High Court Decides Nursing Home Operator Not Liable for Back Pay

Since it was founded by Ernest J. Codilis in 1977, Illinois-based law firm Codilis & Associates has been assisting clients with navigating foreclosure-related transactions and providing real estate transactional support to financial institutions. It works with private buyers and sellers along with banks and investors. In addition to the provision of these services, Codilis and Associates contributes to the law community with memberships in organizations such as the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), which promotes the interest of administrating justice in the state.

The ISBA, a 28,000-member association that has the potential to shape legislation, is also a resource for its membership, publishing articles that inform readers of judicial rulings and trends. A recent publication addressed a case about liability related to transfer of ownership.

The case involved a woman employed by Oakridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center who complained that her employer wrongfully dismissed her because of her age and disability. Sometime later, the rehabilitation center ceased to operate and transferred its assets to Oakridge Healthcare, without exchanging money. The center remained in the same place and held onto its employees.

The Department of Human Rights filed a complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and Oakridge Rehab was ordered to pay back $30,880. When the company failed to do so, the state took action. The issue was that the suit was filed against Oakridge Rehab and not Oakridge Healthcare, and ultimately, the Court found that the two entities were in fact different businesses. Thus, Oakridge Healthcare was not obligated to pay the woman, and upon appeal, the Illinois Supreme Court found no fraudulent activity to avoid the payout and let the decision stand.

LAP Provides Support Group Meetings for Area Lawyers

Codilis & Associates, located in Burr Ridge, Illinois, was established over 40 years ago, and founder Ernest J. Codilis still manages the family firm that focuses on foreclosure, bankruptcy, and real estate-related transactions. Today, Codilis and Associates is a long-standing member of the Illinois legal community, involved with such organizations as the DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA).

The DCBA carries out many activities, including legal education, networking opportunities, professional development, and business development. It also helps lawyers who may need personal assistance with mental health issues through resources such as the Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP).

LAP provides assistance to those who may be experiencing a variety of disorders. For example, attorneys may be dealing with stress, depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and a range of other issues. Depending on information provided in an initial consultation, an LAP clinician refers participants to individual or group counseling. If given a referral for group counseling, the individual can join a support group for men, for women, or for young lawyers and law students.

An Introduction to Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund

Based in Burr Ridge, Illinois, Codilis and Associates is a law firm that specializes in real estate and bankruptcy. As part of their practice, Codilis & Associates is an agent of Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., a title insurance company that was founded to strengthen the role of the lawyer in real estate transactions.

Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund (ATG) was established in Illinois in 1964 by concerned lawyers regarding their relegation to the background in real estate transactions. As such, the company is widely known as an advocate for real estate lawyers in legislature. Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund is the only title insurance company with lawyers as agents. It promotes and strengthens the attorney’s role by monitoring trends that threaten consumers’ rights and the attorneys' representation ability in the real estate market. ATG also offers attorneys the products, services, and tools that will allow them to compete effectively.

The goal of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund has always been to provide its agents with maximum support and assistance that enables them to deliver world-class legal services in real estate transactions, such as title insurance and trusts. Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund also participates in several community initiatives, such as Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and Lawyers Feeding Illinois, connecting law firms like Codilis and Associates with charitable projects to contribute to.

PILI Receives Grant to Assist Under-Served Illinois Residents

 

With offices around the country, Codilis & Associates provides real estate legal services specifically related to foreclosures, titles, and transaction support. Codilis and Associates is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), which advocates for lawyers in the state and promotes the administration of justice.

Recently, the ISBA reported that the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI), which provides assistance to veterans and their families, those qualifying for legal aid, and those who live in rural or remote areas, received an American Bar Endowment grant. The grant will pay for technology that will assist the organization in building a more efficient infrastructure while allowing it to increase caseload management.

When completed, this one-stop system will allow PILI to effectively serve clients while checking itself against conflicts. Moreover, it will track trends, making it easier for the organization to demonstrate its positive impact. The grant comes at a time when PILI’s caseload has exploded from 400 to 800 as a result of program and geographic expansion.

Tips for Purchasing Foreclosed Properties

Codilis and Associates is a law firm based in Burr Ridge, Illinois, with affiliates operating in five states that offers broad legal services with a focus on foreclosure, bankruptcy, and closing services. Led by Ernest Codilis, Codilis & Associates has extensive experience in foreclosed properties and REO title closings. When buying foreclosed properties, there are a few things that should be kept in mind.

1. It’s best to work with accredited agents rather than engage directly in the purchase of foreclosed property. This is especially true for inexperienced buyers and will ensure a smooth buying process.

2. Knowing the purchase process is crucial. Buyers who are engaging with banks or private lenders should know how to navigate the undertaking, including understanding the seller’s terms, the documentation needed, and the auction process.

3. Financing options and the benefits and drawbacks of each should be clear. Mortgages transfer the title directly to the buyer. However, contracts to sell provide more flexibility.

4. Having a pre-approved home loan or available cash on hand shows the seller that buyers are serious and ready to make a transaction.

Food Insecurity in Illinois by the Numbers

Leading legal services provider Codilis and Associates incorporates community-mindedness into its company values. Since its founding in 1977, Codilis and Associates has been a dedicated patron of multiple local nonprofits. The firm has been recognized for its support of organizations that work to reduce hunger and food insecurity in the state.

Food Insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to a varied and nutritionally sufficient diet. Many households experience food insecurity periodically, such as in times of unemployment or periods when utility bills are higher than normal. In Illinois in 2018, one of out of every 10 households was food insecure.

Some of the groups most highly-impacted by food insecurity include children, individuals with disabilities, and families living at or below the poverty line. In addition to ensuring access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for 200,000 residents, Illinois has passed several laws and initiatives to increase food bank funding and extend food assistance program coverage to all in-need students from the elementary to university level.

Phi Alpha Delta Awards Scholarships for Summer Legal Studies Program

Codilis & Associates, PC, is a Burr Ridge, Illinois-based legal practice with extensive experience in real estate and mortgage lending law. Active participants in the legal professional community, many Codilis and Associates attorneys are members of Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), an international law fraternity.

Each summer, PAD helps to organize a Legal Studies Institute (LSI) that is co-sponsored by The Fund for American Studies and the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. An eight-week intensive program, LSI gives law students hands-on experience in constitutional interpretation and introduces them to protections related to free enterprise through classes, legal internships, career development and networking sessions, and a lecture series that includes experts such as constitutional scholars, judges, and practicing attorneys.

Members of PAD who wish to participate in LSI are eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to cover the costs of the program if they meet basic application requirements. Past LSI participants have interned at organizations such as the American Bar Association and the Federal Trade Commission.