Sullivan v. Schiman, 2026 IL App (3d) 250543 (filed July 7, 2026) What is a reputation worth? According to the Third District Appellate Court, when a court finds you were defamed and actually harmed, the answer cannot be one dollar. The Facts Dr. William Sullivan, an...
Anderson v. Smith, 2026 IL 131714 (June 25, 2026) When does a lawsuit cross the line from a genuine claim into a tool for silencing someone who spoke up at a public hearing? On June 25, 2026, the Illinois Supreme Court gave courts a clearer way to answer that question...
Meta Glasses/Secret Recording Devices Ray-Ban Meta Glasses retail for around $500 and are becoming a popular way to record candid moments or “POV” (point-of-view) videos for social media apps like TikTok or Instagram. While in theory little more than a fun, handsfree...
In Owens v. Berkshire Nursing & Rehab Center, 2026 IL App (1st) 241662 (Apr. 28, 2026), the First District vacated two orders and clarified that trial courts retain jurisdiction to allow amendments to a timely filed post-judgment motion until that motion is...
A recent unpublished Illinois appellate decision offers helpful guidance on what a trustee must disclose when a beneficiary asks for trust documents. In Lindblad v. Blair, 2025 IL App (1st) 241753-U, the court held that a trustee satisfied the disclosure requirement...
In a recent case out of a federal trial court in the Southern District of New York, United States v. Heppner, 2026 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32697*, a client’s AI conversations were deemed unprotected by the attorney-client privilege. What is the Attorney-Client Privilege? The...
You review your parents’ trust, and something may feel off. The plan changed late in life. Familiar names no longer appear, and a new person now benefits. That person may have helped with meals, rides or daily tasks near the end. In Illinois, this type of change can...
When written and administered appropriately, wills and trusts not only simplify the inheritance process but these estate tools also safeguard the financial interests of beneficiaries and grantors. However, problems arise when individuals commit unlawful acts to gain a...
Martin v. Fifth Third Bank, et al 2026 IL App (1st) 250705 On February 3, 2026, the Illinois Appellate Court In Martin v. Fifth Third Bank (First District) reversed the dismissal of a negligence claim against the bank and held that Illinois courts must analyze a...
The Illinois Second District Appellate Court recently addressed the question of whether a bank account was properly classified as a joint account with rights of survivorship. In re Estate of Frain, 2025 IL App (2d) 240780. In Frain the Court clarified that proof of...