Author Archives: Baku Patel
Woman and Her Boyfriend Denied Appeal After Abuse of Children
People v. Woods: Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Convictions Despite Conflicting Jury Instructions The Illinois Supreme Court addressed whether conflicting instructions on parental accountability required a new trial in a serious child-abuse prosecution. In People v. Woods, 2023 IL 127794, the Illinois Supreme Court considered whether Caroline Woods was entitled to a new trial because… Read More »
Defendant Wins Reversal of Ruling After Court Bars Impeachment Evidence
Moore v. Mandell: Illinois Appellate Court Orders New Trial After Limits on Medical Expert Cross-Examination An Illinois personal injury case shows why both causation evidence and a party’s ability to challenge an opposing medical expert can be critical at trial. In Moore v. Mandell, 2023 IL App (5th) 220289, the Illinois Appellate Court for… Read More »
Defendant Appeals Damages Assessment After Admitting Negligence In Car Accident
Baker v. Hutson: When Causation and Damages Should Be Decided by a Jury in Illinois An Illinois personal injury case demonstrates why disputed medical causation and damages generally belong to the jury when the evidence supports competing reasonable conclusions. In Baker v. Hutson, No. 5-01-0761, the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District considered… Read More »
Plaintiff Appeals Damages Verdict In Car Accident Case And Wins
Anderson v. Zamir: Illinois Appellate Court Orders New Trial After Jury Awards Insufficient Damages What happens when a jury awards damages for some injuries but the medical evidence presented at trial supports additional accident-related injuries? In Anderson v. Zamir, 402 Ill. App. 3d 362 (5th Dist. 2010), the Illinois Appellate Court considered whether a… Read More »
Plaintiff Awarded Second Trial In Car Accident Case After Jury Favors Defendant
When a driver pulls out of a private driveway into moving traffic, another driver’s wave does not eliminate the duty to make sure the roadway is clear. In Wiggins v. Bonsack, 2014 IL App (5th) 130123, the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District reviewed a defense verdict arising from a collision near a… Read More »
Traffic Accident Lawsuit Dismissed On Grounds Defendant Was Never Served
Bauer v. Gillham: Why a Timely Illinois Personal Injury Lawsuit Can Still Be Dismissed for Delayed Service Filing a personal injury complaint before the statute of limitations expires is only part of the process. Illinois law also requires reasonable diligence in obtaining service on the defendant. In Bauer v. Gillham, 2023 IL App (5th)… Read More »
Defendant Charged With Possession With Intent Successfully Appeals Conviction
An Illinois criminal appeal addressed a defendant’s right to represent himself and whether the trial court properly evaluated a challenge to evidence discovered during a traffic stop. In People v. Mitchell, 2023 IL App (5th) 190191-U, the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District reversed the conviction and sentence of Jolly J. Mitchell and… Read More »
Defendant Loses Appeal Based On Prejudicial Evidence
An Illinois criminal appeal examined whether a defendant’s prior felony convictions were improperly emphasized before a jury after he testified and asserted self-defense. In People v. Noland, 2023 IL App (5th) 210397-U, the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District considered whether Kadeem Noland was entitled to a new trial after the State introduced… Read More »
Can A Landlord Consent To A Police Search Of Your Apartment?
A Seventh Circuit decision explains why a landlord generally cannot simply give police permission to search an occupied tenant’s home without a warrant. The Fourth Amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures, and a person’s home receives especially strong protection. But what happens when the home is rented rather than owned by the… Read More »
Can I Receive Jail Time For A First-Time DUI Offense?
Not all DUI offenses are prosecuted the same in Illinois. There are a number of factors that can turn even a first offense into a felony punishable by serious prison time. Illinois law refers to these more serious cases of drunk driving as “aggravated” DUIs. One example of this is an “aggravated DUI resulting… Read More »