Karen Conti

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to share an update on the Lindsay Clancy trial and the conviction of the Tupac Shakur murder defendant. She also shares details about why the FTC is suing Amazon and an update from the Supreme Court concerning the White House ballroom construction.

Karen Conti, Partner at Conti & Dolan, LLC, joins Lisa Dent to share her thoughts and expertise on the embezzlement charges against the former chief financial officer of Loretto Hospital, a CBP agent trying to have his sexual assault and robbery case thrown out because it was handled by the same “tainted” grand jury that […]

Andy Hale, civil rights attorney and lawyer for Chester Weger, who was convicted of the Starved Rock murders of 1960, joins Karen Conti to discuss the current state of the case and his filing of a posthumous pardon petition with Governor JB Pritzker. Andy details the three murders, how long it took for the victims’ […]

Jonathan Masur, law professor at the University of Chicago Law School, joins Karen Conti to discuss the Chicago Cubs’ and Washington Nationals’ formal objections to the WNBA’s attempt to trademark ‘The W’ and the chances of the WNBA protecting their version of ‘The W’. Jonathan also talks about intellectual property, what is required to qualify […]

Fred Nickl, attorney and partner at Williams & Nickl, LLC, joins Karen Conti to discuss the recent case involving more than 50 bodies that were discovered and mishandled at a funeral home in Chicago. Fred talks about how this issue went unnoticed, possible criminal charges coming in the case, whether routine inspections are needed at […]

Dr. Bill Kimberlin, clinical psychologist and author, and John Borowski, filmmaker and author, join Karen Conti to highlight the upcoming ‘Serial Killer: The Original Exhibition’ in Chicago, opening September 5th. Dr. Kimberlin comments on the exhibit’s focus on victimology and John shares what may surprise visitors.

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to discuss the latest on the Tupac Shakur murder trial, as well as Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea to federal stalking charges. Later on, Karen clarifies whether letters can be trademarked.

Education lawyer Marina Diambri of Diambri and Vicara, P.C. joins Karen Conti to highlight back-to-school legal issues. Marina discusses the student cellphone ban beginning in 2027 and how it will protect students who need them, AI-generated images and content used as cyberbullying, how parents can take action if there child experiences bullying, dress code enforcements, parents […]

Dr. Shane Singh, Professor of Public and International Affairs and Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Political Science & International Affairs at the University of Georgia, joins Karen Conti to discuss his advocacy for a law that would require everyone in the U.S. to vote. Shane talks about voter turnout percentages in general and midterm elections, common […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to discuss Luigi Mangione pleading guilty to federal charges relating to the homicide of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Damon explains the charges against Mangione in state and federal court and how they differ, what is next in the case, why Mangione’s lawyers are claiming double jeopardy, and whether the […]

Dave Zehner, jury consultant and a founding partner of Zehner Trial Consulting, joins Karen Conti to talk about the jury selection for the trial of Duane Davis, the suspect in the murder of Tupac Shakur, as well as the upcoming Luigi Mangione trial. Dave discusses special considerations in jury selections, why jurors usually expect forensic […]

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Wendy Snyder, filling in for Bob Sirott, to talk about the jury selection for the Tupac Shakur murder trial and a Texas law that bans the sale of halal foods and the wearing of hijabs in public schools. She also shares details about a lawsuit against Gibson’s Steakhouse in […]

Director, writer, producer, and the principal of Pyramid Productions James Buddy Day joins Karen Conti to talk about the 57th anniversary of the Charles Manson murders. Buddy discusses the nine murders committed, Manson's history of nonviolent crimes before the murders, whether he liked or hated women, Vincent Bugliosi's ‘Helter Skelter’ theory that Manson directed his […]

Martina Vandenberg, lawyer and founder and president of The Human Trafficking Legal Center in Washington, joins Karen Conti to discuss what constitutes human trafficking, how prevalent trafficking is worldwide and in the United States, and the percentage of women subjected to trafficking and forced labor. Martina details a recent case where a woman smuggled migrants from […]

Appellate Justice and Edgar-award-winning author David Ellis joins Karen Conti to talk about his role as an appellate justice and his legal thriller novels, including his new book ‘Keep Them Close’. Justice Ellis shares which types of cases inspire his writing the most, why the main characters in his novels always have a flaw, how his […]

Daniel Sheehan, Harvard law professor and founder of the New Paradigm Institute, joins Karen Conti and Scott Schneider to discuss the efforts to have the government disclose decades of information about UFOs, extraterrestrial visits, and the recent publication of long-withheld documents. Daniel talks about where the documents are located, what he believes they will contain if […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti and Scott Schneider to talk about the week's trending legal news. Damon discusses Dr. Anthony Fauci taking the Fifth Amendment 111 times at a COVID-19 hearing and whether he has the right to take it, the Idaho murderer who killed four college students seeking to vacate his guilty plea, the […]

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to talk about what homeowners insurance will cover concerning storm damage and Bryan Kohberger’s plan to pursue an ineffective lawyer appeal. She also discusses the increased penalties for Scott’s Law and if Mexico can hold the U.S. accountable over the deaths of immigrants.

Karen Conti, Partner at Conti & Dolan, LLC, joins Lisa Dent to the charges against ex-Olympian, David Hearn, who allegedly damaged the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool back in June. She brings up Hearn’s lawyer who has hinted at potential misconduct on the part of the grand jury handling the proceedings. Later she provides an update […]

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to talk about proposed laws that could ban prediction markets and the White House employee who placed a bet on President Donald Trump’ recent speech. She also explains why the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger is paused and the Minnesota law that allows alcohol to be served at assisted […]

William Kovacic, professor at George Washington University Law School and former chair of the FTC, joins Karen Conti to discuss the lawsuit attempting to block the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. William talks about how the merger would work, how antitrust laws affect the merger, and why the issue remains before another court even if […]

Brandon Grodsky, CEO and founder of B and T Security Solutions, joins Karen Conti to talk about how his firm strengthens security for businesses, schools, and other organizations through planning and training. Brandon discusses how his company helps prevent mass shootings, what to do if there is an active shooter in your workplace, assessing security […]

Ryan Walz, owner and partner of Cobblestone Exteriors, joins Karen Conti to talk about how to avoid contractor scams and how to protect yourself when hiring a contractor. Ryan explains what should be included in the contract to ensure you are protected, whether you should pay in full upfront, six points to follow for a […]

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to talk about why a federal appeals court upheld the ban on semiautomatic weapons and if President Trump can appeal a federal judge’s decision concerning a ten billion dollar lawsuit. She also discusses why states are suing to block the merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount and […]

Author Dennis Breo joins Karen Conti to talk about the 60th anniversary of the Richard Speck murders in Chicago, where eight student nurses were killed. Dennis discusses Speck’s family upbringing and relationships, his complicated personality, the crime scene, how one victim, Corazon Amurao, survived, Speck’s defense at trial, how he spent his time in prison, and […]

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart joins Karen Conti to discuss the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative and how it has helped drastically reduce gun violence since the 2022 Highland Park parade shooting. Eric also talks about Firearm Restraining Orders, what he has done to solve domestic violence issues in Lake County, and law enforcement’s close connection with […]

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs joins Karen Conti to discuss the role of Illinois’ Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program and its impact on people with disabilities. Michael also talks about Illinois’ state-facilitated retirement savings program, the importance of college savings accounts, Operation Purple Heart, and accessing unclaimed funds.

Charles Bosworth, author of ‘Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?’, joins Karen Conti to talk about the JonBenet Ramsey murder that took place nearly thirty years ago. Charles discusses whether JonBenet’s father, John, was involved in the case, the family’s behavior after her death, who may have sexually abused JonBenet, the questionable ransom note left in the home, […]

Carolyn Shapiro, a constitutional law professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, joins Karen Conti to talk about this week’s Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and mail-in voting. Carolyn explains birthright citizenship, the arguments made by President Trump’s administration in support of the executive order to end it, and what would need to happen to get […]

Lester Munson, a retired lawyer and Sports Illustrated and ESPN author, joins Karen Conti to talk about the latest NBA betting scandal involving former player Malik Beasley. Lester comments on how much blame we should direct toward athletes for placing bets, the consequences of sports betting for athletes, and how to prevent athletes from taking […]

David Widner, nephew of John and Clarence Anglin, who escaped from Alcatraz along with Frank Morris, joins Karen Conti to talk about their famous escape, which occurred 64 years ago this month. David discusses why his uncles were imprisoned, the plan to flee the island, the possibility of making it to shore, reports of a stolen […]

Joe Feldman, Founder and President of Cover My Mental Health, joins Karen Conti to talk about how you can get your mental health care covered by insurance. Joe discusses what people should do if they struggle to access a clinician, when insurers tend to deny coverage, the importance of documenting calls and other key information when […]

Noah Bazis, Illinois Legislative Strategist with the Institute for Justice, joins Karen Conti to talk about a new law loosening licensing rules for cosmetologists. Noah discusses the requirements for licensure, the cost of cosmetology school, whether cosmetologists even need licenses, how the new law changes the current one, and more.

Dr. Alan Childs, Licensed Clinical Psychologist joins Karen Conti on Father's Day to talk about how separation and divorce impact children and what parents can do to protect their emotional well-being. Dr. Childs covers how parental alienation can lead to long-term relationship issues and offers guidance on co-parenting and when children may need therapy. If […]

Jeffrey Ment, an expert in travel law, joins Karen Conti to break down what travelers need to know heading into the busy summer season. Jeffrey explains how recent rules on flight delays and cancellations have improved refund timelines, along with the fine print that can impact eligibility. Jeffrey also discusses handling lost or delayed baggage, […]

Elder law attorney Kathryn Casey joins Karen Conti during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to discuss why estate plans are critical, especially if cognitive decline becomes more common with age. Kathryn talks about memory loss impacting legal decision-making, breaks down the role of guardianship in Illinois, and highlights the risks of DIY estate planning tools and why […]

Ryan Graveface and Chloe Manon, owners and founders of Graveface Museum, join Karen Conti to talk about their museum and possessing the largest collection of artifacts, personal effects, and documents from John Wayne Gacy and the Gacy case including a rare true crime text written by John Wayne Gacy about his own trial that has […]

Diana Hartmann, McHenry County Regional Office Superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education, and Richard Wistocki, former Naperville Police Detective and active Cyber Crimes Detective, join Karen Conti to talk about cyberbullying and the severity of the problem today. Richard discusses Illinois’ law on cyberbullying, what is considered legal, a statute he is trying […]

Brian Killacky, retired CPD homicide investigator and hostage negotiator, joins Karen Conti to discuss police interrogations, when Miranda rights must be given, why people admit to crimes they didn’t commit, lie detector tests, and his involvement in the Brown’s Chicken murder interrogation.

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to talk about the week's trending legal news. Damon explains why we have grand juries and what happens during a grand jury process. He also provides an update on the ‘Broadview Six’ fallout and comments on the first-degree murder conviction of Karmelo Anthony in Texas.

Dr. Joni Johnston, forensic psychologist, private investigator, and crime writer, joins Karen Conti to discuss true crime and why we are obsessed with it. Dr. Johnston talks about common traits found in serial killers, whether there are ways to prevent someone from becoming a serial killer, the Macdonald triad and whether it has been proven, distinguishing between a […]

Karen Conti welcomes her law partner at Conti & Dolan, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan, to the show to talk about current legal news stories. They discuss potential cell phone bans in schools and whether such bans create safety concerns, Ryne Sandberg’s children suing their stepmother, Margaret Sandberg, over mishandling of his trust, and a crazy […]