VESTED INTEREST Newsletter of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

Transcription

1 VESTED INTEREST Newsletter of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association June 2011, Volume 20, Number 4 The President's Thoughts In this, my first, Vested Interest President s Thoughts page, I will mention a few of the matters addressed in my remarks at the ITLA Installation Dinner on June 10. It truly is a privilege to help lead ITLA, now 58 years old, and a constant fighter for injury victims rights in Illinois. When ITLA was created by James Dooley (later Illinois Supreme Court Justice Dooley), his associate Philip Corboy and other plaintiffs attorneys, victims rights were far from what they are today. Imagine having a cap of $10,000 for a wrongful death action. That limitation, and other significant limitations, were eventually eroded through the evolving common law in our courts and through the efforts of labor, legislators who stood tall for victims, and in no small part, ITLA and its members. But the success of ITLA and others who have helped make and preserve a level playing field for victims in Illinois courts does not guarantee the status quo. We will have to continue to fight the ever present threat from those who feel they should not be held accountable, and are deserving of special treatment. In continuing our fight, we must get plaintiffs attorneys who are not ITLA members on board. Those attorneys and their clients have reaped the benefits produced by the hard work and oftentimes significant financial commitments of those involved in ITLA. They gladly have all the benefits of being union members, but feel it is unnecessary to pay their union dues. It s time for them to help carry the water, and not let ITLA members do it for them. I have made a commitment that we will grow our membership by 25% over the next year. There are some who have probably chaffed at such a goal, feeling that each person who takes over the reins of an organization has increased membership as one of his/her focuses. However, as strong as is this organization, there is no legitimate reason we cannot increase our membership by 500 attorneys. Bridget Duignan from my office, Fred Keck from Weilmuenster & Wigginton and Michael Holden from Romanucci & Blandin are eagerly taking on their roles as co-chairs of our Membership Committee. When they contact you for help, please give it to them. In the meantime in our efforts to get these other attorneys to step up to the plate, I ask that you determine whether all of the attorneys in your firm, and friends who do plaintiffs work, are ITLA members. After doing so, contact Tracey Tate who will help you in getting those people signed up. Tracey can be contacted at tracey@iltla.com. Speaking of help, the members of our Professionals and Businesses for Justice program are vendors who have stepped up to the plate and helped financially support ITLA and the work that ITLA does on behalf of victims. I ask that if you are using vendors who are not members of PBJ, ask them why they are not members. If they do not feel the need to join, they are like those union members reaping benefits but yet feeling they should pay no dues. If they choose to ignore the request to join PBJ, I respectfully suggest that you ignore them and then check the PBJ list on the ITLA website. Hire or retain someone from the PBJ list while shunning other vendors who choose not to participate. It s quite simple: support those who support us. Michael Schostok has served this organization in various capacities, continuing his devotion to ITLA years after he finished his term as President of ITLA. Mike received ITLA s most prestigious award, the Leonard Ring Award, due to his devotion to his clients and ITLA. Mike is very deserving of this award. Mike is ill. No matter what are your religious beliefs or non-beliefs, I ask you to say a prayer for him, his wife Mary and their family. Mike has always been there for us. Let s each take a few moments from our day and be there for him. Jerry A. Latherow, President Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Jerry A. Latherow ITLA President,

2 PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY Annual Convention Snapshots ITLA President Jerry A. Latherow shares his goals with attendees at the annual banquet. ITLA President Jerry A. Latherow is joined by his family at the installation banquet on Friday, June 10. ITLA Past President Todd A. Smith is presented the traditional obelisk by ITLA President Jerry A. Latherow. ITLA Past President Michael P. Schostok received the Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement award at the Association s annual convention on Friday, June 10. He is joined in celebration by partners David J. Pritchard and ITLA Past President Patrick A. Salvi. Running in June & July on HBO. Check your local listings. page 2 June 2011

3 NEWS & NOTES CBOE s Profit up 45% CBOE Holdings Inc. s quarterly profit rose a better-than-expected 45 percent, helped by higher trading volumes and fees. The operator of the oldest and biggest U.S. stock options market also said it is considering how to return some excess cash to shareholders. Over the next six months, the Chicago Board Options Exchange will consider whether to repurchase shares, boost the dividend, or make outside investments. (Reuters May 5, 2011) Philip Morris exec: Cigarettes not that Hard to Quit The head of cigarette maker Philip Morris International, Inc. told a cancer nurse that while cigarettes are harmful and addictive, it is not that hard to quit. CEO Louis C. Camilleri s statement was in response to comments at its annual shareholder meeting in New York. Executives from the seller of Marlboro and other brands overseas spent most of the gathering sparring with members of anti-tobacco and other corporate accountability groups. The nurse, later identified as Elisabeth Gundersen from the University of California-San Francisco, cited statistics that tobacco use kills more than 400,000 Americans and 5 million people worldwide each year. She is a member of The Nightingales Nurses, an activist group that works to focus public attention on the tobacco industry. (msnbc.com May 11, 2011) Patients Right to Know Act Passes Assembly Patients would have access to detailed histories of Illinois doctors including PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY whether the physician has been fired, convicted of a crime or made a medical malpractice payment in the past five years under legislation headed to the governor s desk. After being thwarted by the doctors lobby for more than a decade, the Patients Right to Know Act passed out of the General Assembly as a standalone bill for the first time, with supporters crediting a Chicago Tribune series showing that sex-offending physicians, even those convicted of crimes, have continued to practice. The bill passed unopposed in both the House and Senate. Gov. Pat Quinn signaled he would sign it. Information about doctor terminations, convictions and malpractice payments will be compiled by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and posted on its website, (Chicago Tribune May 17, 2011) Diuretics may Increase Fall Risk in Nursing Home Residents Nursing home residents who are started on a diuretic, and those who are already on a diuretic and are switched to a higher dose, have an acute surge in their fall risk, according to data presented at the American Geriatrics Society s scientific meeting. The researchers conducted a case-crossover study in 1,181 long-term care residents of the Boston-based Hebrew Rehabilitation Center who sustained a first fall at least 15 days after their admission to the facility. They found that the odds of falling one day after a change in diuretic were elevated (odds ratio [OR], 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], ; P =.09). The OR with a new diuretic prescription was 2.00 and 2.14 with a dose increase for an existing prescription. (Medscape - May 17, 2011) Facebook Posting Barred From Discovery in Accident Case The plaintiff in a car accident case does not have to accept a friend request on Facebook from the defendant so that the defendant can have full access to the plaintiff s posting and pictures, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania judge has ruled. In Piccolo v. Paterson, Judge Albert J. Cepparulo issued a one-page paragraph order denying the motion to compel filed by defendants Lindsay S. Paterson, Lee Anne Paterson, Lindsey Paterson and Allstate Insurance Co. According to court documents, Piccolo filed an action against the defendants after she was injured in a one-car accident while a passenger in a car driven by defendant Lindsay Paterson. Paterson conceded liability but the case is ongoing because of a dispute over Piccolo s damages. In support of it s argument, the defense cited a September 2010 Jefferson County (PA) trial court opinion, McMillen v. Hummingbird Speedway Inc., in which the court held Facebook postings were discoverable and ordered the plaintiff to provide his username and password to the defendant s attorney. Plaintiff argued she provided the defense with ample photos of her facial injuries from both before the accident and after and conceded that her Facebook account is probably not protected by any evidentiary privilege that has been recognized in Pennsylvania. But citing Rule of Civil Procedure 4011(b), which precludes discovery that would cause unreasonable annoyance, embarrassment, oppression or burden. Plaintiff was only able to find three published opinions on this issue across the country, including the one from Jefferson County. The others were in New York and California. (The Legal Intelligencer May 18, 2011) SAI Settlement Advisors, Inc. Structured Settlement Consultants and Financial Planners hwb@setadvisors.com ITLA SPONSORS Legacy Level June 2011 page 3

4 NEWS & NOTES ET AL FDA Panels Issue New Dosing Guidelines for Acetaminophen for Children For years, children s medications that contain acetaminophen have come with instructions telling parents how much to give kids aged two and older. Now, an FDA panel has voted unanimously to recommend adding dosing guidelines for children under two as well as for medications like Children s Tylenol to prevent overdoses. The panel also recommended getting rid of the higher concentration formulation of the medicine, in part because parents sometimes confuse it with a lowerconcentration formula. And the FDA panel also said a standard label should be used and that weight tables should be brought up to date. The FDA advisers said the lack of specific dosing recommendations can lead to confusion, with parents unintentionally giving too much of the medicine to children under age 2. By providing dosing instructions by weight, manufacturers would be using the most accurate way to determine the proper dose. (AP May 18, 2011) Avandia will be Pulled from Retail Pharmacy Shelves in November The diabetes drug Avandia [rosiglitazone] will be pulled from retail pharmacy shelves in November because it poses such a big heart attack risk, the federal government announced. Beginning Nov. 18, the FDA will limit the drug s use to patients who have already been safely treated with it, those whose blood sugar can t be controlled with other medications and who, informed of the risk, prefer this to other drugs. (USA Today - May 19, 2011) Kraft Settles Indiana Contamination Lawsuit for $8.1 million Kraft Foods Inc. will pay $8.1 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over pollution, following a 2009 lawsuit on behalf of 130 PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY Indiana families that claimed pollution from a former Kraft factory contaminated the groundwater beneath their homes and spread cancer-causing vapors. As part of the settlement, Kraft is required to clean up the plant site and groundwater and install mitigation systems in the affected homes. The company denies ownership of the plant when the chemicals were used but said it was pleased with the outcome. (AP May 20, 2011) FDA Regulations Allow Certain Amounts of Shockers in Food The June 2011 ShopSmart magazine by Consumer Reports reports on Dirty Food Shockers, which unveils the top ten food shockers that the food labels won t tell you and what you can do to avoid them. While the food content may be unappetizing, the contents are FDA approved. For instance, did you know that a 24-ounce container of cornmeal can have up to 13 insects, 745 insect fragments, and 27 rodent hairs in it, according to FDA standards. Unappetizing, yes; dangerous, usually not. In addition, Livestock feed can include things like cow meat and bones, which might be fed to chickens, pigs and even farmed fish. And cows might be fed processed feathers and waste from the floors of chicken coops. (Albany Times Union Healthy Life blog May 18, 2011) Increasing Trampoline Use Launch Safety Debate With trampoline parks beginning to pop up in the Chicago area, owners say they are offering an activity for all ages. Critics, however, point to the increasing injuries. Since the Carol Stream park opened in November, emergency call records show that 16 ambulances have been dispatched for trauma ranging from broken ankles and dislocated shoulders to a head injury. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of trampolines other than in a supervised setting, such as in a gymnastics facility. It also warns against using trampolines as toys in the backyard and allowing children younger than 6 to participate. The controversy stirs the debate over where to draw the line between reasonable safety guidelines and freedom of choice. Operators say no activity is risk-free. In Illinois, trampoline parks are not regulated by any state or federal agency. (Chicago Tribune May 19, 2011) Malpractice Payments Plummeted in 2010 For the seventh straight year, the number of medical malpractice payments made on behalf of doctors fell, hitting the lowest point on record, according to new data analyzed by Public Citizen. The information, gleaned from the National Practitioner Data Bank, also shows that the cumulative value of malpractice payments in 2010, when adjusted for inflation, was the lowest since the 1990 inception of the data bank. In actual dollars, payments last year were the lowest since The analysis also found: Between 2000 and 2010, health care spending rose 90 percent while medical malpractice payment fell 11.9 percent; Malpractice payments in 2010 amounted to just 0.13 of 1 percent of national health costs, the lowest percentage on record; and Total costs for malpractice litigation fell in 2009 to just 0.40 of 1 percent of health costs, the lowest level since the databanks s inception. (Press Release May 24, 2011) LEGACY Providing Financial Assistance MEMBER to Personal Injury Victims, Commercial Loans and Law Firm Loans CALL TOLL-FREE OR W. Wacker Drive Suite 1420 Chicago, Illinois page 4 June 2011

5 PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY NEWS & NOTES ET AL WPost Backs Mine Safety Legislation Citing the 2010 mine explosion in West Virginia, a Washington Post editorial expressed support for the mine safety legislation currently stalled in Congress. Investigators led by former federal mine safety head J. Davitt McAteer detailed a pattern of negligence from inadequate ventilation to faulty equipment to indifferent control of dangerous coal dust and said that Massey management fostered a culture where wrongdoing became acceptable. Workers learned not to complain about safety issues, lest their life be made more difficult, the team found.... McAteer is right to say that we are long past the time where we can accept the loss of 29 miners. (Washington Post May 29, 2011) Healthcare Jobs on the Rise Unemployment may be hoovering near 10 percent. But a growing and aging population, the promise of a wider health insurance coverage, and advances in medical technologies are translating into attractive salaries and signing bonuses for many of the people delivering care. Healthcare is going to be a stable career option for the foreseeable future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in the field will grow by more than 20 percent from 2008 and 2018, twice the pace for overall U.S. job growth. Topping the list of demands: primary care physicians. The need for more psychiatrists grew 47 percent. Nurse practitioners and physician s assistants fill the void of limited physicians, so they too, are in demand. The shortages are exacerbated by a lack of training slots, particularly notable in nursing schools, to meet rising demand, and too few professionals with advanced degrees to do the teaching. Registered nurses are already the largest occupational group in healthcare, at 2.6 million jobs, but by 2018, about 580,000 additional RNs will be needed. ( - May 31, 2011) Judge Reduces Scope of California class Action Claims Against Toyota In a major blow, US District Judge James Selna has ruled that consumers who relied upon Toyota s guarantees of reliability and safety should not be allowed to pursue economic damages under California s state law if they lived or purchased their vehicles in another state. Toyota said over 70% of the sudden acceleration cases in the MDL were filed in other states. Selna seemed to agree with arguments made in a May hearing by Toyota lead counsel Cari Dawson that proceeding under California law would violate Toyota s right to defend itself, particularly because it would be unable to use substantive arguments that would apply under other state laws. (National Law Journal June 9, 2011) Regulators, Safety Advocates: Window Blind Standards Too Loose The Consumer Safety Product Commission Chairwoman Inez Tenenbaum has issued a letter to the Window Covering Manufacturers Association saying, I encourage you to guard against accepting... requirements that would continue to allow strangulation risks... out of a misplaced desire for convenience, aesthetics or placating anyone who may wish to continue moving slowly, rather than proactively addressing this longstanding problem once and for all. The Tribune called the letter a sign of mounting frustration after regulators have said a window blind safety proposal is too loose because manufacturers could still produce cords that children can wrap around their necks. A WCMA executive said CPSC officials and safety advocates were on its safety committee, but some advocates say their input is falling on deaf ears, ahead of the October deadline to craft new guidelines. (Chicago Tribune June 8, 2011) Outpatient Settings Incur over 50% of Safety-Related Malpractice Claims According to a new study, over half of malpractice payments made by US physicians involved adverse events related to outpatient care in 2009, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers decided to compare the number and seriousness of adverse events in inpatient and outpatient settings, as reflected by malpractice claims, because invasive and high-technology diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are increasingly being performed in the outpatient setting. They were unexpectedly surprised to find errors were virtually the same for hospitals and doctors office. At present, there are no rigorous, evidencebased programs to help prevent outpatient safety errors. In 2009, the last year of the study, there were 4,910 payments due to inpatient errors, 4,448 due to outpatient errors, and 996 involving both settings. Together, these payments were worth more than $3.3 billion. (Reuters June 14, 2011) Hospitals Performed Double CT Scans on many Medicare Patients Hundreds of hospitals across the country needlessly exposed patients to radiation by giving them CT scans twice on the same day, according to federal records and interviews with researchers. Performing two scans in succession is rarely necessary, radiologists say, yet some hospitals were doing that more than 80 percent of the time for their Medicare chest patients. In addition, records show double scanning is also common among privately insured patients who tend to be younger. (New York Times June 18, 2011) June 2011 page 5

6 PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY NEWS & NOTES ET AL Communication Key to Reducing Liability Claims in Patient Handoffs A trend of incomplete patient information, missing tests and poor communication among physicians is causing more medical errors, said Alan Lembitz, MD, vice president of COPIC, a professional liability insurance company based in Colorado. Communication breakdowns during patient handoffs are frequently the cause of errors, according to experts. Avoiding communication failures starts with two forms of successful information delivery: synchronous and asynchronous, Dr. Lembitz said. For ideal synchronous communication, physicians should speak faceto-face whenever possible and limit interruptions. For asynchronous communication, physicians should first agree on the best mode of delivery and be consistent about the type of information being transferred. (American Medical News June 20, 2011) Joint Commission Estimates Wrong-Site Surgery Occurs 40 times Weekly Based on state data, Joint Commission officials estimate that wrong-site surgery occurs 40 times a week in US hospitals and clinics. In 2010 alone, 93 cases were reported to the accrediting organization, compared with 49 in Attention to the problem comes at a time of increased focus on the broader issue of medical errors, which a recent Health Affairs study found affected one-third of hospital patients. Recently, the federal government recently rolled out its Partnership for Patients program aimed at reducing medical mistakes, while Medicare requires reporting and does not pay for wrong-site surgery, and many insurers have followed suit. Next year, Medicaid will begin a similar policy. (Washington Post June 21, 2011) Results of Play Annual Golf Outing June 10, 2011 Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort Team Scramble 1st - Tom Chute, Stan Kitzinger, Bill Heffernan, Phil Turcy 2nd - Ken Blan, Mark Prince, Andy Prindable 3rd - Dan Duffy, Tom Gorman, Pat Leston, John Mundo Closest to the Pin Chris Hughes (#6) Jose Rivero (#18) Longest Drive Jennifer Kelly (#2) Longest Putt Jeff Schneider (#17) Illinois Supreme Court Announces New Public Domain Citation System, Ending Era of Printed Volumes The Illinois Supreme Court has announced a new way of officially citing its cases and those of the Illinois Appellate Court. This new method will eliminate the need to contractually publish and purchase the official opinions in bound volumes. It will save Illinois taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. The changes are reflective of the way we all live and the way the practice of law is changing, said Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride. So much legal research is now done online through references and sources available on the Internet and even on smartphones that it makes the publication and purchase of official printed volumes unnecessary and a waste of money and resources. The official body of Illinois court opinions will now reside on the website of the Illinois Supreme Court, readily available to lawyers, judges and law clerks for official retention and to any member of the public who wishes to read them. (Press Release May 31, 2011) Supreme Court Upholds Verdict Despite Jury Guidelines In a June 16, 2011, opinion, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the 2006 version of an Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction on professional negligence is not an accurate statement of Illinois law. While the justices said the trial court in the case of Jane Studt et al., v. Sherman Health Systems erred in giving the 2006 version of IPI to the jury because it represents a significant and unwarranted departure from the established law governing professional negligence cases, they rejected the hospital s argument that it required reversal. (Chicago Daily Law Bulletin June 16, 2011) Results of Play Southern Illinois Golf Outing June 23, 2011 Clinton Hill Golf Course Team Scramble 1st - (57) David Cates, Jim Gomric, Justin Kuehn, Matt Young 2nd - (57) Andy Keefe, Thomas Keefe III, Shawn Lieser, Matt Marrison 3rd - (58) Dave Galanti, Jon Rosenstengel, Greg Shevlin Closest to the Pin Dave Galanti (#5) Mark Goldenberg (#15) Longest Drive Chad Finley (#4) Longest Putt Max Malloy (#18) page 6 June 2011

7 PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY ISMIE Mutual to Distribute Dividends For the fifth year in a row, ISMIE Mutual will distribute new dividends to eligible policyholders. This year, more than $20 million will be received as credits on their premiums for policyholders insured continuously during the underwriting years 2005 through Since 2005, ISMIE has issued $74 million in dividends. (ISMIE Press Release May 25, 2011) Member Benefits Corner: The Listserv Ever wish you had access to hundreds of other attorneys when you are looking for an answer to a complex legal question? The ITLA Networking Listserv has become one of ITLA's most popular member services and a fast and reliable way to reach your colleagues. Need an opinion on an expert? Have a question about a jury instruction? Looking to refer a case? Join the listserv and get advice of members from across the state, any time of day. To join, you must complete the Listserv Sign Up form. Call the ITLA office for a copy. Your membership is important. Want to help build a stronger organization? Recruit a friend to join ITLA - today. J. Nicolas Albukerk, Chicago Vincent Auricchio, Chicago Andrew T. Bell, Peoria Tyler D. Berberich, Chicago Jonathan B. Blakley, Chicago Scott A. Blumenshine, Chicago Kevin Botha, Mundelein Coleman J. Braun, Chicago Andrew Bribriesco, Bettendorf Daniel J. Broderick, Chicago Amelia S. Buragus, Bloomington William R. Cassian, Joliet Nandita Chatterjee, Chicago Leslie N. Collins, East Alton Kathryn L. Conway, Chicago Michael F. Conway, Chicago Shelby M. Cowley, St. Louis Kately I. Deady, Burr Ridge Paul Dix, Alton Danielle F. Dombrow, Chicago Patrick Edward Dwyer III, Chicago Welcome New ITLA Members John Foley, Alton Matthew P. Fortin, Chicago Sarah L. Fraser, Chicago Caroleann S. Gallagher, Chicago Scott J. Ganassin, Peru James J. Gay, Chicago Andrew A. Gilbert, Bloomington Michael Gras, Belleville Lisa A. Green, Chicago Richard O. Greenfield, Chicago Courtney Gregory, Alton Marina Grgic, Schaumburg Gino P. Gusmano, O Fallon Brandon C. Hall, Chicago Katherine E. Hummel, St. Louis Eric Johnson, Alton Marianne Katz-Perper, Chicago Donald J. Kindwald, Chicago Hyun Ah Lee, Chicago John Lesaganich, Peoria D. Todd Mathews, Edwardsville Ryan S. McCracken, Peoria Ryan T. McNulty, Chicago Blake Meinders, Belleville Douglas R. Mendenhall, Alton Bridget A. Mitchell, Chicago Nathan I. Neff, Chicago Richard Nilson, Chicago Meghan N. O Brien, Chicago Paul G. OToole, Chiacgo Gary Payne, Alton David M. Pillers, South Clinton Faustin Frosty Pipal, Chicago David J. Rashid, Chicago Charles Romaker, Chicago Tom E. Schooley, Granite City Jonathan M. Thomas, Chicago Edward W. Unsell, East Alton Michael P. Vespa, Peoria Ernest P. Wagner, Chicago Andy Williams, Alton Ian R. Williams, Chicago March 30, June 20, 2011 ITLA President Jerry A. Latherow has a goal to increase membership by 25%. Do you know someone who would benefit from an ITLA membership? Help them become a member TODAY! Help us build a stronger organization for the future. June 2011 page 7

8 ITLA Calendar of Events Monday, September 12 Cook County Judicial & Legislative Night Dinner Mid-America Club, Chicago Illinois Trial Lawyers Association 401 West Edwards Street Springfield, IL Return Service Requested PRSRTD FIRST CLASS U.S.Postage P A I D SPRINGFIELD IL Permit No. 827 Friday, September 23 Seminar Board of Managers Meeting Westin St. Louis SO Illinois Judicial & Legislative Night Dinner Busch Stadium, St. Louis Monday, October 10 (a court holiday) Update & Review Seminar Westin River North, Chicago Saturday, November 5 Workers' Compensation Seminar Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, Oak Brook Friday, December 9 Board of Managers Meeting Westin River North, Chicago Saturday, December 10 Medical Malpractice Seminar Westin River North, Chicago Monday, February 20 (a court holiday) Seminar Westin River North, Chicago Friday & Saturday, March 2 & 3 Travel Seminar Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Friday, April 27 Ethics Seminar Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, Oak Brook Medical Malpractice Seminar Do you have businesses you regularly use? Friday, February 18, 2011 The Professionals & Businesses for Justice membership program was created to offer businesses the opportunity to market their services to ITLA members. Their financial contributions help us in our efforts to protect the civil justice system. Support the businesses that support ITLA through their PBJ membership. Legacy $25,000 Advance Case Loans, LLC Amicus Court Reporters, Inc Settlement Advisors Benefactors $15,000 McCorkle Court Reporters, Inc. Waterville Advisors Ringler Associates Atlas Settlement Group, Inc. Pohlman USA Court Reporting Sponsors $5,000 IWP Northern Trust Preferred Capital Lending, Inc. Evidence Video EvergreenStructures/HassakisGiltner Sullivan Reporting Company Express Medical Records Robson Forensic Med-Law Connection Life's Plan Inc. Pooled Trust Groundwork Trial Consulting Life Care Planner/Economist/VocExpert Suisse Bancorp RGL Forensics Coleman Legal Nurse Consulting, Inc. Mila Carlson & Associates CLNC/CNLCP Jensen Reporting & Videoconferencing Lien Resolution Services, LLC ATI Physical Therapy Sarnoff Court Reporters U.S. Legal Support, Inc. Oasis Legal Finance If you use a business that is not a PBJ member, call Kim Fontana in the ITLA office immediately. Don't wait. REGISTRATION Act now, and be a DEADLINE part of protecting - June the civil 21, 2010 justice system.