CHICAGO -New time standards in Cook County Circuit Court give attorneys more responsibility for shepherding discovery with limited oversight, with the goal of moving all cases along faster.
The imposition of blanket deadlines seems like a daunting task to some, though there are no penalties for failing to meet the new timetables at this stage.
Patrick Salvi II, president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, told the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin he would be concerned about any rigidity that ultimately prevents a plaintiff from conducting the discovery necessary to have sufficient evidence at trial. But he is overall hopeful that judges will be flexible on a case-by-case basis.
