Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere. Unless you have buried your head in a few feet of sand, you know that AI has seemingly made its way into every aspect of our lives. Supporters of AI praise it as the next big thing. Opponents express concern over its increased usage of electricity. People are concerned about data centers to support AI popping up in their communities. Let’s not even get into those who are proponents of AI who claim untold riches for those who embrace this magic elixir.
So, who’s right in the great AI debate? We likely won’t know for…
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Missouri’s new approach to divorce during pregnancy Missouri has changed how courts may handle divorce and legal-separation cases involving pregnancy….
The post Pregnancy, divorce and 50/50 custody: has Missouri created a legal disconnect? first appeared on Family Law Headquarters by Stange Law Firm.
The post Pregnancy, divorce and 50/50 custody: has Missouri created a legal disconnect? appeared first on Family Law Headquarters by Stange Law Firm.
Continue Reading Pregnancy, divorce and 50/50 custody: has Missouri created a legal disconnect?

Kogut & Wilson Partner Kirsten L. Meeder has been reappointed to the Palos Park Plan Commission for another term, effective through June 1, 2031. She was first appointed to the commission in January 2023.
Kirsten has called Palos Park home for many years, giving her a personal stake in the community she now helps guide through her role on the commission. The commission’s work centers on reviewing legislation and the village’s Comprehensive Plan map to inform Village Council recommendations. It also studies special assignments at the direction of the mayor and Council, providing input on issues tied to the village’s…
Continue Reading Kirsten L. Meeder Reappointed to Palos Park Plan Commission through June 2031

On October 6, 2026, the Federal Circuit Bar Association will present its 2026 Bench & Bar® in Dialogue – Chicago CLE program at the University Club of Chicago, 76 E. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603.  The CLE program aligns with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s Court Week in Chicago.  The program will feature judges from the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, as well as members of the legal and academic communities. I will also be speaking on Panel Two…
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Accident News | Chicago

Two people were injured, including one critically, after a car crashed into a truck Tuesday morning in Chicago’s South Loop. The collision occurred near the intersection of Roosevelt Road and State Street.

A sedan struck the rear of a flatbed truck that appeared to be carrying a water tank used to water plants along the Roosevelt Road median. Fire crews reportedly had to cut into the sedan to remove at least one person.

Chicago Fire Department officials said both injured people were taken to hospitals, with one listed in critical condition. The cause of the crash…
Continue Reading 2 Injured, 1 Critically, in Accident in Chicago’s South Loop

Ending a marriage is never easy, but it does not always mean a courtroom fight. Many couples choose an uncontested divorce because it can save money, time, and stress. If you are thinking about divorce in 2026, it helps to understand what an uncontested divorce is and why so many people in DuPage County prefer this path. A Wheaton divorce attorney can help you decide if it fits your family.
At Goostree Law Group, our team focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, and mediation for families in Wheaton and across DuPage County. Backed by decades of experience, we help…
Continue Reading What Are the Benefits of an Uncontested Divorce?

Contrary to myth that dentists suffer outsized divorce rates, the divorce rate for dentists is approximately 25% which is lower than the nationwide average. Still, dentists do get divorced and the dentists who own their practices may have to divide the value of their dental practice in an Illinois divorce. This article serves as a guide to dentists and their spouses who must value and divide a dental practice in an Illinois divorce. A Dental Practice Appraisal Must Begin With Defining What Is Being Valued What is a dental practice worth? The answer depends on what is actually being valued.
Continue Reading Valuing And Dividing A Dental Practice In An Illinois Divorce

Compliance with pay transparency laws is no longer as simple as adding a salary range to a job posting and moving on. As state pay transparency requirements and compliance obligations continue to expand nationwide, regulators are increasingly focused on whether employers’ disclosures are meaningful, accurate, and supported by actual compensation practices. As lawmakers and regulators continue to refine pay transparency requirements, employers should view compliance as part of a broader compensation strategy rather than a standalone posting obligation.
Continue Reading Pay Transparency 2.0: Key Employer Takeaways on the Shift in Pay
Transparency Compliance

Kogut & Wilson associate Sabrina Karakaya attended Collaborative Divorce Illinois’ (CDI) Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training, gaining the fundamentals of the collaborative process and the roles of interdisciplinary teams utilized within the process.
Through the interactive introductory program, Sabrina explored the collaborative divorce process from start to finish, including working alongside attorneys, mental health professionals and financial neutrals as part of a collaborative team. The training provided Sabrina with the opportunity to further develop her experience resolving divorce disputes outside of the courtroom, with a focus on agreements tailored to family priorities and alternatives to litigation.
Sabrina is experienced in…
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Smith LaCien LLP is proud to announce that five of our attorneys have been recognized on the prestigious 2027 Illinois Super Lawyers®list. Congratulations to Carla A. Colaianni, Brian LaCien, Todd A. Smith, Allyson C. Cox and Andrew W. Mason on this well-deserved recognition.

We are proud of the exceptional advocacy, dedication and commitment these attorneys bring to their clients and the legal profession every day.
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Super Lawyers, https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection-process/, has selected me as one of their Super Lawyers for 2027.

The Super Lawyers rating service picks top lawyers each year using peer feedback and independent research.

Using their patented selection process, incorporating 12 markers of professional work, they select the top 5% of attorneys to their  list each year. The objective of Super Lawyers’ patented multiphase selection process (U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,564) is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource when searching for legal counsel.
My Super Lawyers profile is here.
Thanks to…
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Crash News | Chicago

A 20-year-old Chicago man has been charged with DUI and reckless homicide after a crash on the Stevenson Expressway left an SUV passenger dead early Saturday morning. According to Illinois State Police, Armando Gonzalez Vargas was driving southbound on Interstate 55 near Wentworth Avenue around 4:30 a.m. when his GMC Suburban collided with a white Nissan SUV. Court records indicate Gonzalez Vargas was traveling more than 20 mph over the speed limit before the crash.

The GMC then left the roadway and struck a concrete barrier. A passenger in the vehicle, 26-year-old Carlos Vasquez, was pronounced…
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Most ERP implementations fail — not because of the software itself, but because of unrealistic expectations set right from the start. In this video, I break down the “dirty secret” behind why so many companies pour millions into new ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, etc.) only to end up over budget, behind schedule, and disappointed. Key takeaways:

  • Why 70-85% of ERP projects miss timelines, budgets, and expected business benefits.
  • How vendors’ sales hype ( “out-of-the-box in months!”) sets customers up for failure.
  • The hidden costs most organizations ignore: data migration, customizations, change management, training, and long-term support.

…
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Yes. It has already happened, and the legal defense you might be counting on, “the AI said it, not us,” has already failed in court.
If your business uses any AI tool that talks to customers, drafts content, or answers questions, whether that’s a customer service chatbot, an AI powered search feature on your website, or a marketing team using generative AI to write copy, you need to understand that your business is legally responsible for what that tool says. Not the AI company that built it. You.
The Case That Should Change How You Think About This
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Continue Reading Can Someone Sue Your Business Over an AI Hallucination?