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August 1, 2013 Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, is serving as Co-Chair of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IFB) 2013 Gala to be held Oct. 18 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. At the awards dinner, Manuel Sanchez of Sanchez, Daniels & Hoffman LLP will receive the Distinguished Award for Excellence. The IBF is the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. and will…

Clifford’s Notes, Chicago Lawyer August 1, 2013 By Robert A. Clifford The lights were out for a four-block area down 95th Street in Oak Lawn due to a malfunction that Commonwealth Edison repaired, but because of a lack of communication or just plain laziness, the street lights were not back on for five days. On the fourth night, a woman crossed 95th Street at Kenton Avenue, an intersection where there’s a bus stop. It’s dark…

Create a survival kit, make a plan and be informed before disaster strikes with extensive interactive resources from the American Red Cross. Don’t miss these emergency mobile apps for lifesaving tips. Monitor All Hazardous Weather Conditions Look up conditions anywhere in the United States and learn the facts about weather-related hazards in your area at NOAA Watch from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Avoid Scam Artists After a Disaster There are criminals who prey…

By the numbers 528 Deaths: Severe weather tallied 528 fatalities and more than $38 billion in combined property and crop damage in 2012. The 10-year average is 640 deaths per year. Source: Summary of Natural Hazard Statistics (download), National Weather Service 14 Minutes: The average lead time from warning siren tornado is now 14 minutes. An 8-foot by 8-foot safe room averages $6,600 to $8,700 in new construction. Source: Tornado Preparedness Saves Lives, USA Today…

Even with advanced weather science to better predict storm conditions, Mother Nature still holds all the cards. The massive tornado that obliterated Moore, Okla., on May 20 struck just 16 minutes after the first siren was sounded. And while violent storms grab all the headlines, more common severe weather like heat waves, heavy rain and lightning cause considerable casualties. While there are no guarantees, you should know how to prepare for the worst and increase…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, recently was interviewed by Dean Gregory Mark of DePaul University College of Law. In the wide-ranging Q and A, Clifford spoke on a number of topics, reflecting on his 30 years since graduating from DePaul Law School. “Tort reform,” Clifford’s recently being named Person of the Year by Chicago Lawyer Magazine and his nearly two decades of sponsoring a two-day symposium at the law school were…

By the numbers 218,851 Injured Kids: Between 2001 and 2008, an average of 218,851 preschool and elementary-aged children were treated at emergency rooms for playground equipment injuries. Source: Injury Research, National Program for Playground Safety Four-sided Fence: Four-sided fencing around pools decreases the risk of childhood drowning by 83 percent, as opposed to a three-sided fence with the fourth side formed by the home. Source: Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…

Summer is in full swing and kids are everywhere, wringing out every glorious minute of summer vacation before it’s back to school. And you know what that means: a whole new round of bumps and bruises! Injuries Spike During Summer Summertime fun shouldn’t be derailed by a trip to the hospital. But unfortunately, more than 3 million kids in America under 14 will be rushed to the emergency room with serious injuries this summer, and…

The summer months are a great time for children to enjoy their time off from school and play on playground equipment. The only issue is that there are quite a few unsafe playgrounds. Knowing more about playground safety and what that means can better ensure that children continue having fun and parents can worry less. What exactly ensures the greatest playground safety? Playground Safety Checklist The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has a checklist of…