Attorney Articles

Robert A. Clifford, Senior Partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his October, 2012 column entitled “Granite State, Granite Heart.” In the article, Clifford explains the dangers that come with a new medical malpractice law recently passed by the New Hampshire state legislature. In 2012, New Hampshire became the first state to approve what is known as an “early offer program” pertaining to medical malpractice litigation. Under this…

We don’t absolutely know who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17, killing 298 persons including at least one American citizen, or why they did it. We do know we need to take immediate steps to prevent such an “outrage,” as President Obama called it Friday, from happening again. Shooting down a civilian jet is unacceptable in modern times. Irina Tipunova, 65, told reporters how the body of a woman crashed through her roof. Everything in…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his July, 2014 column entitled, “Arbitration Mandate Fails PR Test.” In this article, Clifford condemns the recent efforts of General Mills to force binding arbitration on anyone who “liked” one of its products on Facebook, downloaded a coupon, subscribed to an e-mail newsletter or simply purchased a product. Public outcry followed, so General Mills reversed their course…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his July, 2012 column entitled, “Offering the Personal Touch.” In the article, Clifford gives his opinion on how lawyers throughout the country should interact with their clients in a time when the expectations and needs of individual clients are evolving. Clifford explains that money damages, no matter what amount, are never enough to put a client in…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his August, 2012 column entitled, “When An Offer Is Not An Offer.” In the article, Clifford discusses the need to recognize legitimate settlement offers by defense counsel. Clifford points out that insurance carriers have a duty to act in good faith when a claim is covered by an insurance policy. Clifford concludes that the “duty to settle,”…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his December, 2013 column entitled, “Laws Evolve on Phones and Driving”. In the article, Clifford discusses a new Illinois law that took effect on January 1, 2013 making it mandatory that cellphone use by drivers must be “hands free,” leaving Illinois as the 12th state to enact such legislation. Clifford also talks about a case in New…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his September, 2013 column entitled, “No Immunity for Negligence.” In his article, Clifford discusses a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision which held that the Chicago Park District was immune from tort liability when they negligently removed snow and ice from a facility parking lot ultimately leading to the death of a patron. Clifford explains that because tort…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his February, 2014 column entitled “If Communication Is Rockin’, the ARDC Won’t Come A Knockin.’” In the article, Clifford discusses the importance of lawyers in Illinois taking time from their busy schedules to call their clients and keep them informed on the status of their cases. Clifford states that it is the client, after all, who is…

Robert A. Clifford, senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and monthly columnist for the Chicago Lawyer magazine, wrote his November, 2013 column entitled “Drivers and Cyclists Must Mix.” In his article, Clifford discusses his predictions on what will happen now that the number of citizens choosing to ride bicycles to work instead of driving or taking the train is expanding, especially since the introduction of Divvy bikes in Chicago. Clifford wrote that unless there is…