Richard J. Tarulis
Founding Member
Richard J. Tarulis is a founding member of the firm, and was a partner in the predecessor law firm of Brooks, Adams and Tarulis from 1990 – 2010. He concentrates his practice in estate planning, probate, litigation and local government law. He graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1987, and is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts. Before law school, Rick served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years.
Rick retired from politics after serving for many years as the Lisle Township Supervisor and in other elected positions with the Township, and as a Republican Precinct Committeeman for 24 years. He continues as a member of numerous civic and legal organizations. Rick and his wife Nancy were married in Okinawa, Japan. They live in Naperville and have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Practice Areas: Business Law, Municipal Law, Real Estate, Taxation, Trusts & Estates
Full Biography
Experience
| Brooks, Tarulis & Tibble, LLC – Partner | 2010-present |
| Brooks, Adams and Tarulis – Partner | 1996-2010 |
| James, Brooks, Adams and Tarulis – Partner | 1990-1996 |
Naperville, Illinois
Primarily practice local government law, including school, park and township law, real estate, and estate planning and probate, including special needs trusts. Numerous trials and appeals.
Military Service
| United States Marine Corps | 1976-1983 |
Sergeant for 3 years; numerous awards and meritorious promotions; taught rifle safety and marksmanship classes as secondary duty; Honorable discharge.
Law Licenses
| Supreme Court of the State of Illinois | 1987-present |
| U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois | 1987-present |
| Supreme Court of the United States | 2007-present |
Professional Associations
| American Bar Association | 1986-present |
| Illinois State Bar Association | 1984-present |
| Illinois Association of School Attorneys | 1989-1996 |
| Illinois Township Attorneys Association | 1990-present |
| DuPage County Bar Association (Secretary, Probate Law Committee) (Chairman, Local Government Committee) |
1987-present 1989-1993 1995-1996 |
| Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity | 1984-present |
Elected Office
| Township Supervisor, Lisle Township | 2012-2017 |
| Township Clerk, Lisle Township | 2002-2012 |
| Township Trustee, Lisle Township | 2000-2002 |
| Republican Precinct Committeeman, Lisle Township | 1994-2018 |
Community Service Positions
| President, Township Officials of DuPage County | 2007-2017 |
| Treasurer, Citizens to Elect Grant Wehrli | 2006-2018 |
| Chairman, IL Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw Campaign Committee | 2002-2009 |
| Parliamentarian, Lisle Township Republican Organization | 1996-2018 |
| Treasurer, IL Rep. Mary Lou Cowlishaw Campaign Committee | 1995-2009 |
| Finance Committee, IL Senator Chris Lauzen | 1993-2007 |
| Extended member, DuPage County Board of Review | 1990-1991 |
| Treasurer, Naperville Veterans Memorial Committee | 1989-2016 |
| Local counsel, Cantigny War Museum | 1988-2010 |
Education, Background & Experience
|
Juris Doctor
|
May, 1987 |
| Bachelor of Science, Electronics Management Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois (extension at Yuma, Arizona) |
December, 1983 |
| Associate of Arts, Data Processing Los Angeles Community College Los Angeles, California (extension at Okinawa, Japan) |
October, 1979 |
| American Bar Association | 1986-present |
| Illinois State Bar Association |
1984-present |
| Illinois Association of School Attorneys | 1989-1996 |
| Illinois Township Attorneys Association | 1990-present |
| DuPage County Bar Association (Secretary, Probate Law Committee) (Chairman, Local Government Committee) |
1987-present 1989-1993 1995-1996 |
| Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity | 1984-present |
Stevens v. Village of Oak Brook, 2013 IL App (2d) 120456
Allegis Realty Investors v. Naperville Township Road District, 223 Ill.2d 318, 307
Ill.Dec. 592, 860 N.E.2d 246 (Ill. 2006)
City of Warrenville v. John Lotus Novak and Naperville Community Unit School Dist.
203, 355 Ill.App.3d 714, 291 Ill.Dec. 751, 824 N.E.2d 327 (2nd Dist. 2005)
Allegis Realty Investors v. Naperville Township Road District, 356 Ill.App.3d 887, 292
Ill.Dec. 956, 827 N.E.2d 485 (2nd Dist. 2005)
Estate of Smida v. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, 353 Ill.App.3d 551, 289 Ill.Dec.
699, 820 N.E.2d 475 (2nd Dist. 2004)
Ceres One Corp. v. Naperville Township Road District, 343 Ill.App.3d 382, 278 Ill.Dec.
179, 797 N.E.2d 1097 (2nd Dist. 2003)
ABN Amro Services, Inc. v. Naperville Park District, 325 Ill.App.3d 7, 258 Ill.Dec. 463,
756 N.E.2d 445 (2nd Dist. 2001)
Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Westmont v. Cinco Construction,
276 Ill.App.3d 417, 213 Ill.Dec. 3, 658 N.E.2d 473 (1st Dist. 1995)
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County v. Department of Revenue, 266 Ill.App.3d
264, 203 Ill.Dec 566, 639 N.E.2d 1385 (2nd Dist. 1994)
“Special Needs Trusts”, numerous seminars from 2001 through present, at various organizations including: Western DuPage Special Recreation Assoc. (WDSRA), South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR), North East DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA), Bolingbrook-Joliet SRA, Lincoln Way SRA, Tri-County SRA, PACT, Easter Seals, Little Friends, Open Door, FACES, Joliet Junior College, Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living, School Districts’ Special Needs PTA
- “Model IAPD General Use Ordinance”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 2010.
- “SRA Building Policy – How to Get the Most Out of 2-Uncapped Cents”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 2008.
- “Freedom of Information Act – the E-Mail Dilemma”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 1999.
- “Criminal Background Checks for Employees and Volunteers”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 1997.
- “Retaining and Using the Park District Attorney”, IL Park and Recreation Assn. Annual Conference, 1997.
- “Park District Caselaw Update”, IL Park and Recreation Assn. Annual Conference, 1996.
- “Overview of Illinois Highway Code”, Township Officials of Illinois Annual Conference, 1995.
- “Real Property Taxation in DuPage County”, DuPage County Bar Assn. Tax Law Committee Seminar, 1995.
- “Election Law”, Speer Financial, Inc., Referendum Planning Seminar, 1995.
- “Park District Caselaw Update”, IL Park and Recreation Assn. Annual Conference, 1995.
- “Open Meetings Act Update and Executive Session Procedures”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 1994.
- “Illinois Freedom of Information Act”, Newly Elected Officials Seminar, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, 1993.
- “Construction Surety Bonds”, IL Assn. of Park Districts Legal Symposium, 1992.
- “Eminent Domain”, National Recreation and Park Assn. Congress, Baltimore, MD, 1991.
