A Chicago businessman decided to go out with his co-workers after work on Halloween weekend. He learned that Governor Pritzker would be imposing another indoor dining ban due to the increased spread of COVID-19 the coming week. Despite restaurant owners fighting back against the stringent second round of shutdowns, the governor has not backed down. Knowing that they would not be able to go out and eat in a restaurant for quite a while, they decided to enjoy several drinks...

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx won reelection in a hotly contested local race this past election cycle. When Foxx was elected in 2016, she promoted a platform of “progressive prosecution.” This movement seeks to make reforms to the criminal justice system, with the end goal of preventing mass incarceration. Kim Foxx has made good on her promise to enact progressive prosecution policies, and her appointment has resulted in the changing face of Illinois criminal law. Understanding Progressive Prosecution Kim...

A Chicago couple got married last year in what was deemed the social event of the season. Prominent Chicago business people and politicians came to the wedding. The couple moved into a beautiful condo in downtown Chicago to begin their life together. Unfortunately, after the honeymoon was over, problems began to arise within their marriage. The husband became verbally abusive and eventually started hitting his wife. His wife, worried about the stigma of pressing charges or getting help, has avoided...

Many of us rely on our driver’s licenses to get to work, so when those licenses are suspended or revoked, it can wreak havoc on our lives. Trying to get your driver’s license reinstated in Illinois has become even more complicated in the era of coronavirus. If you are pulled over with a blood-alcohol level of .08% or higher or any trace of illegal drugs in your system at the time of an arrest, an automatic driver’s license suspension will...

A married couple with three children is considering what their future will look like when their youngest child goes off to college next year. They have stayed together for their children, but as they consider their looming empty nest, they are drawn to getting a divorce. Should they put off their divorce, or should they go ahead and file for divorce now, before the end of the year? There are a few financial and personal benefits to filing for divorce...

A Schaumburg family decides to host a Halloween party at their home since bars and restaurants in Illinois are still not allowing gatherings larger than 10 people. After being in lock down for months, they are looking forward to having friends and family to let loose and celebrate. They splurge and spend a lot of money on the bar, and their guests let loose and indulge. The host of the party has invited his brothers and their families, and those...

Last Halloween, a drunk driver crashed into pedestrians, killing a 3-year-old boy and his father while critically injuring his mother. The family was on the sidewalk trick or treating with their young son when the driver of an SUV hopped the curb and ran into them. Police officers detained him and charged him with a DUI and vehicular manslaughter. The 20-year-old defendant now faces a serious prison sentence and significant fines. DUIs are always serious, but driving under the influence...

A Schaumburg couple has been isolating with their children since March. One of their sons was born prematurely and has chronic lung disease. If he contracts COVID-19, it could be deadly for him. The couple is already heavily in debt from his medical expenses and therapy. Their son's condition has also taken a toll on their marriage, making them somewhat resentful of each other. The wife had to quit her job to accommodate her son's medical appointments and therapies. The...

A husband and wife living in Cook County have struggled a bit in their marriage, but overall they have enjoyed a happy life together. After their third child was born during the pandemic, the wife began to experience symptoms of postpartum depression. She would sit for long periods of time in isolation, and for a while, she was barely able to care for her child. Because of the coronavirus-related shutdowns, both spouses were working from home on a reduced salary....

Last week, an Illinois man brought a gun into two different bars in Gages Lake. He has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm. The defendant allegedly displayed his weapon while outside one bar while walking over to another bar. Then witnesses stated that they heard two gunshots. Firearm sales have risen tremendously in the last few months, as a result of dangerous riots and high murder rates. If you are one...

A married couple have felt like their marriage is on the brink for over a decade, but they have stayed together for their kids, who are now teenagers. They have both been required to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic. The husband’s work hours have been cut as his company struggles to stay open. They finally decided to file for divorce. They have both hired lawyers and they have come to an agreement on all of the significant issues...

A woman with three children recently divorced her husband after she discovered that he had been involved in a series of affairs with other women. Before they got married, her husband promised her that after they had children, she could be a stay-at-home mother and quit her job. The court awarded her alimony, or what is now known as maintenance, in the divorce because she does not have marketable skills after staying at home for the last 10 years. This...

A successful real estate broker in Schaumburg has decided that now is the time to purchase his first gun. He is frequently driving in and out of the city, and with all of the civil unrest, he wants to protect himself if necessary. He went through the background check process and obtained a FOID card. He assumed that he could take his gun with him while driving around and showing high-end real estate, as long as his gun was not...

A Chicago stockbroker has been increasingly worried about his safety as he commutes to and from work. He has seen the record numbers of murders in Chicago in the last few months and is concerned that he will be assaulted while getting to and from his office. He has never owned a gun before and decides that his easiest option is to purchase a gun from his good friend who is always buying and trading guns. He pays his friend...

A small business owner in suburban Chicago is fighting to keep his business open. He and his wife opened up an indoor play area for young children. Their business allows parents and caregivers to pay to come in and let their children play while enjoying an adult sitting area with wifi. Before the coronavirus pandemic, they were profitable and beginning to pay off their initial business loan. When the virus struck, however, they were forced to close down temporarily. The...