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Whether you own a dog or know someone who owns a dog, it is not unusual to encounter the incident of a dog bite. Illinois, and more specifically Chicago, law provides protection for citizens from dog attacks. Furthermore, the law establishes that liability is placed on the owners of the dogs in most situations.

Under the Animal Control Act (the Act), the dog’s owner is generally responsible for ...

As technology advances, it becomes more and more crucial in our everyday lives. Ranging from smartphones to smartwatches, people are constantly connected through technology. Although useful, these technology devices can pose a huge danger if used while driving. In Illinois, the distracted driving law is quite clear regarding the use of smartphones while driving; but the law regarding the use of...

Winter is officially upon us in Chicago, and with it has come the start of freezing temperatures, snow, and dangerous driving conditions. With the winter weather inevitably comes snow- and ice-covered sidewalks. The question then becomes: what happens if I slip and fall due to snow and ice accumulation on another person’s property? Liability can be hard to prove in these situations in Chicago d...

The Illinois Health Care Services Lien Act was put into effect to essentially ensure that medical providers are paid for their services by allowing healthcare professionals and providers to place a lien on all claims arising out of a patient’s injuries. However, the Act does provide some protection to the patient as it limits the amount the healthcare professionals and providers may recover fro...

As people continue to choose a healthier and greener lifestyle of riding a bike, the amount of bicycle related accidents has become more frequent. Although many safety precautions have been initiated to protect cyclists, injuries are still inevitable. A common fear among cyclists is the fear of having a car door opened immediately in front of their path. This is often referred to as “dooring.” ...

In Illinois, the amount of punitive damages assessed is often quite unpredictable. Unlike awards for compensatory damages that tend to be calculated in a precise manner, the valuation of punitive damages can range widely. As such, it is extremely important to be aware of the possibility of being awarded punitive damages, especially because punitive damages are typically excluded from the covera...

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the nation’s second largest public transportation system. CTA Facts at a Glance. In 2017, on an average weekday, 1.6 million rides were taken across CTA. Id. CTA has 1,864 buses that operate 129 routes and 1,536 route miles. Buses make about 19,237 trips a day and serve 10,768 bus stops. Id. On the rapid transit system, CTA’s 1,492 rail cars operate ...

As technology continues to revolutionize the world around us, we must be cognizant of the new risks that are inevitably involved. This is especially true with autonomous vehicles. Autonomous vehicles have been gaining popularity with the thought that fully autonomous vehicles will help reduce the rate of accidents, particularly those involving human error. However, there are still many unanswer...

Internet services such as Google Street View (“Street View”) and Google Maps offer litigants a new realm of discovery resources that did not exist before. These images enable a party to compare images of a location that may have been taken years apart from each other. Although there is some guidance as to the admissibility of these Street View images, uncertainty still exists as to the situatio...

            Amusement parks are popular summer activity, especially for families and kids. Although amusement parks are relatively safe, injuries still occur frequently. To protect themselves, amusement parks and other facilities will often require the guest to complete a waiver of liability before participating in the activity. If the participant is a minor, the amusement park or facility may ...

Social media plays a prominent role in the daily lives of millions of people, whether it is to receive a news update, to stay in touch with friends and family, or to gain social recognition. Social media enables a wealth of information to become disposable almost instantaneously. For lawyers, the pervasive nature of social media potentially makes it a goldmine to obtain evidence. However, the q...

On January 22, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) held in a 5-4 decision that statutes of limitations for state law claims joined in a federal lawsuit are tolled until 30 days after a federal court dismisses the claims. This decision applies to state law claims brought in federal court under the Supplemental Jurisdiction statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1367, which enables federal cour...