I hope everyone is staying cool with the heat of the summer. Also, the World Cup has been absolutely fascinating even if you are not a soccer fan. This week’s blog entry explores Hunter v. United States , here, decided by the United States Supreme Court on June 18, 2026. It doesn’t really have anything to do with disabilities per se except that the plaintiff had a disability whose treatment of it was very much an issue. Also, many people with disabilities, both mental and physical, are in the prison system. As usual, the blog entry is divided into categories…
Continue Reading A Criminal Defendant’s Waiver of an Appeal Only Goes So Far

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville and Erika Harold. Photo credit: Erika Harold
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Executive Director Erika Harold received the Cook County Bar Association’s (CCBA) Donald Hubert Historical Award. The award was presented on Friday, June 26, at the CCBA’s 112th Installation and Awards Banquet.
The award recognizes a lawyer or layperson for outstanding leadership in developing or promoting CCBA legal ethics and professionalism programming. It honors the accomplishments and legacy of lawyer Donald Hubert, who created a mentoring program through the CCBA to train new lawyers.
Continue Reading Executive Director Erika Harold Receives Cook County Bar Association Award for Ethics and Professionalism Programming

In Solano v. City of Chicago, an Illinois Appellate Court upheld a home rule municipality’s authority to use its administrative adjudication hearing system and fine drivers of overweight trucks in an amount in excess of $250.00. First, the Court acknowledged that the Illinois Supreme Court in Cammacho v. City of Joliet had previously held that home rule governments could use administrative hearings to adjudicate moving offenses and reportable violations. Second, the Court rejected the plaintiff’s argument that section 11-208.3 of the Illinois Vehicle Code restricts municipalities from imposing a fine of more than $250.00 for certain standing, parking, and…
Continue Reading Court Upholds Municipality’s Administrative Adjudication Fine for Overweight Trucks

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“headline”: “Cannabis Holding Company Structure: 7 Smart Layers”,
“description”: “A cannabis holding company structure separates your license from real estate, IP, and 280E exposure. See the 7 layers that protect operators — and when to call counsel.”,
“author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Thomas Howard”, “url”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/attorneys/illinois-cannabis-lawyer-thomas-howard/” },
“publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Cannabis Industry Lawyer”, “url”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/” },
“datePublished”: “2026-06-29”,
“dateModified”: “2026-06-29”,
“mainEntityOfPage”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/cannabis-holding-company-structure/”
}

If you hold a cannabis license in a single LLC that also owns the building, the brand, the equipment, and the bank account, you have built a piñata. One lawsuit,…
Continue Reading Cannabis Holding Company Structure: 7 Smart Layers

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “Article”,
“headline”: “Cannabis Partnership Agreement: 7 Clauses You Need”,
“description”: “A cannabis partnership agreement decides who wins when partners fight. See the 7 clauses — equity, deadlock, buy-sell, vesting — that protect your stake.”,
“author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Thomas Howard”, “url”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/attorneys/illinois-cannabis-lawyer-thomas-howard/” },
“publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “Cannabis Industry Lawyer”, “url”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/” },
“datePublished”: “2026-06-29”,
“dateModified”: “2026-06-29”,
“mainEntityOfPage”: “https://www.cannabisindustrylawyer.com/cannabis-partnership-agreement/”
}

Most cannabis businesses do not die from a regulator or a competitor. They die from the inside, when two partners who shook hands on a 50/50 split stop agreeing and discover there is nothing…
Continue Reading Cannabis Partnership Agreement: 7 Clauses You Need

Innovation Industries, LLC v. The Partnerships Identified on Schedule A, No. 25 C 3157, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Feb. 19, 2026) (Bucklo, J.).Judge Bucklo granted summary judgment to Innovation Industries, LLC on its copyright infringement claims against three Amazon sellers, UMagic, Perbelee, and Sumnify, who had been marketing knockoff hummingbird feeder heaters using Innovation’s copyrighted product images in this Schedule A case. The Court awarded $150,000 in damages per defendant after finding willful infringement.Innovation sells heaters for hummingbird feeders designed to support overwintering hummingbirds in colder climates. Defendants operated Amazon storefronts selling apparent counterfeits of Innovation’s products, collectively earning…
Continue Reading Damages Awarded Against Absent Defendants in Hummingbird Feeder Copyright Case

June 28th, 2026 (Chicago, IL) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to immediately stop using Ridstar Q20 and Q20 Lite E-bikes. The front wheel can detach while the bike is in motion, posing a serious risk of injury or death to unsuspecting riders. To date, 31 injuries have been reported. If you were injured by a defective e-bike, financial compensation may be available to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  To find out if you qualify for a lawsuit, contact Ankin Law in Chicago. We hold negligent manufacturers liable for their egregious …
Continue Reading CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using Ridstar E-Bikes Due to Front Wheel Detaching

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were 6.6 million violent victimizations in the United States in 2022. Assaults can occur in places like parking garages, parking lots, and apartment complexes, especially where security is poor. Under the law, property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe, and in areas where violent crime is likely, that duty includes strong security measures. Ignoring a known risk is exactly what makes a landlord liable in a premises liability case. 
If you were hurt in an assault in 2026, a Chicago, IL negligent landlord attorney can review your case and help…
Continue Reading Can You Sue if You Are Assaulted in a Parking Garage or Apartment Complex?

Sometimes grandparents find themselves cut off from their grandchildren after a divorce, a family conflict, or a parent’s death. Virginia law provides a recourse that allows grandparents to petition for visitation or custody. However, the standard for establishing these rights is high, and being prepared is essential for a positive outcome. An experienced Stafford, VA, grandparents’ visitation rights attorney can review your situation and explain your options in 2026.
What Legal Rights Do Grandparents Have in Virginia Family Court?
Virginia does not give grandparents automatic visitation rights. Virginia Code § 20-124.1 lists grandparents among persons with a legitimate interest. That…
Continue Reading Can Grandparents Get Visitation or Custody Rights in Virginia?

You left your child in the car on a relatively hot day while you went to the store.  It took a long time to check out at the counter.  Nonetheless, you were surprised to find the police waiting at your car.
Now you are charged with endangering the life or health of a child.  What does that mean? What can you do?
You commit endangering the life or health of a child when you knowingly:

  • Cause or permit the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered; or
  • Cause or permit a child to

…
Continue Reading WHAT IS ENDANGERING A CHILD IN ILLINOIS?


Knowing how to handle insurance adjusters after an accident could be the difference between a fair settlement and walking away with almost nothing. Talking to an insurance adjuster before consulting a personal injury lawyer is like going on a bad first date. You walk in expecting a fair conversation, only to realize the other person has a completely different agenda. Like a bad first date, things seem promising. The person says all the right things; on the phone, via his or her or their profile, and in written communication. It seems like a certain match.
And those first communications lure…
Continue Reading Personal Injury and Bad First Dates: What Do They Have in Common?

Health insurance can be one of the first concerns in an Illinois divorce. One spouse may be insured only through the other spouse’s employer. The children may be covered under that same plan. The coverage may continue while the divorce is pending, yet once the divorce is finalized, the dependent spouse’s coverage can quickly change. Generally, a divorce prevents a former spouse from staying on the employee-spouse’s health insurance plan as a spouse. Once the judgment of dissolution of marriage is entered, the former spouse is no longer the employee’s legal spouse. So, if the employer’s group health plan only…
Continue Reading COBRA Coverage And Divorce In Illinois

The Hidden Gender Gap in Estate Planning and How Women Can Close It

Estate planning isn’t just about documents—it’s about protecting yourself, your family, and your future. But research shows that women are significantly less likely than men to have a formal estate plan in place, even though they often face greater financial risks over their lifetimes.
This hidden gender gap leaves many women without the legal tools they need to safeguard their assets, make healthcare decisions easier for loved ones, and ensure their wishes are honored. At Rincker Law, we help women understand these challenges and build plans that…
Continue Reading Closing the Estate Planning Gender Gap

Once again, Ankin Law is bolstering its ability to help injured workers in Chicagoland with another addition to our lawyer roster.  Attorney Aaron Walner has joined the firm in 2026 and has already begun working for clients in our workers’ compensation department.  A native of Highland Park, Illinois, Aaron attended Boston University in political science and history. With a number of people in his family already in the legal profession, he decided to become a lawyer, earning his Juris Doctor from UIC Law.  Using an analytical approach to the law, Walner specialized in litigation for the majority of his legal…
Continue Reading Ankin Law Hires Another Attorney from Chicagoland

Rideshare accidents in Chicago happen every day. They look like other car crashes on the surface, with vehicles, injuries, and police reports. But the legal and insurance framework behind them is meaningfully different from a standard two-car collision, and understanding that difference matters from the moment the crash occurs.
Why the Claims Process Differs
In a standard two-car accident, you’re typically dealing with two drivers and two insurance policies. Fault determines which policy responds. In a rideshare accident, Uber or Lyft enters the picture as a third party, and their liability coverage applies based on what the driver was doing…
Continue Reading Rideshare vs Standard Car Accidents in Chicago

Illinois traffic law governs car accident fault statewide, but Chicago’s dense intersections, dedicated bus and bike lanes, expressway ramps, and high-volume surface streets create conditions where specific violations come up repeatedly in injury claims. Understanding which rules matter most helps injured drivers recognize when another party’s conduct rises to the level of legal liability and what evidence to look for.
How Traffic Violations Establish Fault
When a driver violates a traffic law and that violation causes or contributes to an accident, the violation is evidence of negligence. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault standard under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, meaning…
Continue Reading Chicago Traffic Laws and Accident Fault