John Sammon News
Surge in litigation against businesses expected as lawyers take liability advantage of virus crisis, conservative says
CHICAGO – Conservative talk show host Steve Cortes told Steve Bannon host of the podcast show “War Room Pandemic” that trial lawyers seeking to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic were smelling blood.
Illinois meat packing industry suffering from COVID-19 pandemic
The closing of meat packing plants because of the COVID-19 pandemic is hammering the pork industry and meat farmers who are finding fewer and fewer places to process their products for market consumption.
J&J top corporate rep grilled in Oklahoma opioid trial - state focuses on 'Norman' poppy strain
NORMAN (Legal Newsline) – A corporate spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson and its drug subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals on Thursday faced questioning by lawyers for the State of Oklahoma who attempted to link the company’s quest for profits to an opioid epidemic in the state.
Father recounts loss of son in Oklahoma Johnson & Johnson opioid trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Fighting back tears, a father who lost his son to an opioid overdose recounted the nightmare during testimony in a trial alleging that Johnson & Johnson flooded the state with addictive drugs for profit.
Opening remarks in opioid case against Johnson & Johnson alleges greed created drug epidemic
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Opening arguments began Tuesday in a first-ever trial in attempt to hold drug manufacturers accountable for an opioid over-dose crisis, accusing Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary company Janssen Pharmaceuticals of providing medications for profit that destroyed thousands of lives.
Fifth District concludes doctor's testimony should be barred in elevator injury suit
MT. VERNON – The Appellate Court for the Fifth District of Illinois denied testimony of an examining doctor in the case of a woman hurt on an elevator because her injury medical report was not delivered in a timely manner.
Fifth District upholds termination of parental rights in case alleging lack of admonishment
MT. VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court upheld a judgement out of the Madison County Circuit Court to terminate the parental rights of a father who alleged his termination was unfair because the court did not admonish him.
Court rejects woman’s request to strike federal jury trial in vomit-slip case
BENTON – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Oct. 24 rejected the attempt of a woman to strike a defendant request for a jury trial saying the plaintiff had acted in “bad faith” in state court in notifying the defendant of the projected amount of her damage claim.
Judge denies plaintiffs additional time for discovery in uConnect hacking case; Trial set in March
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief Judge Michael J. Reagan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois said no more discovery time will be allowed for the plaintiff and trial is set next year in a lawsuit alleging that hackers can take over Chrysler, Fiat and Jeep vehicles.
Trump visit compared to thrill of Game 5 World Series - but 'at another level'; Taxpayer revolt also turns out crowd
MURPHYSBORO – People who attended a visit by President Donald Trump to Southern Illinois on Oct. 27 and a “Taxpayer Revolt” held on Oct. 24 in Collinsville said they were energized by large crowds that gathered for both.
Yandle remands J&J baby powder case back to St. Clair against argument Walgreens added to defeat diversity
BELLEVILLE – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Oct. 15 remanded a case back to the 20th Judicial Circuit Court of St. Clair County saying the federal court lacked jurisdiction in a woman’s alleged wrongful death from the use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder.
County board candidate says levy rate vote avoiding 'Truth in Taxation' law was 'deceitful'
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County Board District 12 candidate Kevin Wallace called a recent increase in the county's property tax levy of 4.99 percent, just below a 5 percent threshold that would have required a public hearing and notice to voters, “deceitful.”
Trump to stump for Bost in Murphysboro on Saturday; Recent poll shows Bost up 9 points
CARBONDALE – President Donald Trump is coming to Southern Illinois to try and turn back a bid by state Democrats to gain a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives after the Nov. 6 election.
'People are motivated' says organizer of taxpayer revolt rally, set Oct. 24
COLLINSVILLE – Inspired by a desire to take action against out of control taxation, a “Taxpayer Revolt Rally” is set to take place Oct. 24 in Collinsville, just ahead of an election that could be considered a referendum on the hot topic.
Anti-retention efforts aimed at St. Clair County judges; Gleeson pushes back
BELLEVILLE – Movements are underway in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit to oust two judges from office, alleging unfair and unethical conduct.
Herndon rejects woman’s racial discrimination, wrongful termination lawsuit against SIUE
EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Sept. 19 awarded summary judgment to officials of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in a lawsuit filed by an employee who alleged race discrimination in her termination as a building facilities manager.
Gilbert grants summary judgment to AstraZeneca in Seroquel lawsuit
EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Sept. 19 granted summary judgment to a pharmaceuticals company, disagreeing that a drug it manufactured caused an Illinois man to suffer heart complications.
Jurors pound Johnson & Johnson with $4.69 billion judgment; Company vows to appeal
ST. LOUIS – Jurors on July 12 handed Johnson & Johnson a body-blow, levying a total $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages to 22 women who claimed its talcum powder contained asbestos that caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
J&J talc trial wraps up: Attorneys accuse each other of fake science in closing arguments
ST. LOUIS – Attorneys for both sides claimed the other fabricated science during closing remarks on July 11 after a month-long trial in a lawsuit in which 22 women allege the baby powder they used made by Johnson & Johnson gave them ovarian cancer.
Imerys Talc of America asks for denial of reconsideration in exposure lawsuits
EDWARDSVILLE – A defendant asked the Madison County Circuit Court on June 26 to deny reconsideration of an earlier decision to dismiss two cases for lack of jurisdiction in the state of Illinois in a lawsuit against a producer of talc used in Johnson & Johnson baby powder.