In an effort to raise revenue without voter approval, the State of Illinois, in its wisdom and benevolence, offers multifarious games of chance: Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto, Pick 3 and 4, Hit or Miss, and several Instant Games.
Your chances of winning the high-stakes games range from next-to-nothing to even less than next-to-nothing. The odds are better on scratch-off cards, but over time, you'll be “lucky” to break even.
Your chances of hitting the jackpot with a lawsuit in Madison County Court, however, are much higher – unless you're a Madison County resident.
You'd think Madison County residents would enjoy precedence over outsiders in their own court, but you'd be wrong.
In fact, Madison County residents – the people who pay the taxes that finance the salaries of judges and other court personnel and cover the majority of overhead costs – have to wait in line behind a multitude of outsiders.
This Monday, on the first day of the month, 181 asbestos cases were scheduled for trial in Madison County Court. Can you guess how many of the plaintiffs were from Madison County?
You're not going to win anything if you guess correctly – other than bragging rights – but it's a challenge and you have to respond because we're daring you to do so.
Come on, take a wild guess. Out of 181 suits scheduled for trial, how many plaintiffs are from Madison County? 150? 100? 50?
Believe it or not, out of 181 asbestos cases filed in Madison County Court, only one plaintiff is a Madison County resident.
She is represented by the Simmons Hanly Conroy firm in Alton.
Of the 180 plaintiffs who are not Madison County residents, at least 163 are represented by the Simmons firm.
Now you know who the real “winners” are. Care to guess who are the losers?