J. Bishop Law

ATTORNEYS James F. Bishop · Melinda Appelman · Ronald R. Inderbitzin

· Bankruptcy

· Business and
    Transactional Law

· Civil and
    Commerical
    Litigation

· Criminal, DUI,
    Traffic and Juvenile
    Law

· Corporate and
    Partnership Law

· Family Law

· Firearms Law

· Health, Food
     Service and Liquor
     Licensing Law

· Personal Injury

· Real Estate and
    Environmental Law

· Wills and Trusts

Areas of Practice > Civil and Commercial Litigation

Litigation is the curse of the judicial system. It is time consuming, tedious, exorbitantly expensive, but at times, absolutely necessary. Our firm practices law in a manner to keep clients out of litigation, but we are brought matters which require litigation skills and the dedication to follow through.

We provide a full range of litigation services in the Courts of the State of Illinois. Though admitted to the Federal Courts we choose not to handle matters requiring an appearance in the District Courts. We appear daily in the 19th Judicial Circuit, McHenry County and, as necessary in Lake, Kane, Cook, Boone and Winnebago Counties.

Perhaps, the best evidence of our litigation skills can be determined by a listing of some of the cases in which the firm has participated in the Appellate Court of the State. The following list summarizes appeals handled by the firm from the trial court through the Appellate Court decision. Copies of decisions are available by requesting a copy from us.

List of Appellate Court Decisions

Civil Aeronautics Board, Plaintiff v. Tour Travel Enterprises, Inc., Defendants Appellees
v.
Nathan York, Trustee of Tour Travel Enterprises, Inc. et al., Defendant-Appellant 605 F 2d 998 (1979)

Interlocutory appeal challenging the district court’s order establishing priorities to be followed in disbursing funds from an escrow account. Vacated and remanded.

Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago
v.
John C. Wilson
109 Ill.App.3d 357, 431 N.E. 2d 1334, 59 Ill.Dec. 577 (1982)

Forcible detainer action affirming possession to plaintiff and vacating trial court’s decision with regard to serious title dispute being decided in summary action.

Village of Lake In The Hills
v.
Laidlaw Waste Systems, Inc.
143 Ill.App.3d 285, 492 N.E.2d 969, 97 Ill.Dec. 310 (1986)

Trial court entered a temporary restraining order enjoining McHenry County Board and it’s Regional Pollution Control Board Siting Committee from holding siting hearings relating to a proposed sanitary landfill. In interlocutory appeal, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court and remanded for further proceedings.

Village of Lake In The Hills
v.
Laidlaw Waste Systems, Inc.
60 Ill.App.3d 427, 513 N.E.2d 598, 112 Ill.Dec. 184 (1987)

On appeal, decision of trial court affirmed establishing rule of law that Governmental Tort Immunity Act renders municipalities immune from damages occasioned by issuance of wrongful preliminary injunction.

The County of McHenry
v.
Brett Coleman, Appellant, Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District
No. 2-88-0372.

Defendant convicted by trial court of violating county noise ordinance. On appeal, judgment of Circuit Court reversed. April 11, 1989. Rule 23 order.

Community Consolidated School District No. 47 and Community High School District No. 155
v.
Crystal Lake Associates and State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, Appellees, Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District
No. 2-94-1024.

School districts appealed IPTAB’s decision as to the assessed valuation of taxpayers properties for years 1987-90. On appeal, decision of IPTAB affirmed. Rule 23 order.

School districts appealed IPTAB’s decision as to the assessed valuation of taxpayers properties for years 1992-1994. On appeal, decision of IPTAB affirmed. Rule 23 order.

Christopher J. Bishop, et al.,
v.
JMM Contractors, Inc., Appellate Court of Illinois, First District
No. 1-00-0419.

Trial court dismissed plaintiff’s amended complaint for failure to state a cause of action. On appeal, trial court reversed and remanded.

People of the State of Illinois
v.
Aroldo Estrada, Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District
No. 2-00-1116

Trial court found defendant guilty of domestic battery. On appeal, appellant raised issues concerning wife's claiming of 5th Amendment and trial courts ruling with respect to excited utterance doctrine. Trial court reversed with respect to excited utterance ruling, case remanded. On remand, case nolle prossed.

Brent Pennington
v.
David Stromdahl, Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District
No 2-01-0756

Trial Court entered judgment in favor of plaintiff, Pennington, for possession of property and $3,000. Court also entered judgment in favor of defendant, Stromdale, on his purported counterclaim, against plaintiff for $22,354.48. On appeal, plaintiff argued that the trial court was in error in allowing the defendant to plead the counterclaim in the forcible entry and detainer action. The Appellate Court reversed the trial court and ordered defendant's judgment for $22,354.48 to be vacated and set aside.