Legal News & Updates
We monitor legal developments to provide timely, insightful guidance, keeping our clients informed of the latest changes in laws, regulations, and industry trends. Our team stays engaged in the evolution of the law, enabling us to proactively address emerging issues and offer strategic counsel for both current and future challenges.
Latest Updates & News
Gov. Pritzker Renews His Call to Ban Cell Phones in Illinois Classrooms
During his annual State of the State address, Governor Pritzker renewed his call to ban cell phone use during school hours, stating, “It’s time to get cell phones out of the classroom.” The Governor’s office cited research showing that “72% of high school teachers identified cell phone distraction as a ‘major problem’ in their classroom.”
ISSRA, Not FOIA: Clarifying Parents’ Avenue to Access Educational Records
Parents have the right to access their student’s educational records. However, there can be confusion as to which avenue under the law they can or should pursue for access to these student records.
Illinois PAC Issues Binding Opinion on Improper Restrictions on Public Comment
The Illinois PAC issued binding opinion 26-001, finding that the Village of Sauk Village violated the Open Meetings Act by impermissibly restricting a member of the public from addressing the Village Board during a committee meeting.
| Law Alerts
Health Care Employer Mandate and Penalties Delayed until 2015
Late yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced a one year delay in implementation of the Affordable Care Act (“Act”) employer mandate and penalties until 2015. The decision was announced via…
| Law Alerts
“Could Your Township Benefit From the Work of a Committee?”
Guy C. Hall and M. Neal Smith, Jr. authored “Could Your Township Benefit From the Work of a Committee?” which was included in the July/August 2013 issue of Township Perspective…
| Law Alerts
“Using Social Network Screening as Part of the Hiring Process: Employers Should Proceed with Caution”
“Using Social Network Screening as Part of the Hiring Process: Employers Should Proceed with Caution,” written by partner Frank B. Garrett III was published in the June 2013 issue of Inquiry and Analysis,…
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Does Your Employee Handbook or Policy Manual Create a Right to Continued Employment?
In a recent decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals found that a right to continued employment following completion of a probationary period cannot be inferred from silence in an…
| Law Alerts
No Secret Balloting by Members of a Public Body
On May 13, 2013, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) issued a binding opinion that the use of secret ballots by public bodies violates the Illinois Open Meetings…
| Law Alerts
Employer Could Skip ADA Interactive Accommodation Process with Employee Who Could Not Show She Could Regularly Come to Work
In Badsen v. Professional Transportation, Inc, (May 8, 2013). the Seventh Circuit ruled that the District Court correctly concluded that plaintiff, Badsen’s, discharge was not disability discrimination, even though the employer,…
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Teacher’s Inappropriate Facebook Post Warranted a Two Year Unpaid Suspension, but Not Discharge
On May 7, 2013, the New York Appellate Court ruled that the lower court had correctly reversed the discharge of a tenured teacher, Ms. Rubino, who had an otherwise unblemished…
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Illinois Supreme Court Determines Arbitration Award Ordering Reinstatement of a Paraprofessional was Binding Because the Award “Drew Its Essence” from the CBA
Analyzing the scope and enforceability of an arbitration award, the Illinois Supreme Court in Griggsville-Perry Unit School Dist. No. 4 v. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Bd., et al., 2013 IL…
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Department of Labor Issues Updated FMLA Forms and Poster
The United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) has updated many of its model FMLA forms and its FMLA poster to reflect its recently issued rules which implement and interpret the…
| Firm News
Golf Course Clubhouse Property Taxes
Associate Scott Ginsburg was quoted in “Bill would eliminate “open-space” tax exemptions for recreational buildings” published in the March edition of the Illinois Bar Journal. He discusses how clubhouses on…