Monthly Archives: September 2023
Criminal Defendant Denied Motion to Withdraw His Guilty Plea
In the case of People v. Balfour, defendant Balfour pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm. The defendant wanted to withdraw his guilty plea on the basis that his criminal defense attorney misrepresented a key agreement that was made by the prosecution; specifically, that the prosecution had agreed to a 7-day furlough as… Read More »
Defendant is Denied Post-Conviction Relief After Being Charged as Class-X Offender
This case stems from an incident that occurred in August of 2019. According to the case text, the defendant was charged with shooting his wife and then firing a gun into the home of her relatives. The defendant was charged with three counts of attempted first degree murder, one count of aggravated battery with… Read More »
Defendant Loses Appeal for Attempted Murder, Aggravated Battery
A criminal defendant, Franklin L. Small Jr. was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated battery stemming from a domestic altercation with his wife. The court sentenced him to seven years on the attempted murder charge and another six years on the aggravated battery charge. The sentences were to run consecutively for a total of… Read More »
Conviction is Overturned After State Fails to Establish Weapons Possession Charge
An Illinois defendant was convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon and sentenced to 11 years in state prison during a bench trial. On appeal, the defendant claimed that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The appellate court reversed the trial court’s ruling and granted the defendant’s motion… Read More »
Can a Farmer Be Sued for Dust Blowing Off Their Property?
On Monday, May 1, more than 70 vehicles crashed along a 6-mile stretch of Interstate 55. The incident was so spectacular that it made national headlines. Dust from nearby farms blew onto the roadway causing severe visibility issues for drivers. This resulted in crashes that caused injury to drivers. Can the drivers sue the… Read More »
Patient Dies After Catheter Pump is Found to Have Holes in It
In Cleeton v. SIU Healthcare, Inc., the plaintiff sustained an injury when he was 17 years old that rendered him a quadriplegic. As a result of his injury, the plaintiff suffered involuntary muscle spasms for which he received routine treatment. Namely, the plaintiff had a pump installed that delivered the muscle relaxer Baclofen into… Read More »
Parents of 3-Year-Old Killed in Bicycle Accident Sue City, Truck Companies
The parents of a 3-year-old girl who was killed in a bicycle accident have filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and two trucking companies. The parents contend that one of the trucks was illegally parked in a bike lane. Her daughter was riding with her when the accident occurred. They were squeezed… Read More »