Sending photographs of a sexual nature via the cellular phone or computer is considered sexting, and can have huge consequences for minors. As the sexting law stands now, minors caught electronically distributing photographs that are sexual in nature are considered to be in promotion of Child Pornography. Child Pornography laws are harsh and include mandatory registration as a sex offender.

The current law considers driving any amount over the posted speed as speeding and you would receive a standard moving violation.

Motorists who drive recklessly near a bicyclist will see increases in penalties as well as up to a year in jail and fines up to $2,500.

It is about to get a lot easier for employees to collect on back wages here in Illinois on January 1, 2011. The new law will cover wage theft, a term used when an employer doesn’t pay a worker the wages they have earned.

A recent Chicago court filing illustrates the difficulties encountered by caregivers of ailing parents or relatives. Sometimes, there’s a fine line between “medical” care and “long term” care and those involved in the care of a particular patient may vehemently disagree as to which category applies. This untenable situation can cause unfortunate conflicts to arise […]

Being pulled over for drinking and driving is not the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago; in the past you could go to court and it would cost you a few hundred dollars as a fine, court supervision, 30 days of AA meeting attendance and a commitment not to do it again.

Today the consequences are much more severe. The State of Illinois is not taking Drinking and Driving lightly. The State can revoke your driving privileges if you are pulled over and they ask you to take a breathalyzer test.

I notice many people are still using their hand held cell phones for calling and texting while driving in the city. As you may know, Illinois is one of six states that allow localities to determine their own laws regarding cellular phone use while driving. Chicago is one of the cities that have chosen to enact hands free legislation and make driving while using a cellular device illegal.

As the year comes to an end, I caution you to adhere to some of the “Vehicular Phone Laws” that went into effect in 2010. It’s about more than just getting a ticket; it is about getting into an accident. I bet you didn’t know that texting while driving is comparable to having 4 shots of tequila, and talking on the cell phone while driving is the same as having 2 shots, and, if you are in a heated conversation, you may as well have had a couple of beers with those shots because chances are you are not paying attention to your driving.

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In February 2010, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride voted, along with 3 other justices, to overturn an Illinois law that placed monetary caps on damages awarded in Illinois medical malpractice cases. Medical malpractice caps had been struck down in two prior Illinois Supreme Court decisions, as well. Justice Kilbride is up for reelection this […]

In March we discussed the fact that the Supreme Court of the United heard oral arguments in McDonald v. City of Chicago (08-1521). At issue in McDonald was whether the Second Amendment is incorporated into the Due Process Clause or the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, thus making it applicable to the […]

The Chicago Sun-Times recently explored Chicago’s “Traffic Court” and the systemic failures that often result in the dismissal of tickets for moving violations, even where the driver who was issued the ticket was undoubtedly guilty. As explained in the article: If a police officer did not see the traffic violation that led to an accident, […]