Smaller Juries On The Verge
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Richard H. Donohue can’t quite put his finger on it.
After the state legislature rapidly approved a cut to the number of jurors in state civil cases this week, the defense lawyer and founding partner at Donohue, Brown, Mathewson & Smyth LLC was still trying to pinpoint why the plaintiff bar pushed it so vigorously.
“I would love to know what the plaintiffs’ lawyers have up their sleeve on this,” Donohue said today, referring to the bill that surfaced the day before Thanksgiving and couples a reduction in civil jurors from 12 to six with a pay increase for their service.
The plan’s success in both the Illinois House and Senate means the bill will go to — and likely be signed into law by — outgoing Gov. Patrick J. Quinn.
The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association supported the move, it said, largely due to the pay increase for jurors that was long overdue.
The current rate is $17.20 per day in Cook County. That’s the highest in the state. Senate Bill 3075 increases the rate to $25 for the first day of service and $50 per day after.
And that increase was the primary reason cited for the decrease in civil jury sizes by Joseph A. Power Jr. of Power, Rogers & Smith P.C. during his testimony to a Senate panel Wednesday on ITLA’s behalf.
“I just think it’s a terrible thing that we’re still paying $17.20,” he told the Senate Executive Committee. “It’s a fairness issue.”
Donohue isn’t buying it.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
Richard H. Donohue can’t quite put his finger on it.
After the state legislature rapidly approved a cut to the number of jurors in state civil cases this week, the defense lawyer and founding partner at Donohue, Brown, Mathewson & Smyth LLC was still trying to pinpoint why the plaintiff bar pushed it so vigorously.
“I would love to know what the plaintiffs’ lawyers have up their sleeve on this,” Donohue said today, referring to the bill that surfaced the day before Thanksgiving and couples a reduction in civil jurors from 12 to six with a pay increase for their service.
The plan’s success in both the Illinois House and Senate means the bill will go to — and likely be signed into law by — outgoing Gov. Patrick J. Quinn.
The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association supported the move, it said, largely due to the pay increase for jurors that was long overdue.
The current rate is $17.20 per day in Cook County. That’s the highest in the state. Senate Bill 3075 increases the rate to $25 for the first day of service and $50 per day after.
And that increase was the primary reason cited for the decrease in civil jury sizes by Joseph A. Power Jr. of Power, Rogers & Smith P.C. during his testimony to a Senate panel Wednesday on ITLA’s behalf.
“I just think it’s a terrible thing that we’re still paying $17.20,” he told the Senate Executive Committee. “It’s a fairness issue.”
Donohue isn’t buying it.
Read more in our daily News Update...