News from March 2007
Peel's law license in jeopardy
Facing up to 40 years in prison, attorney Gary Peel, 63, of Glen Carbon will be sentenced June 25 in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis.
Vioxx jurors call it quits for the night
Jurors deliberating in Madison County's Vioxx trial decided to call it a night at around 9 p.m. on Monday. The panel appears close to a reaching a verdict, however the foreman said the group wanted to "sleep on it."
Excused Vioxx juror says 'no way' for plaintiff
Two alternate jurors excused from duty in Madison County's Vioxx trial said that it would take a lot of convincing for them to rule in favor of the plaintiff.
Mistrial called in Rosewood Care Center trial
Madison County Circuit Judge Dave Hylla declared a mistrial in a case against Rosewood Care Center of Edwardsville after jurors failed to reach a verdict.
Jurors will begin deliberations in Vioxx trial
Mikal Watts After closing arguments are heard Monday in Madison County's first Vioxx trial, jurors will begin deciding whether Patricia Schwaller's use of the pain relieving drug caused her death.
Colossal Ford class action set for decertification hearing March 30
Herzog Madison County Circuit Judge Andy Matoesian must decide whether to whittle down a colossal Lakin Law Firm class action against Ford Motor Company or shut it down.
Honest Abe, Honestly
America's 16th president, and Illinois most famous lawyer, is also known for his (now prescient) 19th Century declarations against frivolous litigation.
March 26-30
AK Steel
Gary Peel guilty on all four counts
Gary Peel Gary Peel was found guilty on four counts of obstruction of justice, bankruptcy fraud and possession of child pornography by a federal jury in East St. Louis.
Peel's wife fighting bankruptcy suit
Jurors in attorney Gary Peel's criminal trial had yet to reach a verdict by 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Jurors unable to reach Peel verdict; reconvene Friday morning
Jurors will return to the federal courthouse Friday morning to continue deliberations in Gary Peel's criminal trial.
Tort reform bills die in House committee with Hoffman's help
Rep. Hoffman Despite the testimony of two Metro-East defense attorneys, a package of tort reform bills died in the arms of a trial lawyer-friendly House Judiciary Committee in Springfield on Wednesday.
Nursing home resident suffered narcotic overdose, suit claims
Rosewood Care Center of Edwardsville is being sued for allegedly putting a narcotic patch on a resident before removing another resulting in an overdose and aspiration pneumonia.
Dawg Haus blamed for over-serving customer
Michael W. Rae is suing the Dawg Haus Bar in New Douglas and its patron Jeffrey Giller over an altercation that happened last year resulting in serious injuries to Rae.
Vioxx jurors bonding well as trial stretches on
Dan Ball Those who dread jury duty would change their minds if they watched the Vioxx trial in progress before Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.
US Bank in Alton named in personal injury suit
Louis Robin filed a personal injury suit against US Bank in Alton claiming he tripped over a piece of concrete that runs the length of a sidewalk while walking toward the bank's entrance.
N.C. asbestos plaintiffs forum shop in Madison County and Delaware
WILMINGTON, Del. – In a brazen act of forum shopping, two North Carolina residents filed asbestos suits in Delaware while they had the same suits running in Madison County.
Peel claims he was seduced by sister-in-law, defense rests
Gary Peel It took Gary Peel's legal team only one day to present evidence before resting in the embattled lawyer's criminal case.
Crowder must choose cause of action in med mal case
Judge Crowder Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder has scheduled an October trial in a suit against two doctors, or a suit against their answering service, or a suit against just one of the doctors.
Merck's witness stands by opinion under cross examination
Merck's defense witness Jerome Cohen, M.D., a St. Louis cardiologist, said his ties to pharmaceutical companies did not influence his opinion that Vioxx did not cause Patricia Schwaller's death.