Firearm Rights

The State of Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. To legally possess firearms or ammunition in the state, individuals must have a Firearm Owner Identification (“FOID”) card issued to them by the Illinois State Police (“ISP”). The ISP imposes even more restrictions on individuals who wish to carry a firearm on their person by requiring that they also obtain a Concealed Carry License (“CCL”). However, for some, applying for a FOID card/CCL and maintaining FOID/CCL eligibility can be challenging under the current laws. Illinois’ heightened gun restrictions do not mean that your Second Amendment rights disappear.

The Blake Horwitz Law Firm represents individuals who have either been denied their FOID card/CCL or lost their FOID/CCL privileges. Several factors can prevent an individual from obtaining a FOID card/CCL or maintaining FOID/CCL eligibility, such as criminal activity, drug use, citizenship-status, and mental health. The ISP uses these justifications to determine an individual’s eligibility to own and carry a firearm.  Sometimes, they get it wrong.

Our attorneys understand that an individual’s inability to possess and carry a firearm can impact essential aspects of livelihood: you may be unable to work a job that requires a firearm, go hunting, or protect yourself and loved ones. Hiring an experienced attorney to assist you with either applying for or appealing a denial or revocation of a FOID card/CCL can ensure that your Second Amendment rights are protected.

Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Chicago

Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has reached epidemic proportions. The Archdiocese of Chicago has allowed sexual abuse to be committed for far too long and has done little to prevent known sexual predators from continuing to pray on the most vulnerable in our community. Victims  have suffered sexual abuse from respected authority figures, who the victims thought they could trust, which has caused them severe physical and mental trauma. 

The Archdiocese of Chicago has covered up the sexual abuse committed by some of the priests in its ranks by moving these priests from parish to parish, allowing these priests to continue to sexually abuse new victims. Even with credible allegations presented to the Archdiocese of Chicago, accused priests were either only put on a short leave or moved to a new parish, with no warning given to these new parishes. Most recently, document disclosures have showed that the Archdiocese of Chicago allowed over thirty priests to abuse children for decades by covering up the abuse committed by these priests. 

Victims of sexual abuse deserve justice, no matter how long they’ve been waiting. No child should have to experience the trauma of sexual abuse and the Archdiocese of Chicago must be held accountable for allowing too many children to live with this pain.  Blake Horwitz is fighting to put an end to their nightmares. The Blake Horwitz Law Firm will fight to bring to justice those who have caused you so much pain. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, please contact us immediately.

Employment Discrimination

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse by occurs too often. Often this sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone close to the victim, such as a trusted family member, friend, co-worker or respected religious figure. Religious institutions provide a sexual predator the opportunity to groom victims in a setting where there is an implied trust. This breach of trust is one of the reasons sexual abuse by clergy is particularly harmful to the victim.

Our attorneys are experienced at handling sexual abuse cases against various religious institutions, including but not limited to the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and Judaism.

Sexual abuse has long life-lasting effects on the victims of these heinous acts, as well as on their families friends, and loved ones. When the victim is a child or a vulnerable adult, the harmful effects can be even more devastating. The attorneys at The Blake Horwitz Law Firm are sensitive to the suffering experienced by sexual abuse victims and survivors and will hold sexual abusers, their supervisors and the organizations they work for accountable.

Whistle Blower

The attorneys at The Blake Horwitz Law Firm have what it takes to take on complicated cases of public corruption and win. Our legal team includes an experienced support staff and attorneys who have prosecuted white collar crimes such as political corruption. The Blake Horwitz Law Firm has handled a number of cases that involved breaking though a wall of corruption to expose flagrant violations of civil rights  by public officials.

A whistle blower is one who decides to put an end to the status quo and try to stop illegal activity.  We represent whistle blowers.  The public exposure through the judicial process serves to protect the public good and deter illegal activity.  The litigation of Seipler v. Nygren wherein our office represented a police officer who chose to speak out against racial profiling, Davis v. City of Chicago, wherein another officer reported misconduct of fellow Chicago officers,  and Smith v. City of Chicago wherein the City of Chicago retaliated against a police officer after that police officer successfully sued the City of Chicago all serve as examples of our commitment to those who speak truth to power.

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Police Officers

Many police officers find corruption to be intolerable; others  become the victim of institutional pressures designed to force officers to falsify data.  We represent police officers who find theselves in these uncomfortable situations.

At our firm, we presently represent many officers who have been persecuted because they have chosen to take a straight and narrow path.  Here are a few of the cases presently being litigated at our firm:

Seipler v. Sheriff Keith Nygren: An active Sheriff Deputy reports racial profiling and in response is terminated.  Litigation generated front page headlines from the Chicago Tribune and other local papers wherein evidence came forth that the sitting Sheriff had fabricated racial profiling data to cover up the misconduct  as well as the basis for Mr. Seipler’s termination.

Wade v. Maywood: An active police officer for the Maywood Police Department was criminally prosecuted and later found not guilty of forwarning an informant as to a particular criminal investigation that related to the informant.  Maywood officers fabricated data in support of criminal prosecution.

Police Misconduct

The attorneys at The Blake Horwitz Law Firm have litigated over a hundred police misconduct cases. In fact, the firm obtained the highest jury award for police misconduct in the state of Illinois, $28 million dollars. The Blake Horwitz Law Firm does not take an anti-police stance. We have represented police officers who themselves have had their civil rights violated. However, we do take a strong stance against abuse of power. We praise the thousands of Chicago police officers who do their jobs within the rules set out by our Constitution. If you have been a victim of police misconduct, call our firm so we can start uncovering the truth and fighting for your rights today.

Personal Injury Law & Worker’s Compensation

Personal injury law provides a remedy when your body, mind, dignity or reputation has been harmed because of the wrongful act of another. A personal injury lawsuit may exist due to other’s actions or defective products. The most common personal injury cases are vehicular accidents, but other common types of personal injury cases include slip and fall, dog attacks, medical malpractice, sexual abuse, unfair employment practices, slander and wrongful death cases. Worker’s Compensation concerns injuries that occur at work and the compensation one deserves for that injury.​

Our firm has the skill that it takes to recover compensation for those that have suffered from medical malpractice. We know that while most medical providers do offer excellent levels of care, not all providers hold themselves to the requisite standard of care.  When these medical professionals fall below this standard of care, they may have committed medical malpractice.  Physicians, nurses, all members of hospital staff, and any other individual providing care to a patient may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Family Law

At The Blake Horwitz Law Firm, we can handle all manners of family law and probate cases, including:

Divorce, Annulment, Pre-Nuptial Agreements, and Post-Decree matters

Child Custody and Visitation

Child Support

Adoption

Child Welfare Defense

Guardianships of Minors and Adults

Criminal Defense

Being charged with a crime can be a terrifying ordeal. You may feel as if you are trapped in a system where you have no control. We understand the importance of your liberty and that your rights are at stake.  We also recognize that the government can impede on these rights and we are acutely aware of how citizens feel when authority is abused.  Unfortunately, this occurs all to often.

At our firm, we take our obligation to protecting our client’s rights from being violated seriously. We make certain that you understand your options so you can make informed decisions on how your case progresses. We are here to fight for you. From misdemeanors to highly publicized felonies, all clients receive the same dedicated level of legal representation from our highly experienced attorneys.