When people are injured in an accident, one of the biggest concerns they have is whether their lawyer will truly be there for them throughout the legal process. Personal injury claims can take months or even years to resolve, and clients often worry about being left in the dark while important decisions are made about their case. According to a recent review from client Dany Berni, that was never a concern when working with Michael Phillips and Phillips Law Offices. Consistent communication, transparency, legal knowledge, and genuine care helped create an experience that left a lasting impression. Reviews like…
Continue Reading Why One Client Trusted Michael Phillips Throughout the Entire Personal Injury Process

Accident News | Chicago, Il

A security guard was injured and transported to the hospital following a two-vehicle crash at a busy downtown Chicago intersection early Wednesday morning. According to Chicago police, the collision occurred around 3:31 a.m. near the intersection of State Street and Ida B. Wells Drive.

Authorities said a Ford sport-utility vehicle operated by a Chicago Transit Authority K-9 security unit was traveling northbound on State Street when it collided with a Cadillac SUV heading westbound on Ida B. Wells Drive. Preliminary reports indicate the Cadillac driver allegedly ran a red light before the crash occurred.

Following…
Continue Reading Security Guard Injured in Crash at Busy Downtown Chicago Intersection

An out-of-service violation can put a CDL career at serious risk in Illinois, especially if it results in a lengthy disqualification or is not handled properly. If you are facing one of these violations in 2026, you already know how serious this feels. Your job, your income, and everything you have built could be at risk. Just one violation can keep you off the road for months. Multiple violations can cost you your CDL for good. A DuPage County CDL defense lawyer can help you understand what you are dealing with and what options you have to protect your career.
Continue Reading Can an Out-of-Service Violation End a CDL Career in Illinois?

According to March 2026 data from the Defense Manpower Data Center, Virginia is home to more than 123,000 active duty service members, ranking second in the country. For the tens of thousands of those service members raising families in Virginia, deployment can put a child custody arrangement under serious strain. If you are a military parent, a deployment can raise hard questions about your custody rights. What happens to your parenting time while you are gone? Can the other parent use your absence to change the agreement for good? 
A Stafford, VA child custody attorney can help you protect…
Continue Reading How Does Child Custody Work When a Military Parent Deploys in Virginia?

Fighting a drug manufacturing charge in Illinois is challenging, but it is not impossible. These are felony charges that prosecutors often pursue aggressively. However, you have legal options for pushing back on how these cases are built. If you are facing a drug manufacturing charge in 2026, a Kane County drug crimes defense lawyer can look at your situation and help you understand what defenses are available in your case.
What Is a Drug Manufacturing Charge in Illinois?
Drug manufacturing in Illinois covers more than just running a large drug operation. Under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, 720 ILCS 570/401…
Continue Reading How Hard Is It To Fight a Drug Manufacturing Charge in Illinois?

One of the most common questions blended families bring to an estate planning meeting is whether it is possible to protect a spouse financially while still making sure that children from a prior relationship receive their inheritance. For families in second marriages without the right plan, that question tends to resolve itself in ways no one intended. 
According to the Pew Research Center, 17 percent of American children currently live in a blended family, and for many of these households, the family home is where inheritance disputes begin. A Yorkville, IL asset protection attorney can help your family…
Continue Reading Who Really Inherits Your House When You Die?

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that there were 10.9 million single-parent families with a child under 18 in the United States in 2022. Many of those families manage custody arrangements without conflict, but a significant number of cases become contested. 
When parents cannot agree on child custody, an Illinois judge may appoint a third party to independently assess what is in the child’s best interests. That person is called a guardian ad litem, or GAL. If a GAL has been appointed in your case, or if you think one might be, knowing what to expect can help you prepare. If…
Continue Reading What Is a Guardian ad Litem and What Do They Do in an Illinois Custody Case?

Photo credit: Illinois Supreme Court
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced a new Policy on Transparency, providing the public with more data and information on the judicial branch.
The new policy furthers the Illinois Supreme Court’s commitment to transparency, while formalizing and standardizing existing information-sharing practices.
“Transparency means making data, budgets, and financial reports accessible to the public. It is the judiciary’s strongest bridge to public trust and to the restoration of confidence in our courts,” Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. said in the press release.
What the Policy on Transparency covers
By July 1, 2026, and annually…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Announces Policy to Increase Public Transparency of Judicial Branch

Photo credit: Illinois Judges Foundation
The Illinois Judges Foundation (IJF) has opened applications for the Harold Sullivan Scholarship Program.
The scholarship program recognizes Illinois law students who demonstrate a commitment to service, integrity, and the pursuit of justice. The scholarship funds may be applied toward law school tuition and fees.
In addition, the IJF has launched a new award under the Harold Sullivan Scholarship Program: The Justice Mary Jane Theis Scholarship, which honors Justice Theis (Ret.), her legacy of leadership, and dedication to the judiciary.
Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. on June 26, 2026. Applications and questions…
Continue Reading Illinois Law Students Invited to Apply for Illinois Judges Foundation Scholarship

Being involved in a car accident is stressful. In the confusion and chaos that follows, some drivers leave the scene before fully understanding what the law requires of them. Others believe they exchanged enough information, or that the damage was too minor to warrant staying. Some leave because they are frightened, uninsured, or under the influence. Whatever the circumstances, if you have been charged with leaving the scene of an accident in Lake County, Illinois, you are facing a criminal offense, not a simple traffic ticket, and the consequences can be severe.

These cases are heard at one of Lake…
Continue Reading Charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident in Lake County? What You Need to Know

June 10th, 2026 (Chicago, IL) – Target issued a voluntary recall of their Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber scented varieties of Up & Up brand baby wipes after multiple complaints of product discoloration. Further testing done by the FDA confirmed the presence of Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli in the tested baby wipes. Using baby wipes contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli can result in serious, life-threatening infections, like sepsis or pneumonia, in infants, young children, the elderly, and those suffering from compromised immune systems. Healthy, adult individuals who use this product on themselves may experience localized…
Continue Reading Up & Up Baby Wipes Recalled Due to Infection Risk 

The short answer on dispensary license cost: state application fees run from about $2,500 to $7,500 in most markets, the license itself can run $30,000–$60,000 or more, and the all-in cost of actually winning and opening — real estate, buildout, professional services, required capital — typically lands between $250,000 and $1.5 million depending on the state. Anyone quoting you one flat number for “a dispensary license” hasn’t applied for one. Below are the seven numbers that actually matter, with real figures from state regulators, so you can build a budget before you spend a dollar.

1. The Application Fee:…
Continue Reading Dispensary License Cost: 7 Essential Numbers for 2026

A new legal opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reshaping how employment discrimination claims based on unequal outcomes may be handled. On June 9, 2026, the U.S. DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a formal legal opinion concluding that the EEOC’s approach to disparate-impact liability is unconstitutional. While this theory of discrimination still exists, the opinion narrows it and raises the bar for employees who bring these claims. As a result, employers may have increased flexibility in using common hiring tools such as criminal background checks and aptitude tests without fear that they could face discrimination claims—but…
Continue Reading New DOJ Opinion Changes Hiring Discrimination Rules for U.S. Employers

Accident News | Madison County, Il

One person lost their life following a collision involving a motorcycle and a tractor-trailer on Route 4 near Interstate 70 in Madison County on Monday morning. According to Illinois State Police, troopers from Troop 8 responded to the crash scene just south of I-70 near Marine at approximately 9:10 a.m. Preliminary reports indicate that the fatal accident involved a motorcycle and a truck-tractor semi-trailer. Authorities confirmed that one individual was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of the crash. Emergency responders temporarily shut down both directions of Route 4 while they conducted…
Continue Reading One Dead in Motorcycle–Tractor‑Trailer Crash on Route 4

Losing a loved one because of someone else’s negligence is one of the most painful experiences a family can face. Many families depend on a wrongful death claim to seek justice, hold the responsible party accountable, and recover financial compensation for the losses they have suffered. Unfortunately, not every claim is approved. Insurance companies, defendants, and their legal teams often challenge wrongful death claims, leaving grieving families feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.

If your wrongful death claim has been denied in Illinois, you still have options. In many cases, a denial does not mean the end of your case. You may…
Continue Reading How to Appeal a Denied Wrongful Death Claim in Illinois

Under Illinois law, grooming means communicating with a child in a way that is meant to result in sexual activity. Charges can be filed based on messages alone, even if no physical contact ever happened. Being accused of grooming means facing the possibility of life-changing consequences. If you are under investigation or have been charged in 2026, a Chicago, IL crimes against children defense lawyer can step in right away to protect your rights and start building your defense.
How Does Illinois Define Grooming?
Illinois law addresses grooming under 720 ILCS 5/11-25. This law makes it a crime to…
Continue Reading What Constitutes Grooming Under Illinois Law?