Vested Interest - March/April 2000 Issue

The President’s Thoughts

The last two weeks have been particularly challenging at the Reagan household. Report cards arrived and only one made it to the refrigerator door. I presume the other 3 are somewhere in the woodshed. None of the 4 Reagan boys or I chose a team that advanced to the final four in the family NCAA basketball tournament pool. During the final game, however, after a particularly heated discussion over whether the referee was incompetent or simply had been born beneath high-voltage power lines, we managed to break yet another lamp. (The family room is conducive to playing catch). That lamp was the 13th dead soldier since we began keeping statistics in 1986. There is a reason insurance companies have “damage to a set or pair” clauses in their casualty policies.

Monday was my birthday. (Hint: when Jesus Christ was my age he had been deceased for 13 years). Things started looking better. On opening day, while watching the Cardinals eviscerate the Cubs , I was asked to show my ID card in order to buy a beer at Busch stadium. My daily mail included a birthday card from Southwest Airlines which seems fitting since I fly to Chicago frequently and have three more trips scheduled through June.

Then I received the birthday card that I look forward to every year and which comes unfailingly from G.D.. G.D. is a former client who thought she was the beneficiary of her husband’s life insurance policy. Unfortunately, her agent mistakenly cancelled the policy and then her husband died. It took a lawsuit but she was made whole. G.D.’s problems make all others pale in comparison. The great thing about being a lawyer is that we can make a difference, one G.D. at a time.

In retrospect, the last two weeks haven’t been bad at all.

Election Update Congress - In the Democratic primary in the first district, incumbent Bobby Rush (Chicago) survived a tough battle from State Senators Barack Obama (Chicago) and Donne Trotter (Chicago). In the 10th district Republican primary, Mark Kirk (Kennilworth) won a ten-way race and will now face State Representative Lauren Beth Gash (Highland Park) in what will be one of November’s hottest races. The 15th Congressional district is in downstate east-central Illinois. Republican Tim Johnson (Sidney) and Democrat Mike Kelleher (Normal) both had impressive primary victories and will square off in November.

State Senate - The Illinois State Senate was relatively quiet with the exception of three races. Republicans Chris Lauzen (Aurora) and David Sullivan (Park Ridge) won victories while appointed Democrat incumbent Ned Mitchell (Sesser) was defeated by State Representative Larry Woolard (Carterville).

State House - The Illinois House of Representatives saw six incumbent legislators defeated. Democratic incumbents Sonia Silva (Chicago), Edgar Lopez (Chicago), Wanda Sharp (Maywood), Coy Pugh (Chicago) and Willis Harris (Dolton) were all defeated by challengers. On the Republican side, Cal Skinner (Crystal Lake) was beaten by Rosemary Kurtz (Crystal Lake).

Judicial Races - The First District Supreme Court Democratic primary was won by Tom Fitzgerald (Willow Springs) in a four-way race. In the Second District Supreme Court Republican primary, Bob Thomas (West Chicago) won a three-way race. The Third District Supreme Court race saw State Senator Carl Hawkinson (Galesburg) edge out Appellate Court Justice William Holdridge (Peoria) in the Republican primary. In other races, Appellate Court primaries were won by Shelvin Louise Marie Hall (D-Chicago), Jack O’Malley (R-Richmond), Mary McDade (D-Peoria) and Judy Koehler (R-Peoria).

Upcoming Seminars Workshop 2000 - Friday, April 14 - St. Louis Medical Privacy in the Workers' Comp Setting - Saturday, May 6 - Chicago Evidence Seminar - Saturday, May 13 - Chicago

Keep the faith,

Michael J. Reagan,
President Illinois Trial Lawyers Association