News from May 2009
Insurance company sued over Crawford County apartment building explosion
Tenants injured two years ago in an apartment explosion in Crawford County, as well as the administrator of a deceased tenant's estate, are seeking declaratory judgment against an insurance company in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Jury awards more than $120,000 in Edwardsville rear-end re-trial
Ruth Although it took nearly two days to get under way, the re-trial of a 2004 Edwardsville negligence lawsuit wrapped up in a day and a half as a Madison County jury awarded the plaintiff more than $120,000 in damages.
U.S. Marshals Service summoned on reporter covering Chrysler bankruptcy proceeding
NEW YORK - U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee Diana Adams of New York threatened to call a federal marshal after a reporter covering a Chrysler bankruptcy hearing Wednesday asked her for the identities of personal injury law firms represented on the unsecured creditors' committee.
Personal injury lawyers get two seats on Chrysler's unsecured creditors' committee
NEW YORK - Chrysler workers, dealers, suppliers and lenders anticipate heavy losses from the automaker's bankruptcy, but personal injury lawyers anticipate a $217 million windfall.
Interstate Brands sued over customer's slip on wet mat
Adrienne Martin-Haire is suing Interstate Brands Corp. over injuries she sustained at its Belleville store on Jan. 9.
Rick Jones asks judge to continue sentencing
Rick Jones is asking U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert to continue his sentencing date for at least 30 days so he can finish cooperating with the federal government, according to a court document filed May 18.
5/25 - 5/29/09
Monday, May 25
Second trial opens in Edwardsville rear-end case
Less than an hour before close of business at the Madison County Courthouse, a jury was selected in a re-trial of a 2004 Edwardsville rear-end negligence case.
SWIC students volunteer at Law Day Run
From left to right, Jennifer Cruise, Susan Boester, Erin Dix, Patty Taylor and Meghan Biggs. Southwestern Illinois College Paralegal Studies students answered the national call to service recently during a recent fund-raiser in Belleville.
Fairview Heights FOIA deadline passes without response
Mitchell The City of Fairview Heights has yet to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Madison County Record seeking settlement and other documents from the city's lawsuits against 13 online travel companies.
Pre-trial motions, late filings back up Edwardsville accident re-trial
Although the re-trial on an Edwardsville rear-end accident lawsuit was set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, late motions from both sides delayed its start until Tuesday.
ARDC denies Hildebrand's petition for reinstatement
The Illinois Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission has denied Granite City attorney Thomas Hildebrand's petition for reinstatement to practice law.
Making public records public
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
That's been our mantra at the Madison/St. Clair Record, where we've reported on the public record for nearly five years.
Real reform means closing Howe
On April 28, the Committee on Government Forecasting and Accountability, a bi-partisan panel of 12 state lawmakers, issued a recommendation to close Howe Developmental Center in Tinley Park.
Judge Bailey to decide later on SC Johnson's standing in Buske divorce
Bailey SC Johnson will have to wait to find out if it has standing in an Edwardsville divorce case that its attorneys argue is a sham attempt to hide money the company is owed.
Cahokia pedestrian accident is subject of suit
The father of a minor girl is suing a man who allegedly hit the girl with his vehicle as she was walking down the road.
Freeburg man sues Wal-Mart claiming wrongful termination
A Freeburg man is suing Wal-Mart, saying he was wrongfully terminated because he applied for workers' compensation benefits after he was hurt while working.
No small change: Lakin firm sheds lawyers and 24-cent class action
Lakin Brad Lakin lost about a fourth of his firm on May 4 as Charles Armbruster, Roy Dripps, John Winterscheidt and Michael Blotevogel set up their own shop in Alton.
Route 50 accident is subject of suit
Leslie C. Johnson has filed a suit against Mildred A. Haney, alleging she was injured after Haney made an inappropriate left-hand turn.
Oral arguments coming Wednesday in Cueto appeal
Cueto Oral arguments will be heard at the Fifth District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon on Wednesday in a defamation suit filed in 2006 by Amiel Cueto against the Madison County Record.