New law chief to promote public outreach

Waukegan attorney Bryan Winter, the newly-elected president of the Lake County Bar Association, has announced the association will be organizing a public outreach program in the weeks to come.

Winter said the program will use the theme "Engaging Society" in an effort to educate the public on the function and role of lawyers.

"The practice of law is the only profession which is expressly licensed to promote the rule of law," Winter said. "But society will not embrace and appreciate the role of lawyers unless we engage the residents and leaders of our community."

The association is planning to host a number of public workshops on a wide range of legal topics.

Winter said issues covered could include a discussion aimed at high school students for first-time car buyers to more complex matters such as estate planning.

He also said that attorneys must do a better job of educating their clients about the legal system so that a lack of understanding does not promote resentment.

Also, he said the association will encourage members to submit written articles to newspapers and community newsletters on various legal topics.

$1.9 million settlement: An attorney for the Waukegan firm of Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard, P.C. recently secured a $1.9 million medical malpractice settlement in Cook County.

Donald McGarrah said the settlement was in the case of James McGee was injured during his Jan. 19, 2004 birth at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago.

McGarrah said James suffered a shoulder injury during his birth that doctors determined his mother had multiple risk factors for during her prenatal care.

The injury could have been prevented if doctors had opted for a C-section birth rather than a normal delivery, McGarrah said.

Judge Daniel M. Locallo approved the settlement June 13.

Park district patrol: The Lake County sheriff's office is again providing marine patrol services on Gages Lake.

The county board has approved a contract between the Wildwood Park District and the sheriff's office that provides for one boat and two officers to patrol the lake between now and the end of September.

The park district will pay an hourly rate of $78 for the service, and a $160 boat maintenance fee of $160 for each 100 hours of use.

The total number of patrol hours will be determined by park district requests for service.

Heard in the hallway: Congratulations to Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz and his wife, Valarie, on the May 29 birth of their son Jake Robert.