago Insurance Firm

A seven-partner contingent has left Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, including the chair of the recently merged 700-attorney firm’s insurance group, to form its own law practice. Led by Joseph Hinkhouse, 44, the new Chicago firm, which will be known as Hinkhouse Williams Walsh, will focus on representing insurance companies…

Apr 29, 2008 3:15 PM CDT