Clifford’s Notes

August 12, 2014 Chicago Lawyer, Clifford’s Note’s By Robert Clifford, A pilot program allowing cameras in Illinois’ 23 circuit courts on a limited and experimental basis in civil and criminal cases was announced in January. Illinois Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride has long been applauded for supporting transparency in the courtroom and educating the public. The announcement came on the heels of a pilot program allowing cameras in federal court for civil trials in 14 districts…

As thousands of 1L’s begin their journey through law school, I pause to reflect on my own career over nearly four decades and the cases that have changed me.

August 1, 2014 A recent high-profile trucking accident involved actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. His limo bus carrying his entourage on the New Jersey Turnpike was struck and overturned in a chain-reaction crash apparently started by a Wal-Mart truck, leaving the 45-year-old actor in critical condition. One limo passenger was killed and two more were airlifted to the hospital. The truck driver from Georgia was charged with the death of Morgan’s friend, and surprisingly, Wal-Mart’s…

July 7, 2014 Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer By Robert A. Clifford Salmonella strikes your family after they eat cookie dough ice cream. Shards of clear glass cause severe injuries when your toddler swallows it with his favorite cereal. You break your front tooth when you chomp on a piece of metal tucked in your granola bar. Foodborne illnesses and product safety are important concerns. In April, the Centers for Disease Control estimated one out of…

By Robert A. Clifford The philosophy of Clifford Law Offices is for our lawyers and our staff to provide a high level of professional services to our clients. We deal with people who are traumatized, have lost loved ones, and are in difficult circumstances where their judgment might be impaired. They need well trained, professional advice and it is my expectation that the lawyers of Clifford Law Offices provide the highest level of service that…

Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer May 1, 2014 By Robert A. Clifford Uber, Lyft, SideCar — they’re better known as electronic cab-hailers and are now competitors to the traditional taxi system. They may sound convenient, but a closer look reveals a lack of regulation or insurance. The way they work is that an app is loaded on a mobile phone where you can “hail” non-professional drivers on their smartphones willing to drive you wherever you need…

Although Congress is working on stronger cybersecurity measures, it just may be the courts that define the accountability of a company for a data breach.

Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer March 1, 2014 By Robert A. Clifford The latest statistics continue to demonstrate the long-term trend that the number of medical-malpractice filings is down, yet the number of inquiries regarding negligence involving doctors and medical personnel is up. How does one reconcile this apparent paradox? It’s really because trial lawyers are accepting responsibility for fewer medical-malpractice cases. A major reason is that experts are required for causation involving every specialty of…

Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer February 5, 2014 By Robert A. Clifford I recall reading a story about 10 years ago that I still find disturbing: On a cross-country flight, a lawyer sat next to the president of one of the firm’s top clients. When the president discovered the lawyer was the managing partner of the firm, he commented, “Yes, your firm used to be our lawyers.” The company had stopped sending work to that firm…