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Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour, from left, Ed Pierson, executive director of The Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing engineer; Joe Jacobsen, aerospace engineer and technical adviser to the Foundation for Aviation Safety; and Shawn Pruchnicki, professor of integrated systems engineering at The Ohio State University, are sworn in before a Senate committee Wednesday. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

Boeing put under Senate scrutiny over safety culture

An engineer at Boeing said Wednesday that the aircraft company, in rushing to produce as many planes as possible, is taking manufacturing shortcuts that could lead to jetliners breaking apart.
By David Koenig
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Ruling eases way to sue for job bias in forced transfers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it easier for workers who are transferred from one job to another against their will to pursue job discrimination claims under federal civil rights law, even when they are not demoted or docked pay.
By Mark Sherman
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SCOTUS questions obstruction charges against Jan. 6 rioters, Trump

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. But it wasn’t clear how the justices would rule in a case that also could affect the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.
By Mark Sherman
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‘Inimitable’ Lisa Blatt nears 50th high court argument

No woman has appeared more often before the Supreme Court than Lisa Blatt, who will make her 50th argument this month.
By Mark Sherman

Top feature

Judge Jeffrey Cummings draws wisdom from practice of law, music

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings of the Northern District of Illinois understands that most people involved in a legal dispute invest their emotions as well as their time and resources in the case.
By Patricia Manson

Initial suits over weed killer paraquat dismissed

A federal judge threw out four lawsuits that allege exposure to the weed killer paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease, holding her rejection of the expert opinion offered by the plaintiffs doomed their cases.
By Patricia Manson

Settlement for sickened BP oil spill workers leaves most with little

When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired to help clean up environmental devastation from the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
By Travis Loller and Michael Phillis

Historic jury selection highlights key role of social media vetting

When the first batch of potential jurors was brought in for Donald Trump’s criminal trial this week, all the lawyers had to go on to size them up at first were their names and the answers they gave in court to a set of screening questions.
By Larry Neumeister and Jake Offenhartz

$1M judgment for exploding vape batteries vacated

A vape store does not have to pay $1 million in damages over a man’s burn injuries after a state appellate panel found it was unfairly sanctioned over discovery responses.
By Emma Oxnevad

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Contributors

Trial Notebook

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High court says judge erred in trying to ‘rehabilitate’ juror

Guided by the principle that the purpose of voir dire is “investigation, not persuasion” — and bolstered by scholarly commentary that included a 2023 Chicago-Kent Law Review article — the Oregon Supreme Court critiqued a judge’s efforts to “rehabilitate” a prospective juror.
By Steven P. Garmisa

For the Defense

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Current proposal isn’t enough to stem mushrooming MDLs

Assigned a multidistrict litigation (MDL) that grew from a couple of dozen cases to nearly a thousand, and observing cases that were not properly investigated or attended to by counsel, a judge in the Middle District with Georgia expressed a famous frustration with a process that has only gotten worse in the eight years since.
By Patrick Eckler

Lawyers’ Forum

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A judge’s ethical imperative: Follow the law or face the JIB

“The law that applies to this case is stated in these instructions, and it is your duty to follow all of them.” So states Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction 1.01(2), which the judge reads to the jurors in every criminal case before the jury begins its deliberations. If we expect jurors to follow the law, we surely must expect judges to lead by example and do the same thing.
By David P. Sterba

Insurance Matters

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Court assesses offsets against employee’s underinsured claim

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, construing Illinois law, recently held that an employee injured in an automobile accident was entitled to recover underinsured coverage from his employer’s automobile liability policy, subject to certain reductions.
By Don R. Sampen

Opening Statement

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‘Purpose’ brings family drama, politics to light

In the playbill for the Steppenwolf Theatre production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ world premiere of “Purpose,” artistic directors Audrey Francis and Glenn Davis announce that “since the beginning, family drama has been this company’s signature.”
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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Goodman’s ‘Penelopiad’ makes myth beautifully contemporary

In 2005, celebrated author Margaret Atwood (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) responded to Canadian publisher Jamie Byng’s commission to solicit contemporary authors to rewrite ancient myths with “The Penelopiad.” The novella set forth her current interpretation of Homer’s classic “The Odyssey,” the tale in which Odysseus leaves his bride, Penelope, for 10 years to fight in the Trojan War.
By Julian J. Frazin

Opening Statement

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‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ ‘Flyover Chicago’ offer entertainment for entire family

The late Robin Williams has always been one of my favorite actors and comedians. His brilliant career included many celebrated performances such as those in “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Dead Poets Society,” as well as Academy Award-winning in “Good Will Hunting.” Unfortunately, his career tragically came to an end when he committed suicide at 63.
By Julian J. Frazin

Sports Marketing Playbook

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As NFL protects lucrative Super Bowl IP, some businesses retort

By now, everyone knows that brands pay big bucks to air commercials during the Super Bowl. This year, advertisers shelled out roughly $7 million for a 30-second spot, for an estimated total of $650 million, according to estimates by the Sports Business Journal.
By Douglas N. Masters and Seth A. Rose

Opening Statement

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‘Just for Us’ brings back golden age of standup comedy

Back in the day, standup comedians used to be a dominant force in Chicago. There was Shelley Berman, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce and Woody Allen. By coincidence, they were all Jewish, as were many of their female counterparts such as Joan Rivers, Elaine May and Totie Fields.
By Julian J. Frazin
All Contributors

Social Scene

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Justices visit NIU to ‘Ride the Circuit’

The Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in March as part of its “Ride the Circuit” event. John M. Fitzgerald of Tabet DiVito & Rothstein is shown presenting arguments in a case about attorney fees before justices including Elizabeth M. Rochford, left, and Lisa Holder White. The case is Andrew W. Levenfeld and Associates, Ltd., et al. v. Maureen V. O’Brien, et al., No. 129599. Photo courtesy of Northern Illinois University
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Cook County judges sworn in

Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans swore in associate judges Antara Nath Rivera, from left, Federico M. Rodriguez and Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright on Monday at the Daley Center. Judges selected them from a list of six finalists. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and other justices attended and gave remarks. Also, the Illinois Supreme Court announced 12 judges will join the Cook County Circuit Court ahead of the fall election. Grace Barbic/Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
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WBAI honors judges

The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois presented judges with the Mary Heftel Hooton Award at its Judicial Reception. Shown from left are Soobin Lee, Molly Condon Wells, Hon. Sanjay T. Tailor, Hon. Janet Adams Brosnahan (ret.), WBAI President Whitney K. Siehl, Hon. Maryam Ahmad, Hon. Mary M. Rowland, Joanne Flannery accepting the award on behalf of her late father, Hon. James P. Flannery, Jr., Caidi Mammas Vanderporten and Katie Twardak. Hon. Ann Claire Williams (ret.) was also honored. Photo courtesy of WBAI
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UIC group honors Justice Reyes

The UIC Law Latinx Law Student Association hosted its annual fiesta event and awards ceremony Friday. 1st District Appellate Justice Jesse G. Reyes, second from left, received the 2024 Alumni of the Year Award for outstanding achievement in the judiciary and public service. Other recipients include Diego Valencia, from left, Edith Munoz and Daisy Huerta. Photo by Miguel Zuno

Special Publications

JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards 2023

JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards 2023

The commemorative magazine for the 2023 Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Lawyer Excellence Awards is now available!

Over 350 were in attendance as thirty-four professionals from both sides of the trial bar received individual Trial Lawyer Excellence awards in one of fifteen 2023 categories.
Women in Law 2023

Women in Law 2023

The 4th class for Women in Law

Meet the exceptional women recognized in our 4th annual Women in Law awards.
40 Under Forty 2023

40 Under Forty 2023

Law Bulletin Media announces the Class of 2023

Success at any age is impressive. But to achieve it at an early age is even more of a feat. Congratulations to 40 Under Forty honorees for 2023.

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Photo gallery with Top Stories

Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour, from left, Ed Pierson, executive director of The Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing engineer; Joe Jacobsen, aerospace engineer and technical adviser to the Foundation for Aviation Safety; and Shawn Pruchnicki, professor of integrated systems engineering at The Ohio State University, are sworn in before a Senate committee Wednesday. AP Photo/Kevin Wolf
Apr
18
Thu

Boeing put under Senate scrutiny over safety culture
The Supreme Court unanimously revived a sex discrimination lawsuit Wednesday filed by a St. Louis police sergeant after she was forcibly transferred, making it easier for workers who are transferred from one job to another against their will to pursue job discrimination claims.
Apr
17
Wed

Ruling eases way to sue for job bias in forced transfers
Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas was back on the bench Tuesday after an unexplained one-day absence. He joined the other justices in questioning whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Apr
16
Tue

SCOTUS questions obstruction charges against Jan. 6 rioters, Trump
Lisa Blatt of Williams & Connolly LLP poses in front of the Supreme Court last week in Washington. Known for her humor, bluntness and informality, Blatt will argue her 50th case before the Supreme Court later this month, more than any other woman.AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Apr
15
Mon

‘Inimitable’ Lisa Blatt nears 50th high court argument
State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, speaks to reporters after passing an amendment to the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act through the Senate on Thursday. It now heads to the House for consideration.
Apr
12
Fri

Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s BIPA law
In this Oct. 3, 1995, file photo, O.J. Simpson reacts as he is found not guilty in the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Defense attorneys F. Lee Bailey, left, and Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. stand with him.
Apr
11
Thu

O.J. Simpson, acquitted in famous murder trial, dies at 76