If you receive disability insurance through your employer, you might assume that filing a claim will be straightforward. After all, you’ve paid for coverage—either directly or through your employee benefits package—and you need those benefits because a medical condition is preventing you from working. 

Unfortunately, many employees discover that obtaining disability benefits through an employer-sponsored plan is far more complicated than expected. They may even find their ERISA disability claim denied. 

Most employer-sponsored disability plans are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), a federal law that establishes rules for employee benefit plans. While ERISA was intended to protect workers, it also creates…
Continue Reading ERISA Disability Claims: What Your Employer Won’t Tell You About Fighting Back

Antonio DeBlasio

On May 29, 2026, the Illinois Appellate Court (Second District) ruled in favor of ourclient, Scott Tollaksen, in a multi-million dollar shareholder dispute against his partners and former employers, Lionheart Critical Power Specialists, Inc. and Lionheart Power Systems, Inc. The Appellate Court reversed the trial court and agreed that Lionheart failed to exercise an option under the parties’ Buy-Sell Agreement when it conditioned acceptance of the option upon additional, material terms that were not required under the parties’ Buy-Sell Agreement, including the forfeiture of his interest in a separate real estate partnership for no consideration, a non-compete agreement…
Continue Reading Shareholder Prevails in Illinois Appellate Court on Buy-Sell Agreement Dispute.

If you are a Navy contractor, ship repair company, or defense supplier wondering whether using AI puts trade secrets at risk, you are asking exactly the right question. I see why this concern is growing. Federal agencies now operate under formal AI governance and acquisition guidance, which means contractors should expect more questions about oversight, documentation, and how AI-assisted decisions are made.My short answer is this: AI itself does not automatically hand your trade secrets to the government. The real risk usually comes from contract language, deliverable definitions, disclosure obligations, vendor terms, data handling, and how your team responds…
Continue Reading Does Using AI Put Trade Secrets at Risk?

In January 2023, the Illinois
General Assembly enacted Public
Act 102-1123 (the Act) which, among other things, amended the Counties Code
to codify new standards and procedures for the development of “commercial solar
energy facilities” in counties across Illinois. Notable provisions of the Act
include the following: 

  • A restriction that counties may not adopt zoning
    regulations that “disallow, permanently ortemporarily,” commercial solar
    energy facilities in agricultural or industrial districts,
  • Guidelines regarding maximum setbacks, fencing
    requirements, height, vegetative screening, etc.,
  • A provision allowing counties to adopt standards
    for solar facilities, so long as county requirements are not “more restrictive”
    than those

…
Continue Reading In the Zone: Appellate Court Upholds Dismissal of Lawsuit Against County Regarding Denial of Solar Facilities

Sueros & Bebidas Rehidratantes, S.A. de C.V. et al. v. Palimex Distributors Inc. et al., No. 1:25-cv-02171, Slip Op. (N.D. Ill. Feb. 24, 2026) (Rowland, J.).Judge Rowland’s court received an agreed motion for entry of final judgment and permanent injunction in this gray market goods trademark infringement case involving Electrolit branded rehydration beverages.Plaintiff Sueros, the Mexican owner of the ELECTROLIT trademarks, and CAB Enterprises, the exclusive U.S. licensee, sued Palimex Distributors for importing and selling foreign-manufactured ELECTROLIT products not authorized for the U.S. market (“Unauthorized Electrolit”). The parties stipulated to detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law establishing…
Continue Reading Agreed Permanent Injunction Entered in Gray Market Electrolit Beverage Trademark Case

If you work as an independent contractor in Chicago and suffer an injury while performing your job, you may wonder whether workers’ compensation benefits are available to you. Generally, independent contractors are not covered by workers’ compensation. However, the situation is not always as straightforward as it appears. Many workers who are labeled as independent contractors are actually treated like employees in their day-to-day work. In some cases, a worker who receives a 1099 form instead of a W-2 may still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits under Illinois law. If you have been hurt on the job in Chicago, it…
Continue Reading Can Independent Contractors Get Workers’ Compensation in Chicago?

If you have been hurt in Chicago because of a car accident, truck crash, motorcycle collision, slip and fall, workplace accident, or any other incident caused by someone else’s negligence, you should contact Phillips Law Offices as soon as possible after receiving medical attention. The earlier you speak with an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer, the better your chances of protecting important evidence, preserving your legal rights, and building a strong claim for compensation. Waiting too long can make it harder to prove your case and may even affect your ability to recover damages. While your health should always…
Continue Reading I’ve Been Hurt in Chicago: How Soon Should I Call Phillips Law Offices?

If a food delivery driver hit your car or hit you while you were walking, you may be able to get money for your injuries. DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub drivers are everywhere on roads in 2026, and many rush from stop to stop to keep their delivery times low, which can lead to careless driving. These crashes often happen at intersections, in parking lots, or when a driver suddenly stops to check an address or grab a bag from the back seat.
A Cook County, IL personal injury attorney who knows how these food delivery accident cases work can…
Continue Reading What Should You Do After a DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub Accident in Illinois?

Adjudicator’s Field Manual — Working Reference Law Offices of Michael D. Baker Adjudicator’s Field Manual Working reference · 163 sections · 30 chapters Live Superseded Reserved ⚖ Caselaw Introductory — Overview & General Interest Ch. 1  Organization and Content of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual … Continue reading →
Continue Reading The Adjudicator’s Field Manual, Made Usable: A Searchable Reference with Live USCIS Status and Caselaw

Your home, rental property, vacation house, or even a piece of vacant land represents more than bricks and acreage. The way you legally own that property affects your control during life, your protection from creditors, and how easily the property can pass to loved ones in the future.

At Rincker Law, we help individuals and families choose the right ownership structure so their property is protected today—and positioned to transfer smoothly tomorrow.

Understanding Your Primary Residence
Your home is often your largest asset. How it is titled affects:

  • Your authority to sell or borrow against it
  • Whether creditors can reach

…
Continue Reading How to Own Your Real Estate the Right Way

The type of trust you need depends on what you are trying to accomplish. A revocable trust is best for people who want flexibility and control over their assets during their lifetime. An irrevocable trust is better for people who need stronger protection from creditors, want to reduce estate taxes, or need to qualify for government benefits like Medicaid.
Both types of trusts can help your family avoid probate and make sure your wishes are carried out after you are gone. If you are trying to figure out which one makes sense for your situation in 2026, a Barrington trust…
Continue Reading When Do I Need a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust?

Synopsis: Legislative Alert!!!Illinois Lawmakers Fiddle with the IL Workers’ Compensation Act. IL WC Medical Defenses Now More Perilous for Illinois Employers. Thoughts and Research by John P. Campbell and Eugene F. KeefeThe Illinois General Assembly recently passed House Bill 5228, introducing significant changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. These revisions will greatly impact how employers, claims professionals, and attorneys on both sides manage and defend claims in this state, as explained below. This will not become law unless and until the Governor signs it—he has 60 days to do so. Editor’s Comment: Every five or six years we see some tinkering to our IL Workers’…
Continue Reading June 2026; New Legislative Changes to IL WC Act Arrive; New Odd Strategy Claimant Attorneys May be Trying to Rein in IME sites and more

Chicago’s expressways are some of the busiest roadways in the Midwest. Every day, thousands of commuters, commercial trucks, rideshare vehicles, and visitors travel on major highways such as the Dan Ryan Expressway and Interstate 90. While these roads are designed to move large amounts of traffic efficiently, they are also the site of many serious accidents each year.

If you were injured in a crash on the Dan Ryan, I-90, or another Chicago-area expressway, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. The steps you take after an accident…
Continue Reading Chicago Expressway Accidents: Navigating Danger on the Dan Ryan and I-90

Requests for Admission require the opposing party to admit whether certain facts are true, eliminating the need to prove those facts at trial. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 216, these Requests can be efficient tools to narrow the issues in dispute before trial. However, as the recipient of the request, you must take great care to comply with the 28-day response deadline. Missing that deadline can have serious consequences. If you fail to meet the deadline, the requests may be deemed admitted and used against you at trial. This result can be devastating to your case. However, relief may still…
Continue Reading So, Requests for Admission Served on You are Deemed Admitted. Now What?

Resolving child custody issues in Illinois without litigation can help parents reduce stress, save time, and create a parenting arrangement that works better for their children. While many parents think a judge must decide every custody dispute, Illinois families often have options to resolve parenting disagreements through negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, and carefully drafted parenting plans.
That said, “without going to court” does not always mean there will be no court involvement at all. If there is an Illinois court case involving the allocation of parental responsibilities, any agreement usually still needs to be filed with the court and approved…
Continue Reading Resolving Child Custody Issues in Illinois Without Litigation

Resolving agribusiness partner disputes through mediation can help farm families, agricultural business owners, and rural entrepreneurs protect their business interests while preserving important relationships. When a dispute arises between business partners, co-owners, shareholders, LLC members, family members, or farm successors, the conflict can quickly affect daily operations, finances, land use, employees, vendors, and the future of the agricultural enterprise.
In agriculture, disputes are rarely about one issue. They often involve family history, land ownership, debt, labor, equipment, succession expectations, and different visions for the future. For many Illinois agribusinesses, mediation offers a practical and private way to resolve disputes without…
Continue Reading Resolving Agribusiness Partner Disputes Through Mediation