The following letter to the editor by ITLA President Sara M. Salger was published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin on November 14, 2024.

Intrastate forum non conveniens is outdated

By Sara M. Salger

Sara M. Salger is the president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

A recent column by Patrick Eckler (“How dispute over venue could open floodgates to litigation,” Oct. 24) paints plaintiffs as shameless forum shoppers who open “floodgates” to more litigation. However, when the defendant successfully moves to transfer a case — most often to an adjoining county — it’s called “convenience,” not forum shopping.

Eckler brings up Piasa Armory LLC v. Raoul, a case where the plaintiff is challenging the constitutionality of 735 ILCS 5/2-101.5, which limits plaintiffs’ forum choice for actions against the State and which explicitly bars application of the forum non conveniens doctrine.

I always find it interesting that not too many years ago it was “taboo” to discuss your political, religious or financial status openly.  Fast forward to today, and we are flooded with social media posts featuring non-sensical and uneducated rhetoric on politics, memes about religion and Instagram images of lavish lifestyles and exuberant wealth.  

Goodbye, Madame President

To My Fellow Trial Lawyers:

At this point, the news of Kathy Byrne’s untimely passing has likely reached all in this organization. It came as a shock to all who knew her and had the pleasure of practicing with her, making it not only to the Chicago Law Bulletin, but also the pages of the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune. However, when sitting down to write my thoughts for this edition of Vested Interest, I could think of nothing else to write about than to say a final goodbye to the incredible Kathy Byrne.

To my Fellow Members of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association,

It was an absolute honor to stand before so many of you a few weeks ago and officially become the 71st President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. I have very big shoes to fill, taking the helm from the amazing Kathy Byrne for whom I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with on the Executive Committee for the past several years. 
 

Highlights

• The p/c insurance industry made a record $88 billion in profits in 2023, even as companies jacked up rates for policyholders.
• The $88 billion profit was more than double the profits of the previous year and marked the industry’s most profitable year in history.
• In Q1 2024, profitability continued to surge, reaching $39 billion in one quarter, putting the industry on pace to shatter 2023’s record profits.
• Despite this, insurance executives continue to complain that they’re not making enough money because of lawsuit abuse and need to limit Americans’ access to the courts.

The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award for 2024. These individuals are recognized for their dedicated volunteer service and professional efforts on behalf of the ITLA Amicus Curiae Committee in preparing legal briefs before the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts over the past year. This year’s recipients include: Amber Konow, Burr Ridge; Yvette C. Loizon, Chicago; and Dominic LoVerde, Chicago. These volunteers will receive their award at the association’s annual board meeting on Friday, June 7, 2024, at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago.

Bruce R. Pfaff will be awarded the prestigious Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award at the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association’s (ITLA) annual convention on Friday, June 7, 2024. The convention will be held at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Illinois.

Sara M. Salger, managing partner at The Gori Law Firm in Edwardsville, Illinois, will be installed as the 71st  president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) on Friday, June 7, 2024, at its annual convention at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Illinois.

Gratitude. Thanks. Appreciation. 

This year has gone by in a flash. I have so many people to thank and acknowledge for their generous and unflagging support of ITLA and of me personally. 

Above all I want to thank Jim Collins. More than any other individual, Jim is the essence of ITLA. I don’t think a blade of grass grows in Springfield without Jim knowing about it. He knows strategy, data and every ally and opponent of our clients’ rights. Our daily 8:15 calls kept us on track and moving forward throughout the year. I can’t thank him enough.
 

The following letter to the editor by ITLA President Kathy C. Byrne was published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin on May 7, 2024.

Imagine you are terminally ill with blood cancer acquired from chemical exposure at work, wondering how to assure your teenage children that they will be okay without you. Or you and your husband of 55 years were rear-ended on the expressway and your husband died in your arms. You are now an 80-year-old widow suffering from the trauma of that accident. Or you’re an active retiree who fractured a hip when the casino bus prematurely closed its door on you. You’re healing, but you’re 96 years old and realistic. None of these people have much time left.