Open for business full-time beginning August 1, 2011

The Law Office of Heather Neaveill will be open for business full-time beginning August 1, 2011.  Click here for more information regarding practice areas.

Ke$ha files suit against Chicago-based Wimo Labs

Kesha Sebert, known as Ke$ha, recently filed a lawsuit against Chicago-based Wimo Labs.  Kesha alleges that the Wimo Labs-created watchstrap called "TikTok"is too close to the name of her hit song, "TikTok."  For information on the suit, click here.

Grounds for Divorce in Illinois

The holidays are over and a new year has begun.  Many reflect on their relationships.  Some believe now is the time to file for divorce.  But what are the reasons for wanting the divorce?  In legal terms, you have to specify the grounds on which the divorce is being sought.  There are two categories of grounds for divorce in Illinois: no-fault and fault.  They are:

           

No-Fault:



In order to obtain a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage in Illinois under no-fault grounds, the petitioning spouse has to show the Court that both spouses have lived separate and apart for a continuous period in excess of two (2) years and irreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The living separate and apart for a continuous period in excess of two (2) years may be waived upon written stipulation of both spouses provided they have lived separate and apart for a continuous period of six (6) months and the waiver is filed with the court.



Fault:



In order to obtain a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage under a fault ground, the petitioning spouse must show the Court that the respondent:

(1) is impotent; 



(2) had a wife or husband living at the time of the marriage;

(3) committed adultery during the marriage; 



(4) willfully deserted the petitioning spouse for a period of twelve (12) months or more;



(5) is habitually drunk for the time of two (2) years or more; 



(6) is a drug addiction for the time of two (2) years or more; 



(7) committed extreme and repeated physical or mental cruelty upon the petitioning spouse; 



(8) has been convicted of a felony or other infamous crime;
or

(9) infected the petitioning spouse with a sexually transmitted disease.

Source: 750 ILCS 5/401

If you live in Chicago or elsewhere within Cook County, Illinois, and you are seeking an attorney to represent you in your divorce, please contact the Law Offices of Wayne & Jemilo at (312) 332-2919 to schedule a consultation.  Please mention that HTN Law’s Legal Blog referred you.

Inequality in Girls' Sports Alleged Against Chicago Public Schools

The Nation Women's Law Center (NWLC), based in Washington, D.C., filed an administrative class complaint with the U.S. Department of Education today alleging the Chicago Public Schools is not providing equal opportunities for female high school students to play sports under Title IX's three-part participation test.  The NWLC is asking the Chicago Office for Civil Rights investigate the high schools in the District to determine whether they are providing girls with equal opportunities to play sports as required by Title IX and remedy any unlawful conduct.


To view the complaint in its entirety, click here.

Elephant Visitation Rights

Carol Buckley, the founder and former president of the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is in a legal battle with the Sanctuary's Board of Directors.  The Board fired Buckley a few months ago.  Buckley filed suit against the board for unlawful termination, defamation, and elephant visitation rights.

Buckley wants to be able to visit Tarra, an elephant Buckley got when Tarra was only a year old.  She had trained Tarra and compares Tarra as her child.  CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman first brought this story.

Jammie Thomas-Rasset Loses, Again

Jammie Thomas-Rasset for the third time was found liable for downloading music.  The jury determined a $1.5 million award for the plaintiffs, four recording companies represented by the RIAA.

Copyright Infringement Alleged Against the Black Eyed Peas

Chicago artist Ebony Latrice Batts, aka Phoenix Phenom, and her producer and co-songwriter, Manfred (Manny) Mohr filed a lawsuit alleging that the Black Eyed Peas copied Phoenix Phenom and Mohr’s song “Boom Dynamite” when they wrote and recorded their hit song “Boom Boom Pow.”  Read more about this here.