Recovering Damages in Orland Park Slip and Fall Cases: What You Need to Know
Illinois law allows people who have suffered injuries in slip-and-fall accidents to recover damages from property owners or other parties. A legal principle known as “premises liability” determines when a property owner, property manager, or tenant is liable for someone’s injuries. A slip-and-fall accident victim may be entitled to several types of damages, such as compensation for medical bills and other expenses. If you have experienced a slip-and-fall accident in Orland Park or surrounding areas, a slip-and-fall lawyer can help you understand your rights and work
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The Philip Marlowe character, created by Raymond Chandler, has evolved through modern adaptations and continuations commissioned by the Chandler Estate. Joe Ide was aked by the estate to write an original novel featuring Marlowe in the present day, resulting in…
Continue Reading Philip Marlowe perfume, anyone? Raymond Chandler’s estate revives its hero, for better or worse

Attorney Susan A. Marks was recently acknowledged by Lawyers of Distinction for her remarkable legal abilities and unwavering commitment. With a profound understanding of the law and a consistent dedication to excellence, she has guided numerous clients through the complexities of the legal system, consistently ensuring favorable outcomes.   Susan A. Marks has been honored […]
The post SAM LAW LLC: Susan A. Marks appeared first on SAM LAW OFFICE LLC.
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Today’s blog entry is a discussion of the Department of Transportation rule published on March 12, 2024 entitled, “ensuring safe accommodation for air travelers with disabilities using wheelchairs,” here. As usual, the blog entry is divided into categories and they are: the DOT summary of regulatory provisions; and thoughts/takeaways and particular concerns. The blog entry is pretty short, so the reader probably will want to read all of it.
I
DOT Summary of Regulatory Provisions

Table 1—Summary of NPRM Proposals

Subject
Proposal

Safe and Dignified Assistance
Clarifies that safe and dignified assistance to individuals with disabilities is required when
Continue Reading DOT Proposed Regulation on Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs

When a marriage comes to an end, particularly under circumstances where one spouse is primarily responsible for the divorce, emotions can become heated. In some cases, a person may believe that their spouse should be punished for infidelity or other actions that led to the breakdown of their relationship. If you are planning to end your marriage in Illinois, you may wonder whether being the “innocent” spouse might impact your eligibility for alimony, also known as spousal maintenance. As you address this issue and other divorce-related concerns, it is important to understand the nuances of Illinois law regarding spousal maintenance
Continue Reading Can I Get Alimony if My Spouse Was Responsible for Our Divorce?

An Illinois Divorce can be stressful under the best of circumstances. Even if the separation is amicable and you agree on most issues, it’s a time of significant life change and often emotional turmoil. That stress can be significantly aggravated when there’s a lot of conflict. But, there are steps you can take to dial down the stress, minimize conflicts, and keep your case moving forward. 
When is a Divorce High-Conflict?
There’s no formal definition for “high-conflict divorce,” but we generally use that term to mean what you’d think: that there are significant points of disagreement in the case. Sometimes,
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State law requires home rule municipalities to obtain voter approval before they can impose or increase a real estate transfer
tax. In November 2023, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution to place a referendum on the March 2024 ballot to modify the City’s real estate transfer tax. The ballot question proposed to decrease real estate transfer
taxes for properties sold for less than $1,000,000 and increase transfer taxes
for properties sold for more than $1,000,000.
A collection of local business and real estate organizations
challenged the proposed ballot question, arguing the proposal violated state statute and the Illinois Constitution. Plaintiffs argued that
Continue Reading Appellate Court Declines to Decide Challenge to Ballot Proposal

Tipsters Could Receive Payment for Reporting Criminal Misconduct on Corporations
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a pilot program to launch later this year that would see non-culpable whistleblowers receive monetary payments in exchange for information of corporate malfeasance. The program was revealed recently by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco at a legal conference. While there are already avenues for whistleblowers to report to other federal agencies already in place, Monaco stated that the existing programs “are limited in scope,” and “don’t address the full range of corporate and financial misconduct that the department prosecutes.” The program will appear to
Continue Reading Department of Justice Announces New Program to Incentivize Whistleblowers

Divorce trials are high-pressure environments. No amount of practice will guarantee that a witness will say exactly the right thing. The court system is conscious of the frailty of human memory and allows attorneys to refresh their witness’s recollection with a document if necessary.

Refreshing A Memory In An Illinois Divorce Court?

It may sound bizarre, but a lawyer can stop a witness and politely ask, “Are you sure about that? Would you like to refresh your recollection?,” and then hand the witness a document stating what the lawyer would like the witness to say.  

“It is well settled
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Birth injuries can have devastating and lifelong consequences for both the child and her family. In Illinois, medical negligence during childbirth can result in various types of birth injuries, with cerebral palsy being one of the most serious and prevalent conditions. If you, your child, or both of you suffered injuries during the childbirth process and you believe medical negligence may be to blame, contact a lawyer to secure the legal representation you need during this stressful time.
At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., Attorney Allen Schwartz has a proven track record of obtaining multiple multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements
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While public transportation is generally considered safe in Chicago and surrounding areas, unfortunate accidents and injuries do sometimes still occur. Victims of serious injuries or the families of victims of wrongful death caused by a public transportation accident may be able to sue for compensation. A skilled Illinois public transportation attorney can help you explore your legal options.
Who Is At Fault If I Am Injured on Illinois Public Transportation?
Illinois public transportation operators, such as Pace, Metra, and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), are subject to common carrier law. Under this law, any common carrier may potentially be
Continue Reading Can I Sue After Being Injured on Illinois Public Transportation?

In the state of Illinois, changing your name after a divorce is a common and often important step in the process of moving on and starting a new chapter in your life. Understanding the legal process involved in changing your name can help make the transition smoother and less stressful. For any questions you may have, discuss them with your attorney. He or she will have helped clients in the past change their name after a divorce and can walk you through the process to help you get it taken care of as quickly as possible. Here is a
Continue Reading The Legal Process of a Name Change After Divorce in Illinois 

Suffering an injury in Illinois can be a stressful experience, especially when dealing with insurance companies. It is important to understand your rights so you can make sure you get fair compensation for your injuries. Fortunately, you do not have to become a lawyer overnight if you want to bring a case against an insurance company. If you are hurt in a car accident and require legal assistance, the experienced, trained attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law can ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to. 
The Power of Legal Representation
When it comes to communicating with insurance companies after
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People get divorced because they cannot communicate and/or cannot rely upon each other. The family law system then expects those parties to come to a full agreement on all issues…and follow that agreement to a tee. This is a tall order.

To encourage reasonable, if not good, behavior while living under a divorce agreement, Illinois courts can imbue the good faith and fair dealing doctrine into an existing agreement between two ex-spouses.

Divorce Agreements In Illinois

Illinois divorces are mostly resolved by agreement. In an ideal divorce, the parties enter into temporary agreements to keep the peace until they can
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