Whether it is playing a game of blackjack or keno, betting on sports, or buying a lottery ticket, Americans love to gamble. For many, gambling is a casual hobby. For others, however, gambling is a full-blown addiction. The National Center for Responsible Gaming reports that about one percent of the U.S. adult population suffers from a severe gambling problem. However, many experts believe that number is higher than reported.

If your spouse has a gambling addiction, you know first-hand how destructive it can be on both a financial level and a personal level. Many marriages cannot withstand the impact of addiction, and the couple ends up getting a divorce. If you are divorcing someone with a gambling problem, it is important to take steps to protect yourself.

Gambling Addiction Affects the Whole Family

Scientists believe that a neurotransmitter called dopamine is the main brain chemical involved in gambling addiction. The feel-good chemical compels the gambler to continue gambling – even if he or she is losing money. Once the money is lost, the gambler desperately tries to make up for the losses by gambling more. It is a vicious cycle.

 Child support payments can vary significantly. Some people pay less than a hundred dollars a month toward child support, while others pay several thousand dollars each month. In Illinois, the exact amount a parent pays in child support is typically determined by a statutory formula described in Illinois law. However, Illinois courts have the authority to deviate from the child support guidelines in certain situations.

Courts Can Deviate from the Income Shares Formula

The Income Shares calculation method uses the parents’ net incomes to reach an appropriate payment amount. Most of the time, Illinois courts follow these statutory guidelines for child support calculations. However, Illinois law allows courts to deviate from this calculation method if using the guidelines would be unfair to either party or not in the child’s best interests.

Each situation is different. Sometimes, courts need to deviate from the child support guidelines because a child has extraordinary medical needs. For example, a child with severe cerebral palsy may need extensive medical treatment and in-home care. The child support order may need to be adjusted to account for these needs. In other cases, following the guidelines would result in a child support payment amount that exceeds the child’s needs or the obligor’s ability to pay. 

When it comes to sexual harassment, prevention is key. The more employers, managers, supervisors, and employees understand how to prevent and recognize sexual harassment, the better. Illinois law already requires employers to provide sexual harassment training to employees, but Chicago has taken further steps to promote harassment-free workplaces. The recent ordinance addresses both harassment prevention and bystander reporting responsibilities.

Amendments to the Human Rights Ordinance Taking Effect Soon

To combat the ongoing problem of workplace sexual harassment, Chicago has increased the sexual harassment prevention training requirements and made other changes to the law. Companies employing at least one employee will be required to comply with the amendment. Employers have until July 1, 2022, to implement the new policy.

The new amendment includes a statement affirming that “sexual misconduct” falls within the category of sexual harassment. Sexual misconduct is defined as behavior of a sexual nature that involves abuse of authority or position or coercion.

When a divorce case goes to trial, the court makes a determination on the unresolved issues. The court may hand down decisions regarding property division, child parenting issues, spousal maintenance, or other divorce matters. If a spouse disagrees with the court’s decision, can they file an appeal? The answer depends on the specific facts of the case. Successful divorce appeals are rare, but they are possible in certain situations.

Filing an Appeal After Divorce

If you got divorced and you are unsatisfied with the outcome of a trial, you may be interested in filing an appeal. It is important that anyone hoping to appeal their divorce contact an attorney and get started as soon as possible because you only have 30 days from the date of the final judgment to file a notice of the appeal with the court.

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot file an appeal just because you are unhappy with how the divorce turned out. You must have grounds or legal reasons that justify the appeal. Essentially, when you appeal the court’s decision, you are stating that you believe the decision was incorrect or flawed.

Federal and state laws protect employees from discrimination based on sex. This includes protection from sexual harassment. However, perpetrators of sexual harassment still exist. Men and women in any type of profession may find themselves the victims of hostile work environment harassment or quid pro quo harassment.

If you have been sexually harassed, one of the most important steps you can take to protect your rights is to document the harassment carefully – especially if the harassment falls under the category of hostile work environment harassment. Creating a sexual harassment log that details the instances of harassment can be invaluable whether or not the situation leads to a sexual harassment claim.

Severe and Pervasive Sexual Harassment

A single minor incident of inappropriate behavior may not constitute sexual harassment, but that can quickly change. Per the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), illegal harassment occurs when either: