THE
DOCKET The Official Publication of the Lake County Bar Association • Vol. 28 No. 7 • July 2021
HON. MICHAEL FUSZ (RET.) SWORE IN NEW LCBA PRESIDENT JOSEPH FUSZ ON JUNE 3, 2021.
GIBSON STEIGAUF ranked TOP 30 Illinois Law Firms Winning Cases of $500,000 or more by Chicago Lawyer
30 Year History of Achieving Record Verdicts and Settlements
GibsonSteigauf.com • 847 263 5100 • 415 W. Washington St., Suite 103, Waukegan, IL
Contents THE DOCKET • Vol. 28, No. 7 • July 2021
FEATURES 12 Covid Closures and the Senior Tsunami BY AMY LYNN LONERGAN
16 “To Listen Courteously ... ”: The Honorable Michael G. Nerheim
A publication of the
BY JUDGE MARGARET J. MULLEN (RET.)
300 Grand Avenue, Suite A Waukegan, Illinois 60085 (847) 244-3143 • Fax: (847) 244-8259 www.lakebar.org • info@lakebar.org THE DOCKET EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jeffrey A. Berman,Co-Editor Hon. Charles D. Johnson,Co-Editor Jennifer C. Beeler Hon. Michael J. Fusz Hon. Daniel L. Jasica Sarah A. Kahn Kevin K. McCormick Hon. Raymond J. McKoski Stephen J. Rice Neal A. Simon Hon. James K. Simonian Rebecca J. Whitcombe Alex Zagor STAFF Greg Weider Executive Director Jose Gonzalez Membership Coordinator Nancy Rodriguez Receptionist
AD SIZE 1/8 Page 1/4 Page 1/2 Page Full Page Inside Front or Inside Back Cover
Back Cover
ONE ISSUE
6 ISSUES
20 The Criminal Justice Reform Omnibus Bill: A Summary BY EUGENE BOLOTNIKOV
COLUMNS 2 President’s Page Building on Our Legacy
BY JOESEPH FUSZ, PRESIDENT
4 The Chief Judge’s Page Looking Forward to a Post-Covid Transition
10 Foundation Minutes 22 The Meeting Minutes May 20, 2021
BY KATHARINE S. HATCH, SECRETARY
LCBA EVENTS IFC 2021 LCBA Office Rental Pricing 3 New LCBA Members 3 Grapevine 3 Calendar of Events 8 LCBA 2021 Golf Outing 11 Thank You to Our Sponsors - LCBA 2021 Golf Outing 23 Lawyer Referral Service 24 Monthly Committee Meetings
BY CHIEF JUDGE DIANE WINTER
6 Bar Foundation The Importance of Your Continued Support BY DOUGLAS DORANDO, PRESIDENT
12 ISSUES
$85 $80 $75 $145 $135 $125 $195 $185 $175 $325 $295 $275 $650 per issue $800 per issue
Classified Advertising
Standard $1.75 per word (Rate for LCBA Members) Text $2.75 per word (Rate for Non-Members) Bold $3.50 per word (Rate for LCBA Members) Text $4.50 per word (Rate for Non-Members) Classified Advertisement may contain as many words, numbers, symbols and boldface type.
Advertising Rates To place an ad or for information on advertising rates, call (847) 244-3143. Submission deadline: first day of month preceding the month of publication. All submissions must be made in electronic format (high resolution PDF or JPG format at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch or more.) See www.lakebar.org/page/Docket_Advertising The Docket is the official publication of the Lake County Bar Association, 300 Grand Avenue, Suite A, Waukegan, Illinois 60085 (847) 2443143, and is published monthly. Subscriptions for non-members are $45.00 per year.
Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. The opinions and positions stated in signed material are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Association or its members. All submitted manuscripts are considered by the Editorial Board. All letters to the editor and articles are subject to editing. Publications of advertisements is not to be considered as an endorsement of any product or service advertised unless otherwise stated.
Building on Our Legacy
P
eople join the Lake County Bar Association for myriad reasons. Some people are looking for an opportunity to volunteer in the legal community or gain
Joseph Fusz President Tara Devine First Vice President Katharine Hatch Second Vice President Kevin Berrill Treasurer Daniel Hodgkinson Secretary Hon. Patricia Cornell Immediate Past President Dwayne Douglas Hon. Jacquelyn Melius Craig Mandell Sarah Raisch Jeffrey O’Kelley Jeremy Harter
2
The Docket
professional development. Some are looking to build business relationships or foster career advancement. A few were even solely drawn into the fold by the effervescent personality of LCBA Past-President Rick Lesser, following their attorney swearing-in ceremony in Elgin, IL. But no matter the reason for which people have joined the LCBA in the last 109 years, their contributions and efforts have formed the foundation of the professional organization that we are a part of today. Being mindful of our past is important. There is a biblical quote from the Book of Deuteronomy that has been adapted in different ways over the years. It speaks of living in “ . . . cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells
The
President’s Page
you did not dig . . . .” (6:10-12, paraphrased). In a purely religious context, it was to serve as a reminder to the people that what they had been given was from God. However, it also served as a lesson that we benefit from the work of those who came before us, and that their legacy is the foundation that continues to be a part of us. I am very mindful of this concept, both personally and professionally. I was raised with the stories of the hard work, sacrifice and perseverance of the prior generations of my family, both in the United States and in Brazil. Good or bad, each generation that follows continues to build on the foundation laid for them by those who came before them. The family legacy built over decades was left to my older brother Wil-
BY JOSEPH FUSZ PRESIDENT liam, me, and my younger sister Christine, and it became our responsibility as adults. Our choices, our decisions, our efforts are what we leave for the generation that follows, and how we define our legacy, and how we will be remembered. This concept of legacy is important for our organization as well. We have members who are second- or third-generation attorneys, whose predecessors helped build the Lake County Bar Association and our legal community as we know it today. We also have first generation attorneys and judges whose family legacies are no less important, as the efforts and sacrifices made by those who came before them laid the groundwork for the professional achievements they have been able to obtain. But it does not matter
if it is a first-year attorney, experienced jurist, or someone in the twilight of their legal career—all of us must be cognizant of the legacy of the Lake County Bar Association, work together to build on that legacy, and preserve it for the generations to come. In the pandemic era, this is especially important. As I alluded to in a previous President’s Page, we are entering a time of change as society—and our legal community—begins to reopen. We have members who are looking forward to in-person events, and some who will never feel completely comfortable again with shaking hands. We have attorneys and judges who have kept up with the great technological strides that have been implemented in the legal profession over the past sixteen months, and others who have been unable to adjust and want to return to conference room depositions with paper exhibits. We have young attorneys who have never litigated matters in-person, and experienced practitioners who relish the continued ability to appear in multiple counties from the comfort of their own home. As society has adjusted and continues to change over the last year, so must we as well. None of us can see accurately into the future, and we cannot predict how the coming year will be. While a priority will be a return to safe in-person events, our legacy cannot be that they were done to the exclusion
of others who aren’t ready to rejoin us face-toface. While there will be continuing legal education on the new technological developments in the law, there should be opportunities to focus on core legal principles and fundamentals of legal practice that need to be refreshed or reminded. While we will continue to forge a bright, sustainable future for the Lake County Bar Association in the 21st Century, we still also need to build on the foundational relationships we have with the 19th Judicial Circuit and other professional organizations as we advocate for our members and their best interests. It will not always be an easy task. This next year will require patience and understanding. It will need us to assume the best about each other, not the worst. Success may not be measured by comparison to years gone by, but a renewed interest and realistic projections for the future. Our organization, events and members will thrive on enthusiasm as opposed to pessimism, participation as opposed to ambivalence, and heartful support and encouragement as opposed to destructive gossip and dissuasion. These thoughts brought to mind the words, approach and optimism of another one of our past Presidents, Hon. Judge Elizabeth Rochford. In 2011, incoming LCBA President Elizabeth Rochford and I met for lunch at The Paragon, a local Waukegan restaurant, to discuss the upcoming bar
association year and my role as Chair of the Young & New Lawyers Committee. I remember that right away after we sat down at a table, the first thing that she told me was, “you are going to help me do great things this year.” I believe that I actually protested, saying that our committee didn’t have anything groundbreaking or new planned for the coming year. Judge Rochford just looked at me, shook her head and repeated, “We will do great things for the bar association over the next year.” With those words,
Welcome
New LCBA Members ATTORNEY Steven Becker Lindsay, Pickett & Postel, LLC
Madison Clark O’Flaherty Law, P.C. Amber Desselles Churchill, Quinn, Richtman & Hamilton, Ltd.
2
The
1
2 1
Calendar of Events July 5 Courthouse Closed July 15 LCBA Board Meeting (noon)
July 15 Installation Reception, Ivanhoe Country Club (evening) July 20 LCBF Board Meeting
Judge Rochford was echoing the sentiments of a quote often attributed to American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne: “The thing you set your mind on is the thing that you ultimately become.” Over the next year, if we are cognizant of the legacy of the organization, if we are mindful of the foundation that was built for us by our predecessors, and if we work together to do great things, we will bring out the best in one another and continue to build a sustainable Lake County Bar Association for the generations to come.
The
Grapevine
Eirene N. Salvi of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard has been elected the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth, an organization that channels the legal community’s resources to promote one-to-one mentoring and tutoring programs in disadvantaged Chicago communities. Ms. Salvi has been involved with LLAH since 2016, serving first as a member of the organization’s auxiliary board and later as an officer of the board of directors. Matt Dudley of Dudley & Lake became the 68th President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association on June 4. He has been a member of ITLA’s board of managers since 2004 and has served on its Executive Committee since 2016.
July 2021
3
Looking Forward to a Post-Covid Transition
T
he month of July is National Picnic Month, and it is also National Blueberry Month, Anti-Boredom Month, Independent Retailer Month, National Ice Cream Month, and the month for many other national month celebrations. For the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, July 2021 will hopefully be celebrated as the post-Covid transition month. As the state enters Phase 5 there will be more flexibility for scheduling in-person court proceedings. While the Governor’s next order for Phase 5 has not been issued as of the time I am writing this article, the recommended mask-wearing protocols will be implemented for the Courts. As to social distancing mandates, courtroom procedures will incorporate self-social distancing
4
The Docket
for the unvaccinated. Jury procedures will remain status quo with social distancing. There are concerns about variants circulating and an upcoming Fourth of July holiday that could cause a spike in the infection rate. We will be watching the numbers after the holiday. Currently, we are looking at increasing operations gradually with a more robust opening in the Fall. As a result, the Circuit will continue to utilize ZOOM for routine and certain other matters, as outlined in the latest Administrative Order. Further, the Circuit is working toward the ability to conduct blended calls, which would allow both in-person and Zoom participation for most of our courtrooms. This will require the installation of additional equipment for each courtroom. The 19th
The
Chief Judge’s Page Judicial Circuit will begin conducting blended court calls in three of its Law Division courtrooms in July. The Court’s Information Technology staff is currently in the process of selecting the best equipment and methods for holding blended court calls. The three law division courtrooms will test the processes and equipment. Once this new equipment is field tested, the court will complete the installation of the new equipment throughout all of the courtrooms. Currently, scheduling of blended call hearings will be at the discretion of the individual Law Division judges and will be set by court order. For attorneys, being in two places at one time may continue to be possible. However, the need for flexibility and a willingness to accept changes in procedures
BY CHIEF JUDGE DIANE WINTER will continue for the rest of the year. On the same topic of transition, July will be a month of transition for both the Circuit and the Lake County Bar Association. It is a great honor to publicly announce Circuit Judge Mark L. Levitt’s election on June 9, 2021, to be the 19th Judicial Circuit’s next Chief Judge. Judge Levitt was unanimously elected to become Chief Judge effective January 3, 2022. Congratulations Judge Levitt. Congratulations also to incoming LCBA President Joseph Fusz, and incoming Lake County Bar Foundation President Douglas Dorando, and their respective board members and trustees. Also, thank you to the outgoing Presidents, Judge Patricia Cornell and Nicholas Riewer, for keeping us together and
moving forward during a most challenging year. I look forward to the resumption of in-person meetings and working on joint projects. Congratulations are also due to several of our judges who were recently appointed or elected to various positions. Judge Michael Betar was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Special COVID Task Force on Evictions. Judge Mitchell Hoffman serves on the Illinois Supreme Court’s COVID Taskforce. Judge Jacquelyn Melius was sworn in as an LCBA Board Member with a term expiring in 2023. Judges Reginald Mathews and George Strickland represent the 19th Judicial Circuit on the Lake County Criminal Justice Community Council. Judge Michael Nerheim chairs the Lake County Opioid Initiative and serves on the Boards of Carmel High School, GPF Foundation, LCBF, NICASA, Boy Scouts of America, and the Navy League of the United States. Judge Daniel Shanes has served as a faculty member of the National Judicial College since 2015 and will teach a course on sentencing for the South Korean Judiciary. Judge Veronica O’Malley has joined the United Way Reading Success Task Force. Judge James Simonian continues to serve on the Editorial Board of The Docket and is a Topic Editor for the Illinois Judicial Benchbook on DUI/ Traffic. Judge Elizabeth Rochford was sworn in as Secretary of the Illinois Judges Association (IJA),
where she has been a board member since 2015, a co-editor of the IJA’s publication “The Gavel,” a co-chair of the “Paging It Forward” literacy initiative, and a co-chair of the 2021 IJA initiative “Building Confidence in the Legal System,” an educational series for judges, attorneys, and other stakeholders, with a focus on racial and other inequities in the legal system. Judge Rochford was also recently appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court and AOIC’s Access to Justice Advisory Committee; she also serves on the Illinois Judicial Conference Public Relations Task Force and the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Committee. And this is only a list of the judges that had time to respond quickly to my email request for appointments. Many more of our judges spend a considerable amount of time participating in committee work. It is evident the judges of the 19th Judicial Circuit continue the tradition of service and leadership.
Thank You LCBF PAST PRESIDENT NICHOLAS A. RIEWER FOR YOUR PRESIDENCY
Welcome LCBF PRESIDENT DOUGLAS DORANDO
GO TO
WWW.LAKEBAR.ORG FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE CALENDAR INFORMATION.
July 2021
5
The Importance of Your Continued Support
I
t may seem an odd time to be reviewing the past year, but between the swearing in of new officers and trustees, the BOARD OF TRUSTEES Douglas Dorando President Carey Schiever Vice President Perry Smith, Jr. Treasurer Joan Fratianni Secretary Nicholas Riewer Past President Jennifer L. Ashley Jeffrey A. Berman Nandia P. Black Kristie Fingerhut Hon. Fred Forman (Ret.) Scott B. Gibson David J. Gordon Keith C. Grant Fredric B. Lesser Amy L. Lonergan Steven P. McCollum Joseph McHugh Michael Ori Shyama Parikh John Quinn, Sr. Eric Rinehart Melanie Rummel David Stepanich Hon. Henry C. Tonigan (Ret.)
6
The Docket
annual budget year of the Foundation ending (and beginning again), and what appears to be the substantial easing of COVID restrictions, now is the perfect opportunity to highlight how much the Foundation was able to do in an extraordinarily difficult year. For those of you who donated to the LCBF as part of your Lake County Bar Association renewal, thank you. If not, I hope that this accounting helps remind you of the important services that the Foundation provides to our legal community, and encourages you to do so next year or whenever you next have an opportunity to give. We were all disappointed when the planned 2020 gala had to be shelved, but through the extraordinary generosity and artistic talent of the membership, we retooled
BY DOUGLAS DORANDO PRESIDENT our planned fundraising into the online art auction “Art with a Heart.” This event raised about $15,000, almost all of which was immediately disbursed to support the Foundation’s philanthropic goals. I have frequently been asked where these funds go, and while the whole Foundation Board has always done a yeoman’s job of broadcasting its support, I would like to highlight some of the larger programs that the Foundation supported in 2020, among others: • The Lake County Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk was given $3,000 earmarked to fund additional computers in direct response to COVID-19, to support public access to Zoom court and court forms, as well as to assist volunteer attorneys working the help
desk to fill out forms or other documents; • Art Impact Project received $8,000 to support its crime victim art therapy programs; • Nicasa was awarded $5,000 to support its mental health and substance abuse services; • Waukegan to College was granted $2,500 to support its programming for first generation college graduates; and • The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit’s Veterans History Project received continuing assistance from the Foundation in supporting, thanking, and remembering our veterans. Over my tenure on the Board, I have seen these dues “check-off” funds go to countless other organizations providing access to justice for those in need: from Prairie State Legal
Services, to Teen Court and Veteran’s Court, to Mock Trial competitions, Law Day programming, and many other worthy causes too numerous to name. The Foundation continues to be committed to supporting these types of opportunities for the Bar, the Judiciary, and the general public to interact in positive and education-
al ways. It is only through your continued support of the Foundation that we will be able to continue doing so. If you haven’t done your dues check-off, please do, and take notice of the important causes you are supporting. If you already returned your dues for the year, we would be happy to welcome your direct donation in its place.
There’s no place like LCBA/LCBF... and we wouldn’t be the same without you. Renew your membership today!
Thank You LCBA PAST PRESIDENT HON. PATRICIA L. CORNELL FOR YOUR PRESIDENCY
Welcome LCBA PRESIDENT JOSEPH FUSZ
LCBA is the professional community for the Lake County legal community, offering connections, information and resources you can’t get anywhere else. We look forward to continuing to support you and celebrating your successes.
www.lakebar.org July 2021
7
2021 LCBA Golf Outing The winning team is: Donald Morrison James Bertucci Jeffrey Nutschnig Michael J Boyd
8
The Docket
June 17, 2021 | White Deer Run Golf Club
July 2021
9
Foundation & Committee Minutes LAKE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING, MAY 18, 2021 IN ATTENDANCE: BY ZOOM: Joann Fratianni Nandia Black Rick Lesser Nick Riewer Perry Smith Shyama Parikh John Quinn, Sr. Amy Lonergan Hon. Henry “Skip” Tonigan (Ret.) Douglas Dorando Jeffrey Berman Hon. Fred Foreman (Ret.) Melanie Rummel Kristie Fingerhut ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Greg Weider, Executive Director, LCBA and LCBF. I. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order by President Nick Riewer at 4:06 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Meeting of April 20, 2021 were presented for approval. Motion to approve made by Perry Smith and seconded by Amy Lonergan. Motion carried. III. TREASURER’S REPORT: A. STATUS AND BALANCES OF LCBF ACCOUNTS: Treasurer, Perry Smith reported that he has access to all the LCBF accounts at Lake Forest Bank. He does not have access to the RMB accounts, but Greg Weider
10 The Docket
does. We still owe the LCBA money and they also owe the Foundation money. B. WARRANT/ APPROVAL OF EXPENSES PAID: Treasurer, Perry Smith presented the expense Warrants for approval for April, 2021. Motion to approve the expenses was made by Skip Tonigan and seconded by Jeff Berman. Motion carried. IV. CONTINUING BUSINESS: A. PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION: Amy Lonergan reported that we received a notice for a status date for June 2, 2021 from the Illinois Department of Revenue. President Riewer will need to sign the Power of attorney for Nick Riewer and Doug Dorando to be represented by Amy at the status hearing. Motion was made by Rick Lesser and seconded by John Quinn, Sr. to allow Nick Riewer to sign the Power of Attorney for himself and Doug Dorando. Motion carried with Amy Lonergan abstaining.
Motion carried. Motion made by Melanie Rummel and seconded by John Quinn, Sr. to allow the Committee to review any Grant applications and present recommendations to the full Board for approval. Motion carried. The Board also discussed having a press release and notice in The Docket that the LCBF is accepting Grant applications. C. UNIT C PLUMBING REPAIRS: The Water is off in Unit C pending the order and arrival of a piece for the plumbing.
B. GRANT APPLICATION UPDATE: A Meeting will be scheduled of the Grant Application Sub-Committee. The revised Grant Application has been submitted to the Board for approval.
D. LCBF FUNDRAISING SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING: The Committee discussed the possibility of holding a hybrid event both live and virtual. We also discussed the need to have a budget and inquiring as to what other Bar Associations and Foundations are doing. We would like to send out a survey to our membership as to how they would feel about a live event versus a virtual event. We also discussed the need for the Board to consider what to do with our Condo in Cabo and what type of raffle we would hold for the Condo.
Motion to approve the application was made by Perry Smith and seconded by Douglas Dorando.
V. NEW BUSINESS: A. BUDGET: The Board will consider as part of its Budget general
donations, fundraising events as well as a potential Condo Raffle. B. RESOLUTION FOR WINTRUST ACCOUNT SIGNERS: A Motion was made by Jeff Berman and seconded by Rick Lesser, for a Resolution giving access to the LCBF Wintrust accounts to Gregory Weider, Executive Director, Douglas Dorando, Board President 2021-2022 and Perry Smith, Treasurer. Motion carried. C. ASSOCIATION BOARD APPROVAL OF FOUNDATION TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS The LCBA Board approved the terms of the following Officers and Trustees: Douglas Dorando, President Trustees: Carey Schiever, Vice President Jeffrey Berman Perry Smith , Treasurer Kristie Fingerhut Joann Fratianni, Secretary Steve McCollum Nick Riewer, Past President Eric Rinehart Melanie Rummel A swearing -in ceremony will be held on June 3, 2021. VI. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Nandia Black and seconded by Amy Lonergan. Motion carried and the Meeting adjourned at 4:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joann M. Fratianni Secretary
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! HOLE IN ONE SPONSOR
EAGLE FOURSOME SPONSORS
SPITZER LAW P.C. & KEN DEVANEY ATTORNEY AT LAW
GOLD TEE SPONSORS
CART SPONSORS
COMPETITION SPONSORS CIVIL DIVISION JUDGES OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT HON. DANIEL B. SHANES CRIMINAL LAW JUDGES OF THE 19TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
July 2021
11
Covid Closures and the Senior Tsunami Succession Planning for Solo and Small Firms
B
BY AMY LYNN LONERGAN
efore COVID, there was already an impending “Senior Tsunami.” Rapid advancements in technology, such as the required (but hard to navigate) efiling system, along with a general deterioration in civility have caused many attorneys of a finer vintage to consider retirement earlier than they may have contemplated at one time in their salad years.
Then we got hit with COVID, including Zoom Court are playing musical chairs in and out of different firms and emailing of orders in Microsoft Word. This, comor governmental positions, all in hopes of staying afloat bined with the boom in legal software like Smokeball, in these turbulent economic times. Together, you can Clio, and Family Law software suites, along with innosee that the hot topic for 2021—and probably several vations like LawPay and programs like Outlook, Adoyears thereafter—will be figuring out how to deal with be, and QuickBooks switching to a subscription basis, either closing up or selling a legal practice. There are means that older attorneys are facing always complications when you are steep learning curves, reduced profits, closing or selling any business, but Amy Lynn and less personal social fulfilment in a law practice adds an extra layer Lonergan is their profession. Often these same of ethical concerns that all lawyers a partner at attorneys are managing children or need to think about sooner rather Finn & Finn, Ltd., where grandchildren with eLearning, and than later. she focuses large numbers are still caring for First and foremost, it is importon small elderly parents or disabled spouses ant to understand that no matter business, on top of these dramatic changes to your age or health, as we’ve seen estate planthe workplace. Therefore, the senior with COVID, anyone in a small or ning, and real proptsunami is cresting, and the wave is solo firm- i.e. 90% of Lake County erty law. about to break. attorneys - should be thinking about For more information, she can be Many small law firms have succession planning. reached at 847-599-0202, or lonerclosed up shop, solo practitioners are The LCBA had a wonderful ganamy@waukegan.com finding partners, and other attorneys presentation by John Cesario of
12
The Docket
the ARDC back in September 2019 on this very topic, including basic checklists, sample language to include in your retainer letters, some proposed Supreme Court Rule changes, and a brief explanation of the role of the ARDC in all of this. The ISBA has most of these materials and a ton of guidance available at https://www. isba.org/committees/successionandtransitionplanning. Further, John Cesario has been an incredible resource to me and if you crave a personal touch or have a specific question, he will enthusiastically assist however he can. He can be reached at jcesario@iardc. org or 312/937-0244. In the meantime, to jump start your plans, particularly if you are a solo practitioner, it is really your fiduciary duty to your client to ensure that they are not prejudiced in their case by your sudden departure or as a result of retirement. However, the client always has the ultimate choice of who their attorney is, so you cannot guarantee the purchaser of your firm will have the same book of business, nor can you guarantee that after you join another firm your book of business will follow you. This creates a natural tension and adds a layer of complexity to your plans. With the crush of deadlines and needing to earn wherever and whenever you can, it is easy to put such difficult decisions and complex matters on the back burner. Don’t do that! Instead, make it your 2021 goal to have a succession plan in place by the end of the year. Begin by breaking that plan down into five simple steps. First, compile all client information in one central location. We have all quickly written down a client number in our planner or emailed ourselves our client’s phone number with a reminder to call. Take the time to have a centralized location for all client contact information—whether in Outlook, in your phone’s address book, in Smokeball if you have that, or in an Excel spreadsheet- and develop a plan to gather all current client contact info in one place. Make sure all new clients are regularly added to that same place. The same rules should apply to billing records, calendar entries, to-do lists, outstanding retainer letters and client files. You should have a central location for all this information and documentation. Make sure this information is password protected and that at least one other responsible person not only knows the physical or virtual location,
but also how to access the info and how to read any notes or codes. Second, look at your digital footprint and all the records for managing your firm. Create a central location and access point for those as well. Bank records, email accounts, web hosting accounts for your firm website, search engine optimization and other marketing accounts, Microsoft 365, practice management software, utility bills, phone records, leases or mortgages, copier lease info, efax login, Law Pay, bar association login info, and cloud-based backup services are just some of the numerous examples of physical and virtual items that you cannot run your business without. Again, making sure that this information is in one place and that someone else knows where to look and how to access is critical. Third, review your financials. What is your EIN? How would someone else figure that out? Often small firms create their own 1099s. Where do you have that data stored? What about payroll? Tax withholding? IRA and 401ks and other employee benefits? Business licenses, annual filings, operating agreements, even keys to your office and any P.O. Boxes: who has knowledge of and access to these items? Bank account info, malpractice insurance, building insurance, computer login info, a complete inventory of equipment (i.e. did an employee steal a laptop on the way out in hopes of using proprietary information at his or her next job?) all needs to be centralized and made clear to whomever will be dealing with these items in your absence. Fourth, after you have gathered all this information and documentation in one place, start thinking about who you want to be in charge of what, have conversations about expectations, inform staff after decisions have been made, solidify agreements in writing, and spend some time thinking about updating retainers or sending out notice to current clients. Consider the addition of another attorney as “of counsel” and making them an authorized user of certain accounts. Consider ethical and malpractice insurance implications. Fifth, create a system to preserve your intent moving forward. Reexamine the situation often to ensure that you do not just “set it and forget it,” but are constantly updating the information. A detailed printout of client balances at the end of each month might be a great idea
There are always complications when you are closing or selling any business, but a law practice adds an extra layer of ethical concerns that all lawyers need to think about sooner rather than later.
July 2021
13
FREE CLE • DISCOUNTED CLE BUSINESS MEETINGS LAWYER REFERRAL SEARVICE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP THE DOCKET & WEEKLY E-NEWS
for your office in general, and it certainly would also help with any succession plan. All of this, though, is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more you need to deal with. It is said that the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Taxes have loopholes. Death does not. It’s not an “if”, it’s a “when”. Don’t let your legacy be a widow or widower with no clue what is going on or where to find anything with respect to your law practice handling their legal affairs. Do not assume that a junior associate will just step in and take over the helm. Failing to plan is planning to fail. You have worked very hard for your little empire. Do not let it burn in one day. Do you have a Tech question? Is there a Tech topic you’d like to learn about next month? Email Pete Salerno at pete.salerno@ stratusconcept.com
FREE LCBA SERVICE
14
The Docket
We’ve got you covered. ISBA Mutual insures more small firms in Illinois than any other insurance company.
Same-day Service Risk Management Consultations
Answers questions and helps guide you through the process
Online CLE
Sponsored with the Illinois State Bar Association
No interest or fees for quarterly or monthly payments
Call us at (312) 379-2000 or visit us online at ISBAMUTUAL.COM/APPLY.
(312) 379-2000 | ISBAMUTUAL.COM
July 2021
15
“To Listen Courteously . . . ”: The Honorable Michael G. Nerheim
J
BY JUDGE MARGARET J. MULLEN (RET.)
udge Michael G. Nerheim was recently appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy of the beloved Circuit Judge Valerie Boettle Ceckowski, who retired after 24 years on the bench. In a recent conversation with The Docket, Judge Nerheim made his judicial values clear. He will strive to treat all who come before the bench equally, with patience and courtesy. Judge Nerheim, 47, grew up in Lake County’s largest he watched his father, Jerry, work the counter and he city, Waukegan, the youngest of four children. As Judge learned the value of the human touch. It didn’t matter if Nerheim sees it, Waukegan was a great place to grow they bought a complete set of top-of-the-line tires or if up because of its rich diversity. The town was a melting their car limped in with one flat they couldn’t afford to pot, where different cultures and points of view found a replace, Jerry Nerheim treated every customer with the home. His parents, brother, and sisters same courtesy and respect. all still live nearby. The Nerheims didn’t know many Bio: Judge His family ran (and still runs) a lawyers but, at age 16, young Mike Margaret tire store. He started working there at met a busy practitioner who became Mullen age 10 and continued until he grada mentor to him. The relationship (Ret.) served uated from law school. His first jobs with Judge Charles Smith continues as an Associate Judge were sweeping floors and cleaning to this day. When Mike declared a with the up. He later graduated to loading and double major in Criminal Justice and Nineteenth unloading semi-trailers filled with Psychology at Winona State UniversiJudicial Cirtires. Eventually, he learned to do tire ty (B.S. 1996), he called Mr. Smith to cuit starting installations and oil changes. Seeing ask his opinion about a summer job. in 1992 and was selected his dad work seven days a week—even He was told that a summer internship as a Circuit Judge in 1997, which now at the age of 85—showed him the at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s was a position she filled until her importance of working hard. Office would be perfect for a young retirement from the bench in 2017. He never aspired to do sales; but man interested in law and justice.
16
The Docket
Starting in the Investigations Divisions as a college junior, he worked as a summer intern at the State’s Attorney’s Office for five years in a row. When he graduated from the UIC/John Marshall Law School (J.D. 1999, Cum Laude), it was a given that Mr. Nerheim would become an Assistant State’s Attorney. There he served seven years, working in almost every job at the office that he would later lead from 2012 to 2020 as the Lake County State’s Attorney, with private practice at Fox, Lunardi, Zeit & Nerheim in Waukegan in between. As State’s Attorney, Nerheim kept the booking photo of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, on the wall of his office to remind him of justice and courage. He took up issues like drug treatment [A Way Out], mental health [Mental Health Treatment Court], and naloxone availability [Naloxone Program]. He was lauded by state-wide groups as the “State’s Attorney of the Year” in 2014 and 2017. His judicial icons are among the greats of the Lake County bench. Mike’s early courtroom experiences were with Judge Thomas R. Smoker (b.1949-d.2004). He recalls that Tom had a way of treating young lawyers well, which impresses Nerheim to this day. Sometimes, he would step in and coach, saying helpfully, “Counsel, don’t you want to ask the witness if their recollection is exhausted on that point and if anything would refresh their recollection?” Mike thought he had impressed Judge Smoker by his courtroom performance one day when the clerk called and said, “come down here. The judge has a question.” After he rushed down to chambers, Smoker said, “I need some new tires. What brand should I buy?” He had a formative relationship with Judge John T. Phillips (b.1947-d.2018), who was an associate judge when Mike was a new assistant. They shared several assignments like domestic violence, bond court, and then later a felony call. “Judge Phillips had such patience and compassion. He was respected by all who appeared before him. I appeared before him for fifteen years and I never saw him lose his temper. And he treated everyone with the same courtesy and respect. No matter who they were; no matter who represented them.” As a new judge assigned to the Family Division, he is very aware of the magnitude of his responsibility. Probably intending to instill confidence, his long-time friend, Judge Chuck Smith, told him: “If you make a mistake dealing with an estate issue, the appellate court will correct it. But if you make a mistake in the life of a child, there’s no correcting that.” With characteristic humility, Judge Nerheim looks forward to the challenge and credits
his wife, Andraea, with sparking his interest in children’s issues. He met the Mundelein native at Winona State, where she studied early childhood development. They married in 1999 and have three children. At her insistence, they read to each of their children every night since they were brought home from the hospital. With no experience at child care, Mike went along, but Andi’s influence and focus on Zero to Three made him a believer in the importance of early childhood education. As State’s Attorney, he chaired Illinois’ chapter of Fight Crime: Invest In Kids, a national group that advocates funding for early childhood programs. Judge Nerheim even participated in a fellowship on early childhood policy advocacy at the Erikson Institute in Chicago. Socrates said that a judge is required to listen courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.1 It is clear that Judge Nerheim will bring to the bench the breadth of his experiences as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney, as the administrator of a large government office and as a small firm lawyer. And it is equally sure that he will strive to listen to each person in his courtroom and treat each of them with the same courtesy and respect.
The Nerheims didn’t know many lawyers but, at age 16, young Mike met a busy practitioner who became a mentor to him.
1
Md. Manjur Hossain Patoari, Mohammad Hasan Murad & Md. Salahuddin Mahmud, The Desired Qualities of a Good Judge, 3 Acad. J. of Interdisc. Stud. 97, 97 (2014), https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311987229_The_Desired_Qualities_of_a_ Good_Judge.
Contact the LCBA office for pricing. 847-244-3143
July 2021
17
The Criminal Justice Reform Omnibus Bill: A Summary
O
BY EUGENE BOLOTNIKOV
n February 22, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed HB 3653 into law as Public Act 1010652, otherwise known as the Criminal Justice Reform Omnibus Bill. This voluminous new law contains noteworthy provisions impacting law enforcement activities, rights of persons, and other subjects, including use of force, mental health training, body worn camera mandates, and community relations and the elimination of cash bail. AFFIDAVIT FOR COMPL AINT Effective July 1, 2021, the law eliminates the affidavit requirement previously mandated for a person to file a complaint against a police officer (20 ILCS 2610/14, 50 ILCS 725/3.8), which was originally intended to deter false and frivolous complaints and enable the prosecution of false statements. ANONYMOUS COMPL AINTS Effective January 1, 2021, the law amends the Police and Community Relations Improvement Act to permit anonymous complaints to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (“Board”) regarding “conduct the person believes a law enforcement officer has committed as described in subsection (b) of Section 6.3 of the Illinois Police Training Act.” This conduct includes
18
The Docket
the commission of certain felonies and misdemeanors, the failure to intervene, tampering with a dash or body-worn camera, perjury, making a false statement or knowingly tampering or fabricating evidence, and engaging in “any unprofessional, unethical, deceptive, or deleterious conduct or practice harmful to the public.” 50 ILCS 705/6.3(b). A governmental agency, including its legal counsel, are required to notify the Board within seven days of learning of a violation. With certain exceptions, the Board and the governmental agency must conduct a review of the allegations (50 ILCS 705/6.3(e), (f )), and the governmental body must additionally adopt a written policy for these investigations.
Eugene Bolotnikov works with Ancel Glink and concentrates on advising clients about compliance issues associated with the Freedom of Information Act.
CIVIL SUIT ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
Effective July 1, 2021, the Attorney General Act is amended to prohibit a governmental authority, its agent, or person acting on the authority’s behalf from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by officers that deprives any person of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by state or federal laws or the constitutions of the United States or State of Illinois. 15 ILCS 205(b). The Attorney General may conduct a preliminary investigation into violations of the preceding provision and file a civil action that seeks equitable and declaratory relief, including civil penalties of $25,000 per violation (or not to exceed $50,000 if the defendant is adjudged to have committed one of the civil rights violations under this Section within five years). Significantly, these penalties can be imposed upon a police officer, not just the officer’s agency. In fact, “governmental authority” and “officers” is broadly defined, and the “pattern or practice of conduct” language is extremely broad to permit enforcement over a wide variety of conduct.
L AW ENFORCEMENT MISCONDUCT Effective July 1, 2021, the law creates a Class 3 felony offense for an officer or a person acting on their behalf, while acting in the line of duty, to knowingly and intentionally: (1) misrepresent or fail to provide facts describing an incident in a report or during an investigation; (2) withhold knowledge of the misrepresentation of another officer; or (3) fail to comply with state law or department policy requiring the use of officer-worn body cameras. 720 ILCS 5/33-9.
In addition to the prior prohibition of chokeholds, “restraining above the shoulders with risk of asphyxiation” is also prohibited unless deadly force is justified.
BODY CAMERAS Effective July 1, 2021, the law requires law enforcement agencies to implement body cameras (50 ILCS 706/10-15(b)) based on the following requirements and timelines: Municipalities with populations of 500,000 or more — January 1, 2022; Municipalities with populations of 100,000 or more but under 500,000 —Jan. 1, 2023; Municipalities with populations of 50,000 or more but under 100,000 — January 1, 2024; Municipalities under 50,000 — January 1, 2025. While the law addresses grant funding, no State funding is required. Additionally, the law prohibits (or at least does not permit) the recording officer from accessing and reviewing recordings prior to completing incident reports, 50 ILCS 706/10-20(a)(6A), 6(B), despite the fact that the law creates a Class 3 felony for Law Enforcement Misconduct, which includes “knowingly and intentionally… (1) misrepresent(ing) or fail(ing) to provide facts describing an incident in any report…” 720 ILCS 5/33-9(a)(1).
OFFICER INVESTIGATIONS Effective July 1, 2021, the law amends the Uniform Peace Officers’ Disciplinary Act to no longer require informing an officer under investigation about the names of complainants prior to interrogation, 50 ILCS 725/3.2, or the name, rank and unit or command for the officer in charge of the investigation. 50 ILCS 725/3.4. USE OF FORCE Effective July 1, 2021, an officer’s use of force must be based upon “the totality of the circumstances,” 20 ILCS 5/7-5, which is defined to mean “all facts known to the peace officer at the time, or that would be known to a reasonable officer in the same situation, including the conduct of the officer and the subject leading up to the use of deadly force.” 20 ILCS 5/7-5(h)(3). Force likely to cause death or great bodily harm requires, based upon the totality of the circumstances, that it is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to the officer or other person, or a reasonable belief that it is necessary to prevent the arrest from being defeated by resistance or escape, and the officer reasonably believes that the person to be arrested cannot be apprehended at a later date, and the officer reasonably believes that the person to be arrested is likely to cause great bodily harm to another. 20 ILCS 5/7-5(a). Under the new law, the inability to apprehend a person at a later date appears to significantly limit the ability to use such force. DEADLY FORCE The new law does not permit using deadly force based upon danger that a person poses to him or herself if a reasonable officer would believe that the person does not pose an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or another. 20 ILCS 5/7-5(a-10). In turn, an “imminent threat” is “not
July 2021
19
merely a fear of future harm,” but “the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury” to the officer or another. 20 ILCS 5/7-5(h)(2). RESTRAINTS In addition to the prior prohibition of chokeholds, “restraining above the shoulders with risk of asphyxiation” is also prohibited unless deadly force is justified. 20 ILCS 5/7-5.5. These restraints include “a technique used to restrain a person above the shoulders, including the neck or head, in a position which interferes with the person’s ability to breathe after the person no longer poses a threat to the officer or any other person.” 20 ILCS 5/7-5.5(d). FORCE PROHIBITIONS An officer, or person acting on the officer’s behalf, may not: (i) use force as punishment or retaliation; (ii) discharge kinetic impact projectiles and all other non- or less-lethal projectiles in a manner targeting the head, pelvis, or back; (iii) discharge firearms or kinetic impact projectiles indiscriminately into crowds, or (iv) use chemical agents or irritants (e.g., pepper spray and tear gas) prior to issuing an order to disperse in a sufficient manner to ensure the order is heard and repeated if necessary, followed by sufficient time and space to allow compliance with the order. 20 ILCS 5/75.5(e). ESCAPE Use of force to prevent escape is limited to non-deadly force, 720 ILCS 5/7-9(a), unless, based upon a totality of the circumstances, deadly force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm. 20 ILCS 5/7-9(c). AID An officer has a duty, “as soon as reasonably practical,” to determine if a person is injured, to render medical aid, and to request emergency medical assistance. 20 ILCS 5/7-15. INTERVENTION An officer also has an affirmative duty to intervene to prevent or stop another officer from using unauthorized force or excessive force without regard for the chain of command. 20 ILCS 5/7-16. In the event of intervention, the intervening officer has to abide by certain requirements and cannot be disciplined or retaliated against for intervening. 20 ILCS 5/7-16. MONETARY BAIL ABOLISHED Effective January 1, 2023, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is amended to abolish the requirement
20 The Docket
of posting monetary bail, except under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, the Drivers License Compact, and the Nonresident Violator Compact. The new law also removes language from the Counties Code to eliminate sheriffs’ fees related to taking special bail and language from the Clerks of Courts Act regarding credit card or debit card payment of bail bond fees. Additionally, revisions are made to multiple statutes to remove and replace references to “bail” and “conditions of bail” with “pretrial release” and “conditions of pretrial release.” RIGHT TO PHONE CALLS UPON ARREST Effective July 1, 2021, persons in police custody have a right to communicate, free of charge, with an attorney and family members as soon as possible upon being taken into police custody, but no later than 3 hours after arrival. These persons must also be given access to a telephone with a land line or cellular phone to make three phone calls and have the ability to retrieve phone numbers on their cell phone’s contact list. Specific signage is also required at the place of custody. 725 ILCS 5/103-3(a-5). MEDICAL TREATMENT WHILE IN CUSTODY Effective July 1, 2021, the law requires a person in custody to be treated humanely, provided with food and shelter, and receive medical treatment “without unreasonable delay if the need for the treatment is apparent.” 725 ILCS 5/103-2(c). RESISTING OR OBSTRUCTION CHARGE Effective January 1, 2023, a person is no longer subject to arrest solely for resisting or obstructing a police officer unless there is an underlying offense for which the person was initially subject to arrest. 720 ILCS 5/31-1(d). CITATION TO BE ISSUED/NO ARREST Effective January 1, 2023, a citation must be issued in lieu of a custodial arrest, “upon proper identification,” for traffic and Class B/C criminal misdemeanor offenses, and petty and business offenses. This law applies to those persons who “pose no obvious threat to the community or any person or who have no obvious medical or mental health issues that pose a risk to their own safety.” 725 ILCS 5/109-1(a-1). A citation or summons must be issued for appearance within 21 days. 725 ILCS 5/109(a-1), (a-3). Upon arrest with or without a warrant for an offense for which pretrial release may not be denied, an officer may issue a summons and release the person without appearing before a judge. “A presumption in favor of pretrial release shall be applied by an arresting officer in the exercise of his or her discretion,” 725 ILCS 5/109-1(a-3), although the Court may deny pretrial release for certain offenses upon a verified petition by the State. 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1(a)(1-6).
LIMITS ON MILITARY EQUIPMENT The new law also amends the State Police Act, the Counties Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code to forbid the Illinois State Police, sheriffs’ departments and police departments from purchasing, requesting or receiving from any military surplus program the following equipment: tracked armored vehicles, weaponized aircraft or vehicles, .50-caliber or higher firearms and ammunition, grenade launchers, or bayonets. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION The new law also amends the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act to prohibit a unit of local government, or one of their representatives or employees, from retaliating against an employee or contractor who reports an improper governmental action, cooperates with an investigation, or testifies in a proceeding or prosecution. To invoke these protections, the employee must make a written report to the appropriate auditing official, and each auditing official is required to establish written procedures for managing complaints. To remedy adverse actions against employees for reporting improper government action, the employee may receive restitution. Retaliatory actions in violation of this provision are subject to a penalty of between $500 and $5,000, suspension without pay, demotion, discharge, and civil or criminal prosecution. RETENTION OF POLICE MISCONDUCT RECORDS The new law also amends the Local Records Act to require that all public and nonpublic records related to complaints, investigations, and adjudications of police misconduct must be permanently retained and cannot be destroyed. MENTAL HEALTH AND REL ATED TRAINING The new law requires the law enforcement agency or other first responder entity in programs receiving funding for deflection program services to receive training in “eliminating Stigma for People with Substance-Use Disorders and Mental Health.” 5 ILCS 820/21(e). The law also adds various new topics for substance use and deflection programs and expands uses of appropriate funds, and prioritizes funding for communities with police/community relation issues and those with a lack of access to mental health and drug treatment programs. Further, the law also requires the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to establish statewide minimum standards regarding regular mental health screenings for probationary and permanent police officers, ensuring that counseling sessions and screenings remain confidential. 50 ILCS 705/6(f ). The Board must also adopt rules and minimum standards for schools, which will include minimum in-service training requirement which police officers must satisfactorily complete at least annually regarding crisis
intervention training and officer wellness and mental health. 50 ILCS 705/7(h). The Board must additionally develop a standard curriculum for certified training programs in crisis intervention of at least 40 hours. 50 ILCS 705/10.17(a). Effective July 1, 2021, all law enforcement agencies must also submit to the Department of State Police, on a monthly basis, a report on any incident where a law enforcement officer was dispatched to deal with a person experiencing a mental health crisis or incident. This report must include the number of incidents, the level of law enforcement response and the outcome of each incident. 50 ILCS 709/5-12(7). QUALIFIED IMMUNIT Y The new law does not remove qualified immunity for peace officers. However, effective July 1, 2021, the law establishes a Task Force on Constitutional Rights and Remedies to “develop and propose policies and procedures to review and reform constitutional rights and remedies, including immunity for peace officers.”
??
? ? ?
Do you have a speaker idea or suggestion for our business meetings? We would like to hear from you! Send your ideas to: jose@lakebar.org
July 2021
21
Board of Directors’ Meeting
The
Meeting Minutes BY KATHARINE S. HATCH SECRETARY
Thursday, May 20, 2021 ACTION ITEMS: 1. Consent Agenda: a. April BOD Mtg. Minutes -P 3 Motion made to adopt April board of director meeting minutes, Motion Seconded, Motion Passes. B. APRIL NEW MEMBERS – P 6 2.Treasurer’s report: a. April 2021 Financial Report - P 7 Budget on track to meet projections. Low-cost seminars this year were key to staying in the black for the LCBA. OLD BUSINESS: 1. LRS a. Other interviews other than chairs/renewal? b. Email from David Winer – P 22 LCBA exploring overhauling the LCBA website, including for the Lawyer Referral Service. 2. CLE Certificates/ Process LCBA staff working
22 The Docket
on streamlining CLE certificate issuance, Greg to implement ISBA processes.
role in future branch court closure discussion with the County board.
3. Docket Review – a. Income/Expenses from Greg – P 23/24 b. Old information provided from Dale (first review) – P 25 Motion made to maintain 6 months of print Docket and 6 months of the electronic Docket, Motion seconded, Motion passes.
4. Golf Outing – please sponsor and sign up
NEW BUSINESS: 1. Criminal Law Seminar Results – P 26, Family Law Seminar Results – P 27 Due to the hard work of the chairs of both committees the seminars were a success, and the excess funds were put into a capital fund per the cost sharing agreement with the LCBF. 2. Memorial Update – June 11, 2021 Noon to 1:30 p.m. 3. Branch Courts Issue LCBA will have stakeholder
5. Installation Date Informal Installation of officer’s date, formal installation dinner date to follow. 6. Budget Expenditure and Revenue numbers are under strict scrutiny by the board. 7. Board Resolution Regarding Bank Account Signers – P 28 Motion to have Greg collect the required information to effectuate the modification of bank signatures, Motion Seconded, Motion Passes. 8. Membership Applications/Automatic Forfeit of Membership if Disbarred (email attachments). Motion made to amend the LCBA application to have bar
admission status attested to by each applicant by adding a verification sheet to the application packet; current members not in good standing with the BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Hon. Patricia Cornell President Joseph Fusz First Vice President Katharine S. Hatch Secretary Stephen Rice Past President David R. Del Re 2018-2021 Director Thomas A. Pasquesi 2018-2021 Director Dwayne Douglas 2019-2022 Director Daniel Hodgkinson 2019-2022 Director Craig Mandell 2020-2023 Director Hon. Jacquelyn Melius 2020-2023 Director Greg Weider Executive Director
LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN? The LCBA Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is a valuable member benefit as well as a public service. LRS provides member attorneys with an opportunity to build business through client referrals. The service benefits the public by helping callers quickly find an attorney in the area of law in which they need help. The LRS program is designed to assist persons who are able to pay normal attorney fees but whose ability to locate legal representation is frustrated by a lack of experience with the legal system, a lack of information about the type of services needed, or a fear of the potential costs of seeing a lawyer. Cost is only $200 annually for a Standard listing or $350 for a Premium listing. Download the application at www.lakebar.org/page/LRS or contact the LCBA office for more information.
ATTORNEYS NEEDED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES • Administrative • Bankruptcy • Commercial • Consumer • Employment • Environmental • Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Probate Visit lakecountylawyer.info for a complete list of available categories.
CONTACT THE LCBA AT 847.244.3143 OR INFO@LAKEBAR.ORG
LAKECOUNTYLAWYER.INFO
Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission will be given a refund of their dues, Motion Seconded, Motion Passes. OTHER MATTERS: 1. Committee Updates - Contact your assigned committee chair for a report 2. Executive Director Report Motion made to authorize $600 expense for the purchase of a PC based laptop, Motion Seconded, Motion Passes. Motion to adjourn: Next Board Meeting: June 24, 2021
Bar
Bulletin Board
Monthly
Committee Meetings
DAY
MEETING
LOCATION
TIME
1st Tuesday
Diversity & Community Outreach
Virtual Until Further Notice
12:15-1:15
1st Thursday
Real Estate
VUFN
5:30-6:30
Docket Editorial Committee
VUFN
12:15-1:15
2nd Tuesday
Criminal Law
VUFN
12:15-1:15
2nd Tuesday (Odd Mo.)
Immigration
VUFN
4:30-5:30
2nd Wednesday
Family Law Advisory Group (FLAG)
VUFN
12:00-1:00
2nd Wednesday
Civil Trial and Appeals
VUFN
4:00-5:00
2nd Thursday
Young & New Lawyers
VUFN
12:15-1:15
2nd Thursday
Trusts and Estates
VUFN
12:15-1:15
3rd Monday (Odd Mo.)
Solo & Small Firms
VUFN
12:00 noon
3rd Tuesday
Local Government
VUFN
12:15-1:15
3rd Tuesday
LCBF Board of Trustees
VUFN
4:00
Family Law
VUFN
12:00-1:00
LCBA Board of Directors
VUFN
12:00 noon
VUFN
5:30-6:30
VUFN
5:15-6:15
1st Thursday (Even Mo.)
3rd Wednesday
To place an ad or for information on advertising rates, call (847) 244-3143
24 The Docket
3rd Thursday 3rd Thursday As Needed
Debtor/Creditor Rights Employment Law
• RSVP to a meeting at www.lakebar.org. • Meetings subject to change. Please check your weekly e-news, the on-line calendar at www.lakebar.org or call the LCBA Office @ (847) 244-3143. • Please feel free to bring your lunch to the LCBA office for any noon meetings. Food and beverages at restaurants are purchased on a individual basis.
300 Grand Avenue, Suite A Waukegan, IL 60085 Tel: 847-244-3143 Fax: 847-244-8259
MEMBER RECEPTION
MEMBER RECEPTION SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
LCBA Member Receptions will generally be held on the 4th Thursday of every month.
Your $500 sponsorship includes: • Recognition in advertising before the event and on signage at the event • Reception from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. • Complimentary beer and wine. Upgrades available for additional fee.
Contact info@lakebar.org to add your name to a reception.
