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I've been negotiating a wrongful death settlement in Illinois. Initially, the opposing party offered $40,000, below our range of $250,000 to $850,000. After years of negotiation, my attorney urgently emailed me to settle for $250,000, stating it was a limited-time offer. I felt pressured and... View More 
answered on Mar 17, 2025
If you haven’t signed any documents, you can definitely seek a second opinion to evaluate the facts and the propriety of the proposed settlement. You should contact the owner or Managing Partner of the law firm that represented you to find out the status of your case, why your lawyer left, and... View More
I've been negotiating a wrongful death settlement in Illinois. Initially, the opposing party offered $40,000, below our range of $250,000 to $850,000. After years of negotiation, my attorney urgently emailed me to settle for $250,000, stating it was a limited-time offer. I felt pressured and... View More
answered on Mar 17, 2025
If you haven't signed any documents, your case is NOT settled. NO Insurance company is going to order a check until they have your executed release. If you did not file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations is NOT tolled.
Before an attorney conveys an offer on the case, the... View More
I received a traffic ticket for improper left yield near my driveway, which resulted in a collision with another car in Illinois. The ticket doesn't mention the cost, and there were no injuries reported. I have no previous traffic violations and have been instructed to appear in court. What... View More
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answered on Mar 17, 2025
Most likely, if you had insurance covering the accident, the other driver will not show up and the ticket will be dismissed. If the other driver shows that show up you can request court supervision. The consequences will be a small fine. The amount depends on factors that vary by courthouse.
I received a traffic ticket for improper left yield near my driveway, which resulted in a collision with another car in Illinois. The ticket doesn't mention the cost, and there were no injuries reported. I have no previous traffic violations and have been instructed to appear in court. What... View More
answered on Mar 17, 2025
The responding officer cited you for failure to yield the right-of-way and you did fail to yield or there would not have been an accident. I'm sure there was damage to both vehicles and by morning the other driver and/or passengers will experience some symptoms and may go to the ER. All of... View More
I would like to ensure that my wife can take over our home mortgage if I die unexpectedly. She is not currently a co-signor or co-owner of the property, and we do not have an estate plan in place yet. I have a life insurance policy that could help cover the mortgage. What steps should I take?
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answered on Mar 16, 2025
Under federal law, when a home loan borrower dies and the house is inherited by a family member, such as a spouse, the lender may not call a loan due or force the family member to assume the loan. All your wife will need to do is notify the lender that you have passed and that she has inherited... View More
I was in a car accident and signed a law and injury form with State Farm. A couple of days later, State Farm totaled out my car. Given this situation, am I still able to sue?
answered on Mar 10, 2025
There is no such thing as a "Law and Injury Form," so it is difficult to answer. Your property damage claim is handled entirely separately from your personal injury claim. Before any insurance company will release any money to you for property damage or personal injury, you must... View More
I'm recently divorced, and my ex-husband dragged the divorce out for 2 years. He claims his lawyer refused to draft the Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) according to his instructions to let me have all the marital assets. Allegedly, the lawyer insisted that my ex should receive something... View More
answered on Mar 7, 2025
It’s difficult to say whether a lawyer prolonged the case without knowing the specifics. Attorney-client communication is protected by privilege, so without direct insight, we’d only be speculating about what was said or why certain decisions were made.
If your spouse is being... View More
My spouse and I have not filed our taxes for the previous two years, but we have agreed to split whatever we owe to the IRS. My first divorce court date is next month in DuPage County, Illinois. Can I proceed with the court date even if the tax filings are still pending?
answered on Mar 7, 2025
You "can" proceed with your divorce without filing your taxes, but that doesn’t mean you "should". If your first court date is next month, you don’t have to finalize everything right away. It’s best practice to know exactly what is being divided before finalizing your... View More
I was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm in Illinois in 2008 and sentenced to two years probation, which I completed without any incidents. I have not had any legal issues since then. However, I've been unable to obtain a FOID card because the conviction is a felony. Can I have this... View More
answered on Mar 4, 2025
I am not aware of any law that gives you the right to do so currently. Apparently, you were a felon on another conviction before that one. In the State of Illinois, one cannot possess a FOID card as a felon. There is a challenge to the FOID Law, however, in White County, Illinois. So check back... View More
I have been living in a rental property in Kane County, Illinois, for almost three years, and I am current on my rent payments. Recently, my landlord forced me out of the property and moved my belongings to storage without providing any written communication or an eviction notice. Is it legal for... View More
answered on Mar 4, 2025
Eviction without notice is not legal in Illinois, although the type of notice may vary ion such a way that you were not aware of it. If you had abandoned the property, for example, notice can be provided by posting a notice on the property and be effective regardless of whether you have seen it.... View More
My neighbor's Doberman came into my yard and bit my 10 lb Pomeranian on the neck, resulting in my dog's death. My dog was on a leash being held at the time. The incident cost me $800 plus additional expenses. The Sheriff came out, and I have a police report, but Animal Control did not... View More
answered on Mar 3, 2025
Unless you were on your neighbor's property, the Doberman was NOT under its owner's control when it attacked your dog, so your neighbor IS responsible. Animal control CANNOT choose not to respond to an animal attack. Go to animal control and demand that they prepare a report. Did the... View More
I have a trademark/copyright question regarding the use of a name that a university also uses. Although I believe the university has trademarked the name, the name is related to Catholicism and is not owned by them exclusively, meaning any Catholic can use it. I plan to use the name for a... View More
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answered on Mar 1, 2025
Trade mark registrations are limited to specific goods / services for which the registrant is *actually* using the mark. A registration that claims goods / services for which the registrant does not use the mark, often can be canceled.
Assuming that the university is not in the classified... View More
I was pulled over because my plate was suspended, which I was unaware of, but I only received a ticket for no insurance. I have already had a court hearing regarding the no insurance charge. Can a judge still order me to obtain an SR-22?
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answered on Feb 28, 2025
It is not the judge who orders it. The safety responsibility law requires anybody who receives court supervision for no insurance ticket and then later purchases insurance and brings proof to court to carry SR 22. If on the other hand, you had insurance at the time of the ticket and simply did... View More
I am looking to become a short-term guardian for a family friend in Illinois, specifically to handle medical and school-related matters. Could you explain the requirements and responsibilities for this role, and how the process works for a guardianship lasting up to one year?
answered on Feb 26, 2025
You can use a form on the internet for this. Court is not necessary. Both mother and father should sign. Search for CFS 444-2 and you will find that form.
You will raise the child as yours for one year.
You are responsible for costs, including medical, educational, etc. that are... View More
I am considering suing multiple hospitals for medical malpractice or negligence due to a failure to diagnose septic arthritis. From October to December, several doctors overlooked my blood test results and complaints. After visiting the fifth hospital, where I received an aspiration, the correct... View More
answered on Feb 24, 2025
By all means, consult medical malpractice attorneys. Much will depend upon your present physician's ability to testify as to the ADDITIONAL harm that you sustained as a result of your delayed diagnosis. If the delay in your diagnosis resulted in no additional harm ( beyond your continuing... View More
I was involved in a minor collision early last year where my grill was chipped and my license plate bent. The police told me to "just go," and I didn't take a DUI test. Now, the other driver is suing my car insurance for injuries, but they don't want to settle for my policy cap... View More
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answered on Feb 23, 2025
They probably will not be able to prove you were under the influence but there’s nothing stopping them for making the claim although there should be some evidence to support it before they claim it is the case.
On your other thing, you probably received a letter from your insurance... View More
I was involved in a minor collision early last year where my grill was chipped and my license plate bent. The police told me to "just go," and I didn't take a DUI test. Now, the other driver is suing my car insurance for injuries, but they don't want to settle for my policy cap... View More
answered on Feb 24, 2025
Let's get something clear. When you have an accident, you are either at fault or not at fault. Beyond that, for the purposes of calculating the value of the claim nothing else matters. You could be a nun, driving sisters to a convent or you could be a junkie, with an open bottle of... View More
I was a victim of a cryptocurrency scam where my CashApp and Coinbase accounts were hacked. Both companies refuse to refund my losses, claiming that I authorized the transactions. I've reached out to both platforms and filed a police report; however, the investigation is taking a long time,... View More
answered on Feb 23, 2025
Hello,
We understand the distress caused by cryptocurrency scams, particularly when financial platforms deny liability. Given the nature of your case—unauthorised transactions on CashApp and Coinbase—you may have several legal and strategic options to pursue recovery.
Immediate... View More
I have been undergoing weekly random drug tests for six months as part of a DCFS case initiated when we sought their help to remove my fiancé's kids from their stepmother, who had abducted them. Despite complying with the drug tests and having no wrongdoings on our part, DCFS continues to... View More
answered on Feb 21, 2025
When DCFS has your children or your boyfriend's children and you want them back, you do whatever they say whenever they say. A drug test is not unreasonable EVER when it comes to the safety of children. If doing drugs is more important than the children to the two of you, then by all means... View More
I was injured at work in March 2024 and initially managed the injury with self-care at home as advised by workers' compensation. In May, I visited urgent care but did not seek further treatment until December due to worsening hip pain. When I reached out to workers' compensation in... View More
answered on Feb 18, 2025
That's not how it works. As long as you reported your work injury within 45 days, you have 3 years to file the claim with the Illinois Worker's Compensation Commission. Until the claim is filed with the Commission, YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO ENFORCE. As I stated, you are required to formally... View More
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