kelly-4-26-24,ph01 — R. Kelly leaves the Daley Center after a hearing in his child support case May 8, 2019. A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the singer’s sex-crime conviction and 20-year sentence in his Chicago case. – AP Photo/Matt Marton, File

7th Circuit rejects R. Kelly’s challenge to 20-year sentence

The singer R. Kelly was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex convictions in Chicago, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

By Kathleen Foody

Illinoisans can now have documents notarized online

Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office.

By Alex Abbeduto

Supreme Court appears to side with Starbucks in dispute with NLRB

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to side with Starbucks Tuesday in a case that could make it harder for the federal government to seek injunctions when it suspects a company of interfering in unionization campaigns.

By Dee-Ann Durbin

Ghost guns, outdoor sleeping bans reach U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up a Biden administration appeal over the regulation of difficult-to-trace ghost guns that had been struck down by lower courts.

By Mark Sherman

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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

Illinois Supreme Court to hear 5 civil cases in May term

The Illinois Supreme Court will hear five civil cases in its May term, including weighing in on whether a class action suit that does not allege actual harm has standing in court.

By Grace Barbic

Judge tosses GIPA suit against Advocate

An employee who alleges Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp. required her to answer questions about her family medical history does not have a case under the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act, a state court judge ruled.

By Patricia Manson

Real estate firm to pay $250M to settle commission lawsuits

A real estate company owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to pay $250 million to settle lawsuits nationwide claiming that longstanding practices by real estate brokerages forced U.S. homeowners to pay artificially inflated broker commissions when they sold their homes.

By Alex Veiga

ARDC board advises suspension for misusing trust income

An attorney who misappropriated more than $11,300 in trust funds should be suspended for one year, according to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission hearing board.

By Emma Oxnevad

CDLB People

Keating Law Offices promoted M. Catelyn Viggiano to partner.

Keating Law Offices hired Jack Dassow as an attorney.

Greenberg Traurig LLP added Matthew J. Whited as a shareholder in the firm’s corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity practices.

CDLB People

Defendants attack assignment as champertous

When one of the plaintiffs in an antitrust case against turkey processors assigned its claim to a third party, the defendants argued the transfer was invalid as “champertous” under Illinois law. But U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall of the Northern District decided “federal common law” should provide the answer.

By Steven P. Garmisa

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

‘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

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

‘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

HLAI x WBAI celebrates Latino culture

The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois hosted its HLAI x WBAI event celebrating Latina lawyers and artists at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Shown are event leaders and board members Lisa Velez, from left, Leilani Pino, Cindy Medina-Cervantes, WBAI president Whitney K. Siehl, HLAI president Dora Cornelio, Jocely Pacheco and Jennifer Crespo. The groups honored outgoing DePaul Law Dean Jennifer L. Rosato Perea, whose interim replacement was just named. Photo courtesy of WBAI

Pericles found guilty

Katerina Alexopoulos of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, from left, Patrick M. Collins of King & Spalding, Cook County Judge Megan E. Goldish (who offered victim testimony) and Tinos Diamantatos of Morgan Lewis successfully prosecuted the title character, played by retired Judge Paul Lillios, at the National Hellenic Museum’s “Trial of Pericles” last week at the Harris Theater. Photo by Elios Photography

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

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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HLAI x WBAI celebrates Latino culture

Pericles found guilty

Justices visit NIU to ‘Ride the Circuit’

Cook County judges sworn in

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7th Circuit rejects R. Kelly’s challenge to 20-year sentence

Illinoisans can now have documents notarized online

Supreme Court appears to side with Starbucks in dispute with NLRB

Ghost guns, outdoor sleeping bans reach U.S. Supreme Court

Pritzker’s health insurance reforms clear House

Boeing put under Senate scrutiny over safety culture