Family Law and Personal Injury Attorneys
Recent Blog Posts
Family Files Lawsuit against Hotel for Legionnaire’s Disease
On November 1st, a family from Ireland filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a hotel in downtown Chicago. The family claims that the Irish tourist staying at the JW Marriot was infected with Legionella bacteria from the hotel. The JW Marriot is located at 151 W. Adams St. in THE Loop. Marriot International Inc. is the defendant in the suit, which was filled in the Cook County Circuit Court.
Thomas Joseph Keane, 66, dined at the hotel on July 27th of this year. He and his wife were there to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. It was there that his family believes he inhaled a “dangerous aerosolized water vapor contaminated with Legionella bacteria.” The bacterium was later found in a fountain by health officials, which was subsequently removed by hotel management. These officials also found that the hotel’s pool, whirlpool and both men’s and women’s locker rooms contained the same species of Legionella.
Domestic Violence Divorce Advice
Going through a divorce can sometimes feel like strategizing for battle. But for someone involved in an abusive relationship, it can literally come down to a battle for safety, and in extreme cases, life or death. The news is filled with countless stories of people who have been killed by their estranged spouses when they finally were able to break from the abuser. Statistics show that 70% of domestic violence injuries occur after separation.
There are steps that a person who is a victim of domestic violence should take as they prepare to leave the marriage. A recent report in the Huffington Post offered this advice:
- Arrange for a place outside the home for all important paperwork, such as birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, bank statements and any other paperwork showing documentation of assets.
Man Ran Down Two People For Laughing At His Female Companion
A Chicago man has been charged with running down two men with Honda Accord outside a nightclub. The two men had laughed at a woman accompanying the driver. The hit left the two men critically injured, according to the police. The Chicago Tribune reported a story on the case.
Alejandro Escobar, 37, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder, according to a police news release. Escobar's bond was set at $800,000.
The release from the Chicago Police News Affairs said that both victims were critically injured. One of the victims has been released from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The other one remains in the hospital listed in serious condition, prosecutors said.
Escobar, the driver of the 2009 red Honda Accord, crashed into the two men outside a club where the fight originally started. According to a police report, the driver was mad, because the men had laughed at his female companion.
The Tax Consequences of Divorce
There are many things that are considered in the process of divorce. If you have kids, then certain arrangements must be made for them regarding child support, child custody and even co-parenting agreements. There are also financial concerns in divorces like the division of assets and debts, spousal support and others. But a little considered aspect of divorce is the effects that it has on taxes.
The first effect of a divorce is tax filing status. No longer being able to file as “married” can result in more taxes. Yet, if you have children you may be able to file as “head of household.” If there are multiple children, then it is possible to have both parents claim one child and qualify for filing as the “head of household” rather than “single”. There are more tax benefits from filing as the “head of household” rather than “single”.
Woman and Child Hit By Car, Hospitalized
A driver hit a woman and her 5-year-old son with his car in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago, hospitalizing both. The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious-to-critical condition, and the child was taken to Lurie's Children's Hospital in a similar condition, according to Will Knight, Spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department. The Chicago Tribune reported a story on the accident.
After the accident happened, the driver remained at the scene and received two citations for striking a pedestrian in the roadway, police say.
According to a nail salon worker, the 5-year-old boy flew out of a stroller to the ground near a crosswalk in front of her building. When she walked out of the salon, she saw the boy's mother lying on the ground close to the vehicle that hit her.
Preparing for the Most Active Month for Divorces
In the month of January, there is a perfect storm of events. It is very cold during this month as winter is in full swing. The major holidays of December are over and most people have been thoroughly taxed by relatives and in-laws. After January, many look towards Valentine’s Day in February as a day to celebrate love and romantic relationships. It is somewhat interesting that through the months of January and February more people are getting divorced.
There are studies that show that January is the most active month for divorce and October is the least. Some people in legal circles even call January the “divorce month”. They cite that many people are looking to have a fresh start. Some people think that their first resolution is to separate from their spouses. The holidays sometimes bring hope for a change in a spouse but sometimes only cement the decision that it is the proper time to move on. Most people who come to this realization try to get through the holidays without disrupting their families.
Premarital Agreements in Illinois
As people are starting to realize that protecting their personal property and assets with premarital agreements are not only for multimillionaires, prenups are becoming more and more common. It is not just about protecting your money or personal assets; it might very well be that there is some family property that you hold in high regard for its sentimental value, and you just want to make sure that property stays safe. Let us look at what the Illinois Uniform Premarital Agreement Act has to say about premarital agreements:
By the definition given in the IUPAA, a premarital agreement is ”an agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage and to be effective upon marriage.” Because the agreement is enforceable without consideration, it has to be in writing and signed by both respective parties. Most people know not to sign a contract without knowing what they are agreeing to, but in this case it is important to also know that the premarital agreement is properly written, so that it is valid if it is needed. For help with premarital or postnuptial agreements, you should contact an experienced divorce and family law attorney.
Aurora Teen Dies in Crash, Driver Did Not Have A License
Chicago Tribune reported the tragic story of an Aurora teen who recently died in a car crash. Devin Meadows, 15, died an unlucky death when the car he was in crashed into a garage. According to police, Devin was in the car with three other 15-year-olds.
The driver of the car did not have a license, and the car belonged to one of the boys' fathers who, unfortunately, did not notice it was missing. Police say the driver was going too fast and he lost control. He then crashed into the garage and killed Devin, a Metea Valley High School sophomore. Devin was the only one of the passengers who did not have a seat belt on, and he was ejected from the car in the crash.
Devin's friends and classmates honored his memory by gathering at Faith Lutheran Church for a prayer service. Those who knew him said he was a friendly young man who was excited to start playing varsity football.
Grandparent And Sibling Visitation Rights
When people get divorced and go through custody and visitation battles, the parents and the child are not always the only people involved. Grandparents and siblings are also a part of the child's life, but sometimes custodial parents do not want the grandparents from the non-custodial parent's side of the family to see their grandchild.
In the UK, there was a story in The Telegraph about parents calling the police on grandparents for sending a card to keep in touch with their grandchildren. Fortunately, similar stories have not yet surfaced in local newspapers, even though divorce issues are often quite similar in developed countries around the world.
According to the story in The Telegraph, police are being called to investigate cases of grandparents approaching their grandchildren with postcards as harassment. The elderly have even been forced to hand DNA samples or fingerprints to the police.
Child Dies In Indoor Roller Coaster After Escaping The Restraints
Roller coasters are supposed to be a fun attraction for kids and why not adults as well. For the family of 3-year-old Jayson Dansby, however, an indoor roller coaster at Go Bananas was a ride that changed their lives forever. Chicago Tribune reported a story on this sad accident.
Jayson's mother took him and his twin brother to the roller coaster, and she was told that she did not need to ride with her boys. The boys were locked in place by a safety restraint, but as the ride was moving, Jayson managed to escape the restraint. The three-year-old fell from the ride and was killed when the coaster struck him.
According to the Tribune story, Illinois has no rules to make sure the rides will hold small children at place. In other states, kids Jayson's height are not let into the Python Pit, and at some places, seat belts have been installed into the ride.
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