In mid-February, the Governor
delivered his State of the State address
and budget proposal for the 2027 State Fiscal Year. During his presentation,
Governor Pritzker shared his concerns about the availability and cost of
housing across Illinois, noting that “local regulations have made it too
difficult and costly to build new housing” and citing “bureaucratic red tape”
as an impediment to residential development activity. To combat these issues,
the Governor announced the Building Up Illinois Development (BUILD Plan), an
initiative to lower housing costs by making it more efficient and cost effect
to build housing in Illinois. This initiative includes…
Continue Reading Introduction of BUILD Plan Legislation Proposes Statewide Housing Development Reform

Quiju Chen v. John Does 1–10, et al., No. 25 C 6611, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Oct. 29, 2025) (Tharp, J.).In an omnibus order Judge Tharp resolved a number of motions in a Lanham Act trademark “Schedule A” Doe case, providing helpful guidance on Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 pleading sufficiency, the standard and burdens for dissolving a Fed. R. Civ. P. 65 preliminary injunction (PI), the handling of Rule 12(b)(1) factual jurisdictional challenges, and Rule 11 sanctions.The Court denied defendants’ Rule 12(b)(6) motions, finding the complaint met Rule 8’s plausibility standard by alleging a valid registration, unauthorized use…
Continue Reading Northern District Clarifies Pleading & Injunction-Dissolution Standards in Schedule A Case

Accident News | Chicago

A pedestrian crash in downtown Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood left a woman seriously injured and a young child hurt on Sunday afternoon. According to Chicago police, the incident occurred shortly after 1:15 p.m. in the 400 block of East Illinois Street as the two were attempting to cross the street.

Authorities said a gray Toyota minivan struck a 65-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child while they were in the intersection. Emergency responders transported the woman to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with head and neck injuries, where she was listed in serious condition. The child suffered injuries to…
Continue Reading 5-Year-Old, Woman Hit by Minivan in Streeterville Intersection: Police

A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a 25-year-old driver in Chicago’s South Side nearly two years ago. According to the Chicago Police Department, the crash occurred in June 2024 around 11:58 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Kedzie Avenue.

Investigators said a black SUV was traveling southbound on Kedzie Avenue when it collided with a white sedan moving westbound on 83rd Street. The force of the crash pushed the sedan into the nearby Starlight Restaurant, and the impact was so severe that the vehicle’s engine was ejected from the car.
Continue Reading Man Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash That Killed 25-Year-Old: Chicago Police

Domestic violence is very common. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that over one in three women and one in 10 men in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
If you’re leaving a marriage that involves domestic violence, you’re likely wondering if your partner’s abuse will affect the divorce proceedings at all. You may want the court to formally recognize your spouse’s abuse through limited child custody. Or you may worry that your spouse will refuse to do things like pay child support as a way to punish you for…
Continue Reading How Does Domestic Violence Affect Divorce Proceedings in Illinois?

When a truck accident happens, most people assume the driver is the only one who can be held responsible. That’s rarely the full picture. Trucking companies are required by federal law to screen drivers before hiring, maintain their vehicles, and make sure their operations follow federal safety regulations.
When they fall short of those obligations and someone gets hurt, the company itself may bear legal responsibility for what happened. If you’ve been injured in a crash involving a commercial truck in 2026, a Frisco, TX truck accident lawyer can help you understand who can actually be held accountable.
What Does…
Continue Reading When Is a Trucking Company Responsible for its Driver’s Mistakes?

One of the biggest fears people have about filing bankruptcy is losing everything they own. According to the federal court system’s official resource, the Bankruptcy Code allows individual debtors to protect certain property from creditors because it is exempt under federal or state law.
Illinois takes that protection seriously, recently expanding those protections in 2026 for the first time in decades. If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, a DuPage County, IL bankruptcy lawyer can walk you through exactly where you stand.
Continue Reading What Property Is Protected by Illinois Bankruptcy Exemptions?

Sometimes a situation gets out of hand fast, and before you know it, you are facing a disorderly conduct charge. In Illinois, the line between a heated moment and a criminal charge can be crossed faster than most people expect. An argument that got too loud, a phone call made in anger, or a confrontation that went too far can all lead to a misdemeanor or even a felony charge, depending on what happened.
If you are dealing with this kind of charge, you are probably feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next. Our DuPage County, IL disorderly conduct…
Continue Reading When Does Disorderly Conduct Become a Criminal Charge in Illinois?

Have you recently been thinking, “Is the insurance company delaying my car accident claim by asking for more information?” Insurance companies sometimes request additional information to strategically delay car accident claims. The tactic is aimed at avoiding paying accident victims what they’re rightfully owed. Recognizing delay tactics early is essential to navigating the car accident claims process more effectively and securing fair and timely compensation. If you suspect an insurer is using delay tactics in Chicago, contact the car accident lawyers at Ankin Law by dialing 312-600-0000 for a free case evaluation. Is the Insurance Company Delaying My Car Accident …
Continue Reading Is the Insurance Company Delaying My Car Accident Claim by Asking for ‘More Information’?

On February 24th, 2026, The CPSC issued a safety alert regarding around 43,500 pressure cookers sold under the Gourmia brand name, due to the risk of this product causing serious burn injuries.  These pressure cookers were sold at Best Buy and other retailers, including online, between 2017 and 2020 for between $50 and $80. The model number is GPC625. The importer, the Steelstone Group, LLC (doing business as Gourmia), and Best Buy, where a majority of these products were sold, have declined to agree to an acceptable recall to address this hazard at this time.  Just because a…
Continue Reading Gourmia Pressure Cooker Safety Alert: What Consumers Should Know in 2026

While almost any criminal charge can have a serious and negative impact on your life and future, those that arise from sexual assault allegations can be especially devastating. In addition to having your job, freedom, and finances on the line, your reputation – and where you fit into your community – could be jeopardized. Moving will not fix anything either, since a conviction for one of these crimes will follow you wherever you go. If you are facing a sexual assault charge, you should understand what is at stake and what you can do to lessen the negative consequences of…
Continue Reading Facing Sexual Assault Charges in Illinois? Here is What You Need to Know

Child Custody and Divorce in Illinois: What Parents and Farm Families Need to Know is a critical issue for families navigating separation in Central Illinois. Divorce is difficult under any circumstances, but when children are involved, the legal and emotional stakes increase significantly. For families in Champaign, Springfield, Bloomington, Decatur, Shelbyville, Effingham, Mattoon, and surrounding agricultural communities, custody decisions shape a child’s stability, schooling, and daily life. For farm families, these decisions can also affect generational property, residence on farmland, and long-term agricultural continuity.
Understanding Illinois Child Custody Law
Child custody determinations in Illinois are governed by the Illinois Marriage…
Continue Reading Child Custody and Divorce in Illinois: What Parents and Farm Families Need to Know

Planning for Divorce as a Farm Owner in Illinois: Protecting Your Agricultural Operation is an important step for agricultural families who want to preserve their land, business, and financial stability. Divorce can have significant consequences for Illinois farm owners because farmland is often one of the most valuable marital assets. For families in Champaign, Springfield, Bloomington, Decatur, Shelbyville, Effingham, and surrounding communities, early legal planning can make a substantial difference in protecting long-term viability.
Understanding Marital and Non-Marital Property
Illinois follows equitable distribution principles under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. This means marital property is divided fairly,…
Continue Reading Planning for Divorce as a Farm Owner in Illinois: Protecting Your Agricultural Operation

Estate Planning as a Love Language: Protecting Those Who Depend on You

We all have different ways of showing love. Some people use words of encouragement. Others are all about hugs, gifts, thoughtful actions, or simply spending time together. These patterns are often called our “love languages” — the ways we give and receive love.
But there’s another powerful love language that many families overlook: estate planning.

An estate plan doesn’t just move money and property. It gives the people who depend on you clarity, protection, and support at the exact moment they need it most. When done well,…
Continue Reading Estate Planning as a Love Language