The book, Game Changers: The World’s Leading Entrepreneurs: How They’re Changing The Game, and You Can Too! was released on Thursday, November 18th and reached best-seller status in three Amazon.com categories: Communications, Direct Marketing and Entrepreneurship. The book reached #1 in the Direct Marketing category.

Game Changers: The World’s Leading Entrepreneurs: How They’re Changing The Game, and You Can Too! features anecdotes, business strategies and real-life solutions to many of the challenges faced by small and large businesses across the country, in a rapidly changing economy. I authored a chapter in the book titled, “Non-Binding Mediation: The Best Kept Secret in Alternative Dispute Resolutions.”

Game Changers is a collective MasterMind effort of leading entrepreneurs teaching their latest strategies to help you succeed in this new economy. Whether starting a business from scratch, or realigning your marketing and sales programs for established products and services, this book will teach you fresh and recently tested successful methods you need to know (and pitfalls to avoid). These methods are as different from those used by the baby boomer generation as the abacus is from the computer.

After such a successful release, I will be soon be inducted into The National Academy of Best-Selling Authors™, an organization that honors authors from many of the leading independent best-seller lists.

You can order a copy of the book, go to http://www.amazon.com/Game-Changers-Leading-Entrepreneurs-Changing/dp/0982908326/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291044330&sr=1-8

Or send me a message requesting a complimentary copy.

Damages

If a person fails to pay amount of check within 30 days to payee after written notice is given that the check came back with insufficient funds, then that person is liable for amount owing on check, damages treble the amount so owing (no less than $100 and no more than $1,500), plus attorney fees and court costs. 720 ILCS 5/17-1a

Burden of Proof

To recover, plaintiff must prove (1) defendant delivered check to obtain personal property; (2) defendant knew at the time the account was insufficient; (3) defendant acted with the intent to defraud; and (4) defendant failed to pay on demand. Vetean Supply Co. v. Swaw, 192 Ill.App.3d 286 (1st Dist. 1989).

1. is a fiduciary appointed by the board of trustees of a retirement system or pension fund in accordance with Section 1-109.1;
2. has the power to manage, acquire or dispose of any asset of the retirement system or pension fund;
3. is either –
a. registered as an Investment Advisor under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940;
b. a bank, as defined by that Act, or
c. an insurance company; and
4. has acknowledged in writing that he is a fiduciary with respect to the retirement system or pension fund.
5. the terms “Investment Manager” and “Investment Advisor” are used interchangeably.

The Investment Manager/Advisor/Broker with discretion over buying or selling securities for the fund may not be the custodian of the investment instruments.

Pension boards should review percentages quarterly for compliance with the Investment Policy. Funds with assets under $2.5 million are allowed 10% in separate accounts and/or mutual funds, which may not grow in excess of 10% provided that the contract has not been changed.

If market values do not exceed the allowable percentage then no rebalancing is required. Investment Policies of each fund should stipulate the percentage allowable in the various types of authorized investments.

Pension funds invested in separate accounts, mutual funds and/or individual stocks should calculate the market value of those funds to determine the percentage held vs. the allowable percentage under the law. Use the expertise of the Investment Manager to assist with this task. If the percentage exceeds the allowable amount, the fund must reduce the allowable percentage and document the reduction. The reduction as to which investments are sold is at the discretion of the pension board and applies only to the aggregate percentage. Documentation of the percentage calculations should be maintained at the pension fund.

If we want to go back to the beginning of it all the story goes like this: I was born in Evanston, lived in Rogers Park, at 4 years old moved to McHenry with my family, went to Landmark, Valley View, Parkland, and Marian Central Catholic High School, then went to DePaul University for undergrad and DePaul Law School for Law School.

Don’t worry, my education didn’t stop there. I had some of the best mentors in the practice of law: Paul Brocksmith taught me how to write as a lawyer, Marc Lipinski taught me how to stand up for my clients no matter what and who gave me the education in the Fred Lane Trial Techniques class for professionals. The National Association of Women in Construction taught me through their blue print reading course and I became certified as a construction industry technician (Not that you need any additional certifications to be a lawyer in the State of Illinois). While I was blooming as an amazing trial attorney, other people started to recognize gifts in me that I did not even see.

Feel free to look at my results to see some of the things I have done. I thank Harry McKee for recognizing how good I am at trial early on in my career. It was before Judge Pallmeyer in Federal Court, and I was just out of school. Harry was my boss, at the time, and was generous enough to allow me, a young attorney, to question the witnesses. What was even more amazing when he came back to the office and told his partners that I have talent. YEAH for me… but more YEAH for the client.

I have enjoyed an active trial practice for the last eight years. Sometimes cases do have to go to trial, but not all of them. Alternative dispute resolutions are a great format to work out matters.

Another former boss convinced me how well I relate to people… and to take the 40 hour mediation training course from DePaul University College of Law Center for Dispute Resolution certification (Not that you need any additional certifications to be a lawyer in the State of Illinois). Listening to the needs and interests behind the problem settle disputes with much more control and power to the parties involved.

No matter what your legal need, it’s likely that I can help you. I guaranty that I will listen to you. If desired, we can come up with an action plan from there. Give me a call (815) 403-6866.