A dog bite can be a sudden and traumatic experience, leaving you in pain and unsure of what to do next. It’s easy to feel like it was just bad luck, a freak accident you have to deal with on your own. But you don’t. At SAM LAW OFFICE, LLC, our founding attorney, Susan A. […]
The post What Are Your Rights After a Dog Bite in Illinois? appeared first on SAM LAW OFFICE LLC.
Continue Reading What Are Your Rights After a Dog Bite in Illinois?

A parent was arrested for violation of a disorderly conduct ordinance, and was later convicted at trial. According to the court opinion, the arrest related to conduct of the parent towards a teacher at his child’s school where he clenched his fists and cursed. He appealed his conviction on several grounds, including that his First Amendment rights were violated, that the city violated court discovery rules, and that the sentence was outside the city’s authority.
The Appellate Court upheld his conviction in City of Naperville v. Penick. First, the Court rejected his First Amendment argument, finding that he engaged…
Continue Reading Appellate Court Upholds Conviction of Disorderly Conduct Ordinance Violation

Nathan Henderson (Photo credit: Nathan Henderson)
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Nathan Henderson, an Associate at Saul Ewing LLP in Chicago where he is a commercial litigator. He previously clerked with Federal Magistrate Judge Eric Long in the Central District of Illinois. Nathan received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Nathan has been honored with a Pro Bono Luminary Award from the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation and an Excellence in Pro Bono Service award from the Northern District…
Continue Reading Professionalism Spotlight: Nathan Henderson, Saul Ewing LLP

Planning for the unexpected is one of the most important steps a parent can take to protect a child. Many families begin researching Standby and Short-Term Guardianship in Illinois when facing medical issues, military deployment, travel, or other situations that may temporarily prevent them from caring for their child. For parents in Champaign, Shelbyville, and surrounding Central Illinois communities, understanding these planning tools can provide peace of mind while preserving parental rights.
Unlike court-ordered guardianship, standby and short-term guardianship allow parents to plan ahead while they are still able to make decisions. These tools are governed by specific legal requirements…
Continue Reading Standby and Short-Term Guardianship in Illinois: Planning Ahead for Minor Children

Case Background

Marsha J. Martin filed an amended complaint[1] alleging that she received an e-mail that appeared to be from Coastal Customs Builders requesting payment for construction services provided to her. Martin further alleged that, unbeknownst to her at the time, Coastal Customs’ e-mail had been hacked. Martin ultimately wire transferred funds to the hacker’s account at Fifth Third Bank. The hacker then withdrew the funds and transferred them elsewhere. According to Martin, Fifth Third Bank was unable to recover the funds that were wired.

Under a theory of negligence, Martin alleged that Fifth Third Bank knew the hacker…
Continue Reading Not My Customer, Not My Problem? Assessing Whether a Duty May be Owed to a Non-Customer Under Martin v. Fifth Third Bank

1776266214-141009-8369-lxb_photozFSo6bnZJTwlxb_photo-

On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order #14280 (EO 14280), “Reinstating Commonsense School Discipline Policies.” This order directs the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Attorney General to issue new guidance on school discipline and move away from the disparate impact framework that the Obama and Biden administrations had applied.

However, nearly a year after EO #14280, no such guidance has been published. Data on federal investigations into school disciplinary procedures since the executive order will not be available until at least 2027, but it is likely that the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) of the…
Continue Reading Changes in Federal Policy Addressing Student Discipline

There is a federal court decision from February of this year that every attorney using AI tools in their practice needs to read carefully. Not because of what it held, but because of what it did NOT hold, and because a significant amount of the published commentary about it is mischaracterizing the scope of the ruling in ways that could lead attorneys to draw precisely the wrong conclusions.
The case is United States v. Heppner, decided in the Southern District of New York on February 10, 2026. If you have read any of the dozens of law firm alerts, bar…
Continue Reading Is Your AI Tool Destroying Attorney-Client Privilege? What Every Lawyer Needs to Know

Accident News | Chicago

A 43-year-old woman was struck and killed by a sport-utility vehicle on Chicago’s Near West Side Sunday night after reportedly crossing the street against a traffic signal. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. near the intersection of South Ashland Avenue and Ogden Avenue, where the roads intersect diagonally.

According to police, a 17-year-old girl was driving northeast on Ogden Avenue in a silver SUV when she hit the woman. Authorities stated that the driver had a green light at the time of the crash, and a witness at the scene confirmed this account.

The victim suffered…
Continue Reading Woman Hit, Killed by SUV While Crossing Against light On Chicago’s Near West Side

Car Accident News | Chicago, IL

A man was injured Sunday night in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood after a two-vehicle crash sent one car crashing into a CTA bus shelter where he was standing. The incident occurred around 10:38 p.m. at the busy six-way intersection of West Belmont Avenue, North Ashland Avenue, and North Lincoln Avenue.

According to police, a 19-year-old driver traveling south on Ashland Avenue attempted to turn right onto Belmont Avenue when his white SUV sideswiped another vehicle heading west. Following the initial collision, the SUV lost control, veered off course, and struck a nearby bus shelter located…
Continue Reading Man Struck at Bus Stop After Crash in Chicago’s Lakeview Community

During an Illinois divorce, a couple’s marital estate is divided according to the law. In that marital estate is more than a couple’s assets and income. Debt is factored in as well. This can be especially problematic in a divorce, and not just because it can affect the amount of one’s settlement. Without representation from a Wheaton, IL divorce lawyer, negotiations can become difficult fast.
Couples might have different values when it comes to money and debt, and one party may have contributed more to the couple’s debt load than the other. Alternatively, one party may have less…
Continue Reading Deciding Who Pays for the Credit Card Debt After a Divorce

The most important person to speak to after you have been hurt in a personal injury accident is your doctor. For many reasons, seeking and obtaining the appropriate medical treatment should be of paramount importance after you have been injured. However, if your injuries have been caused by another person, that person’s insurance company will try to take your statement (usually recorded) as soon as possible. This initial communication can determine how much of your health or other expenses the company will cover. 
You should think twice before speaking to the adjuster immediately after your accident. A Joliet, IL personal…
Continue Reading Talking to Insurance Companies After a Personal Injury Accident

What You Need to Know if You Received a Ticket After a Crash in Cook County

If you received a traffic ticket after a car accident and your case is set at the Skokie Courthouse, you should understand your options before paying the ticket. Many drivers assume a crash related ticket is minor because it is not a DUI or criminal charge. In reality, traffic accident tickets can lead to fines, insurance increases, points against your driving record, and even license suspension under certain circumstances.

Our traffic attorneys regularly represent drivers at the Skokie Courthouse and help clients protect their…
Continue Reading Traffic Accident Tickets at the Skokie Courthouse

Home > Blog > How Nursing Home Neglect Cases Are Built How Nursing Home Neglect Cases Are Actually Built: From Observation to Verdict Families see bad care happening. They visit their mother and find her sitting in wet clothes for hours. They call the facility three times asking the staff …
The post How Nursing Home Neglect Cases Are Actually Built: From Observation to Verdict appeared first on Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law.
Continue Reading How Nursing Home Neglect Cases Are Actually Built: From Observation to Verdict

Home > Blog > Dementia and Nursing Home Neglect: Why Patients Who Cannot Speak Are Most at Risk Dementia and Nursing Home Neglect: Why Patients Who Cannot Speak Are Most at Risk A man in his eighties sits in a wheelchair in a nursing home. He has advanced dementia. He …
The post Dementia and Nursing Home Neglect: Why Patients Who Cannot Speak Are Most at Risk appeared first on Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law.
Continue Reading Dementia and Nursing Home Neglect: Why Patients Who Cannot Speak Are Most at Risk

Home > Blog > The “Inevitable Decline” Defense: How Nursing Homes Blame the Patient The “Inevitable Decline” Defense: How Nursing Homes Blame the Patient A woman in her seventies enters a nursing home with advanced Parkinson’s disease. She’s been living with it for years. She’s weak but stable. Six months …
The post The “Inevitable Decline” Defense: How Nursing Homes Blame the Patient appeared first on Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law.
Continue Reading The “Inevitable Decline” Defense: How Nursing Homes Blame the Patient