December 2024

In its recent decision in Cavalier Distributing Co., Inc. v. Lime Ventures, Inc. (link to opinion), the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling denying an injunction to a beer wholesaler after a successor importer failed to sell brands to the distributor that it had bought from a prior importer and did so based on logic and reasoning that effectively impinges on the brand value created by distributors and the fundamental franchise protections for alcohol distributors under Ohio law. The court’s analysis failed to account for critical statutory provisions, undermining the Ohio Alcoholic Beverage Franchise Act’s (OABFA) purpose of
Continue Reading The Sixth Circuit Misses the Mark in Cavalier v. Lime Ventures – Failing to Protect the Value Distributors Create in Brands

Pensive Vietnamese female attorney sitting in front of computer aba profile of the legal profession
The legal profession may reach gender parity by 2026, the 2024 ABA Profile of the Legal Profession predicts.
The report has dubbed the years 2016 – 2026 as the “Decade of the Female Lawyer” and predicted that the legal profession will soon shift to a female majority.
Its reasoning? Women first outnumbered men in law school enrollment in 2016 and as federal government lawyers in 2020. And in 2023, for the first time, women comprised the majority of law firm associates.
The annual ABA Profile of the Legal Profession compiles statistics and trends about lawyers, judges, and law students


Continue Reading ‘Decade of the Female Lawyer’: ABA Profile of the Legal Profession Predicts Gender Parity by 2026

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a NATIONWIDE preliminary NATIONWIDE injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act (Act). See Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al. In the underlying case, the Plaintiff argued that Congress essentially “overreached” its authority over the States in compelling them to adopt the requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act. The U.S. District Court ultimately granted the Plaintiff’s request to preliminary enjoin the Government from enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act and its Implementing Regulations, ruling that “Neither may be enforced, and reporting companies need not comply with the CTA’s January 1, 2025, BOI reporting
Continue Reading Urgent News! Corporate Transparency Act Compliance Enjoined by a Federal Court on December 3, 2024 – Compliance Stalled

After she was injured in a shuttle bus crash at work, her employer was trying to give Tashica problems when filing a claim.

Ankin Law wasn’t about to let that stand – and two attorneys helped get the job done.

Attorney John Powers helped Tashica get treatment and a settlement from her employer. Attorney Maria Merman and legal assistant Adrianna Carrillo handled the case from the personal injury side, getting a separate settlement for the auto accident itself.

“I actually gave up,” said Tashica. “But he (John) told me ‘No, don’t give up. I’m gonna try. I’m gonna keep going
Continue Reading Ankin Law Wouldn’t Let Tashica Quit on Her Case

In 2022, over 5.9 million car accidents were reported to the police in the United States [1]. When a minor accident occurs, victims may feel that calling law enforcement is a hassle, only to find that filing an insurance claim without a police report is difficult and frustrating. 

While it may still be possible to file a car accident claim without police reports, the claims process becomes more challenging. If you did not get an accident report, an experienced car accident attorney can help you negotiate with the insurance company so you can receive compensation. 

Importance of a police report in a car accident claim

The Role of Police Reports
Continue Reading Can You File an Insurance Claim Without a Police Report?

Determining fault in a car accident is essential for resolving insurance claims and even personal injury lawsuits. The parties involved in the car accident often have conflicting accounts of what happened, confusing police officers investigating the accident scene, insurance adjusters, and even lawyers. 

Video footage can play an essential role in a car accident investigation. Whether it is camera footage from a bystander’s smartphone or traffic camera video footage, these images can help authorities determine how the accident occurred and who is at fault. 

If you have been hurt in a car accident, you may need camera footage to
Continue Reading How to Get Video Footage of an Accident

A contingency fee arrangement reduces your upfront expenses when working with personal injury lawyers, helping you focus on recovery. This is a payment arrangement where the lawyer’s fee is a percentage of your settlement amount. These are contingency fees contingent on the lawyer winning your case. 

Contingency fees are different from retainer fees, in which the client pays the lawyer money upfront to retain their services. The contingency fee structure is more common in personal injury cases, while retainer fees are used in other types of law, such as contract law. 

Though you only pay a contingency fee if the
Continue Reading Do Contingency Fees Include Expenses?

Lake County, IL (December 4, 2024) – Police say that a crash in the far north suburbs caused a large traffic backup on Tuesday evening involving seven vehicles.

The crash happened on Route 120 near Interstate 94, near the Gurnee area. One of the vehicles involved was a pickup truck that actually ended up on top of another truck.

Firefighters said one person was taken to Condell Hospital with injuries, and one fatality has yet to be confirmed, but what led up to the crash was not immediately clear. Authorities did not immediately provide further information. However, an inquiry is
Continue Reading Lake Co, IL – Seven-Car Accident, Injuries on Rte 120 at I-94

Types of Estate Assets and When They Require Probate As a person lives their life they will accumulate assets throughout their life. This will be in the form of money, investments, property, and long-term money ensuring contracts like insurance policies. Read More….
The post Types of Estate Assets and When They Require Probate appeared first on Law Office of Andrew Szocka, P.C..
Continue Reading Types of Estate Assets and When They Require Probate

Being hit by a car as a pedestrian can lead to serious injuries, emotional distress, and financial challenges. If you’ve been in this situation, you might be wondering how much compensation you could receive. On average, the payout for a pedestrian hit by a car can range from $15,000 to $75,000, but this amount depends on factors like the severity of the injuries, medical expenses, and the specifics of the accident. Understanding your rights and what affects the compensation can help you in this difficult time and ensure you receive the support you need.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident Settlement?
Continue Reading What Is the Average Settlement for a Pedestrian Who Was Hit By a Car?


Maria Rasmussen
Maria Rasmussen Advanced Window Corp.
Accounting & Payroll Department
4935 W. Le Moyne Street, Chicago, IL 60651
773-379-3500
www.advancedwindow.com

Chuck Krugel is an excellent attorney to have on your side. He communicates very well, responding to emails quickly and providing regular updates along with legal analysis and advice. His methods and expertise were very effective when representing our company in a recent matter involving a former employee. Chuck achieved quick negotiations that avoided trial and resulted in a settlement of less than half of the starting figure. He’s intelligent and knowledgeable, makes himself available to clients and is easy


Continue Reading Two New 5 Star Client Testimonials

veterans' legal aid society
Last month, the United States observed Veterans Day, which celebrates military veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and honors their contributions to our country. But these contributions should be celebrated year-round.
An estimated 459,569 veterans live in Illinois representing 4.7% of the state’s population. Veterans face many of the same civil legal issues as the general population but also experience unique challenges related to their service. Unfortunately, veterans do not always receive the legal assistance they need.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in 2021 76% of low-income veteran households reported a civil legal problem and low-income veteran


Continue Reading How the Veterans’ Legal Aid Society Gives Back to Veterans Year-Round

It’s that time of year folks! Today, we highlight the top 10 Municipal Minute blog posts of 2024. Thank you for your continued readership of Municipal
Minute.
U.S.
Supreme Court’s Analysis: Use of Social Media by Government Officials

The Supreme Court held that when a government official or employee posts
on social media, the official’s or employee’s speech will only be attributable to the
government in limited circumstances. The Court adopted a two-factor test that looks at whether the official or employee had actual authority from the government and exercises that authority in his or her social media activities..
First

Continue Reading The Top 10 Municipal Minute Posts of 2024

The Uptown People’s Law Center (“UPLC”) in conjunction with the Northern District of Illinois, and the Chicago Bar Foundation are coordinating The Hibbler Help Desk –a free, virtual resource designed to assist Northern District pro se litigants.

The upsides of volunteering for the Hibbler Help Desk include:

  • Minimal time commitment (45 minute sessions once per month);
  • Virtual appointments; and
  • No specific subject matter expertise is required.

Volunteer attorneys should have some federal court practice experience and independent malpractice insurance.

If you are interested in volunteering with the Hibbler Help Desk or would like to learn more, please reach out to
Continue Reading Volunteer Opportunity: William J. Hibbler Memorial Pro Se Assistance Program Help Desk

ABSTRACT: With the rise in electronic payment methods and scams targeting unsuspecting account holders, 2024 has seen an uptick in EFTA-related litigation. This post examines what the case law says so far and potential rules that would upend these holdings.

As the holiday season arrives, we are reminded of the ever-growing instances of fraudulent schemes against consumers. In the past year or so, we have seen instances of litigation where impacted parties attempted to seek recourse under the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) or the UCC when a consumer is scammed by a bad actor. Below is a review of


Continue Reading Fraud Fallout: Navigating Scams and Potential Recourse under the EFTA

Kane County, IL divorce lawyerFiling taxes is a complex process that can become even more complicated during a divorce. Deciding whether to file jointly or separately is a critical factor that can have a significant impact on your finances. To make an informed decision, it is important to understand how IRS rules and state laws affect your tax filing status. An experienced Kane County, IL divorce attorney can provide guidance throughout this process to help ensure your financial and legal interests are protected.
What Does It Mean to File Taxes Jointly or Separately?
When you jointly file taxes, both spouses combine their income,
Continue Reading Should You File Taxes Jointly or Separately During Divorce?