When a baby is born, doctors and nurses quickly check to see how well the newborn is adjusting to life outside the womb. One of the main ways they do this is through something called the Apgar score. This test helps medical professionals determine if the baby needs any immediate medical attention. It’s a quick and simple way to assess a newborn’s overall health right after birth.
The Apgar score is important because it can detect serious health problems right away. A low score can be a sign of breathing difficulties, poor circulation, or other issues that might require urgent…
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Car accidents happen every day, and they can lead to serious problems, from injuries to financial loss. When a crash occurs, people often have to deal with medical bills, car repairs, and insurance claims. In some cases, legal issues come up, making the situation even more stressful.
Knowing when to get a lawyer can make a big difference in how a case is handled. Some accidents require legal help to get fair compensation, while others can be settled without an attorney. Understanding these situations will help you make the best decision for your case.
When Should You Hire a Car …
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Buying your first home is an exciting step, but it can also feel a bit overwhelming. For many people in their late 20s or early 30s, buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make.
Understanding the process and making smart choices along the way can set you up for success. With the right guidance, including help from an experienced attorney, you can navigate buying your first home with confidence.
At our office, you will work directly with an Illinois real estate attorney to address every legal aspect of the home buying process, ensuring that…
Continue Reading 6 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts, often requiring treatment with devices like CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines. For veterans, obtaining service connection for sleep apnea can be particularly challenging, especially when complicated by underlying conditions such as depression. break down a successful claim by linking sleep apnea to service-connected depression.

Service Connection for Sleep Apnea: Understanding the Criteria
To establish a service connection for sleep apnea, a veteran must show a link between their military service and the onset or aggravation of the condition. This can be achieved through direct, secondary, or…
Continue Reading A Veteran's Journey to a Successful Claim – Linking Sleep Apnea to Service

The end of a marriage typically means you will have to make many difficult decisions about the future. One of the first legal decisions many people face is whether to pursue a divorce or an annulment. While both options bring a marriage to a legal close, they are key differences. The choice between the two depends on your unique situation, and understanding the differences can help you make the best decision for your circumstances. An Illinois family law attorney can help you determine which option will be in your best interest and work to protect your rights. 
What Is…
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It is nearly impossible to downplay the importance social media has in our lives. Whether you use it to post and see pictures of your friends, stay on top of new trends, get yourself from Point A to Point B, find your next job or apartment, or anything else, social media has weaved its way into every aspect of the average person’s routine. 
Criminal law is no exception. Things posted on social media can be used by both the prosecution and the defense as evidence or liability in any given case. In Illinois, there are legal guidelines dictating how social…
Continue Reading What To Know About Social Media and Illinois Criminal Cases

Divorce is a challenging process for any family, but it is particularly difficult when children are involved. The end of a marriage changes family dynamics, and children often struggle with feelings of confusion, sadness, and fear. As a family law attorney who has handled countless divorce cases in Illinois, I understand that prioritizing the parent-child relationship during and after divorce is very important. 
Children require stability, emotional support, and reassurance that they are loved by both parents. Illinois divorce laws emphasize the child’s best interests. This is why we must make conscious efforts to maintain and strengthen the parent-child bond.
Continue Reading Building A Strong Parent-Child Bond Through Your Divorce

Chicago, IL (January 30, 2025) – At least two people were killed in separate crashes on Interstate 57 on Wednesday, according to Illinois State Police.
The first crash happened around 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday in the northbound lanes of I-57, south of 159th Street. That’s where state police said troopers responded to the crash involving multiple injuries and at least one fatality. During that crash investigation, another occurred just after 1:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-57 at 159th Street.
State police said one person was killed in the three-vehicle crash. Though an investigation is ongoing, witnesses were asked to…
Continue Reading Chicago, IL – Two Dead in Separate Crashes Along I-57 near 159th St

As of today, very few protections are in place for students who have been sexually assaulted by another student at their school, forcing victims to face their attacker at school as soon as the next day. Illinois school districts cannot continue to turn a blind eye and must take proper steps to protect survivors of school sexual assault.

If passed, Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) will require schools to expel students who sexually assault another student for at least a year. State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Marrayville) filed the legislation following an incident…
Continue Reading New Illinois Legislation Would Expel Students for Sexual Assault Violations


The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that early bird registration is open for its ninth annual Future Is Now: Legal Services conference. The legal professionalism conference will be held virtually from 12 – 4:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Early bird tickets are available for $30 through February 28. The price will increase on March 1.
Attendees are eligible for 4.0 hours of professional responsibility CLE credit in Illinois, including 1.0 hour of diversity and inclusion credit and 1.0 hour of mental health and substance abuse credit. Space is limited.
Click to Register
About the …
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Tressler attorney Katerina Tsoukalas-Heitkemper will be presenting at the Illinois Chapter Community Associations Institute’s (CAI-IL) 43rd annual Condo-HOA Conference & Expo on Friday, February 21st at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. Her presentation is titled “Juggling Real Estate Transactions: Working Together to Ease the Process.” Katerina Tsoukalas-Heitkemper, Kathryn A. Formeller and other members of Tressler’s award-winning HOA Law team will also be volunteering at Tressler’s HOA Law booth – #118. We look forward to seeing you at the greatest show!

When

Friday, February 21st from 11:30am to 12:00pm CST

Where

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center5555 N…
Continue Reading Katerina Tsoukalas-Heitkemper to Present at the CAI-IL’s 2025 Condo-HOA Conference & Expo

The Illinois Supreme Court
recently issued a new opinion addressing limits on the authority of circuit
courts to hear election contest challenges. Ontiveroz
v. Khokhar.
After the 2021 election, a candidate for the office of village president challenged
the election results after losing the election by two votes. In his petition, the candidate claimed that a disqualified candidate had misled voters about write-in ballots and that
several ballots should not have been counted because they did not comply with the Illinois
Election Code. 
The circuit court dismissed the candidate’s case after finding it lacked jurisdiction to hear the challenge because…
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Despite head-turning decisions issued in recent years by the National Labor Relations Board designed to help labor unions in their organizing efforts, a concentrated government push towards union-only Project Labor Agreements—and many state legislatures passing laws intended to limit an employer’s right to even discuss the good, bad, and ugly of union membership—the union membership rate dropped in 2024 to another all-time low. 
Continue Reading Union Membership Drops to an All Time Low (Again)

Progressive car insurance has around 30 million policies [1], making it the second-largest insurer in the US. If you’ve been in a car accident, there’s a high chance that the other driver has Progressive car insurance. 

If you filed a claim as a client or the victim of someone else’s negligence, you might wonder how long it takes to settle an insurance claim with Progressive.

In this article, we will explain the factors that affect insurance claim time limits, the company’s claim process, and the steps you can take if the company misses its deadlines. 

Insurance Claim Time Limits

The…
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If you have ever experienced a car accident, you understand the impact it can have on your life. Typically, there are physical injuries associated with the collision, such as broken bones, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, and nerve damage. 

These challenges alone are enough to change an injured victim’s life. However, there are also implications for the mental health of the person involved in the car accident.

Many car accident victims deal with depression. Their mental state could be affected because of the trauma of the accident, the injuries they suffered, or their new lifestyle after the wreck.
Continue Reading Depression After Car Accident