John Sammon News
Appellate court backs $550,000 award in Casey's store slip and fall case
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court affirmed Madison Circuit Court Judge William Mudge who disallowed the defense to cross-examine a plaintiff who slipped and fell at a convenience store about a job offer he allegedly had to turn down because of the injuries from the fall.
Yandle denies class certification in suit alleging faulty part from AutoZone
A federal judge has denied a motion for class certification in a case stemming from allegations of a faulty auto part, according to a memorandum and order filed on June 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
Madison County board approves $14M for jail renovation project despite chairman's opposition
EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County's jail renovation project moved forward May 16 with the approval of a $14 million upgrade by the county board despite the opposition of its chairman and county administrator.
Lawyers’ Assistance Program can help attorneys cope with stress
CHICAGO – Lawyers face a number of stress-inducing challenges in the performance of their work that can bring on severe depression and chemical dependency if left untreated, studies show.
Progressive tax increase proposal faces uphill battle; Meier says he's always been against 'money grab'
Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker is pushing a progressive tax increase plan for wealthier wage earners in the state and as Republicans line up against it, observers predicted the billionaire businessman’s attempt will be a tough sell.
Election judges always in demand as primary election approaches, county clerks say
EDWARDSVILLE – County clerks in Madison and St. Clair counties said finding judges to serve in primary and general elections is a constant need.
St. Clair County GOP chair says Rauner is the best candidate for governor; Ives campaign claims Rauner is unelectable
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County Republican chairwoman Barbara Viviano said only incumbent Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner can defeat Democrat contender J.B. Pritzker this November and that Rauner’s Republican challenger Jeanne Ives is unelectable.
Fifth District denies appeal of man found guilty of first-degree murder in 1997
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court on Nov. 27 affirmed an earlier dismissal by the St. Clair County Circuit Court of a convicted killer’s claims that he was denied due process because he had been appointed an ineffective attorney.
Fifth District upholds denial of man's workers' compensation claim
The Fifth District Appellate Court on Nov. 1 denied an appeal by Robert Leyden to collect workers' compensation benefits after Leyden alleged he was injured in an on-the-job accident.
Man drops suit against Equifax, bank over Fair Credit Reporting Act allegations
BENTON – A consumer who was suing Equifax Information Services LLC and the 1st National Bank of Omaha alleging that the financial institutions engaged in unfair and inaccurate reporting after the man’s debts had been cleared in a bankruptcy hearing has dropped his case.
Fifth District upholds ruling rejecting man's request to vacate commitment
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court on Oct. 4 upheld the rejection of the appeal of a man seeking annulment of a court order that had committed him as a sexually violent person, ruling that allegations he did not have the mental capacity to understand the proceedings against him were groundless.
Greensfelder Hemker attorney joins USA&M arbitration panel
ST. LOUIS - Mary Ann Wymore, an attorney with the St. Louis-based firm of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale PC, has joined the mediation panel of the U.S. Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M), a leading provider of legal mediation and arbitration services.
Edwardsville attorney receives Martindale Hubbell award
EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville attorney Ron E. Foster of Walton Telkin Foster has received the AV preeminent recognition of Martindale Hubbell award, presented in recognition of the highest ethical standards and legal abilities.
Appellate court affirms ruling for State Farm in Belleville property owner's fire claim
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court has upheld a verdict denying a Belleville property owner's fraud claims against State Farm Insurance Co. regarding a fire-damaged property.
Court rules Toyota Boshoku America Inc. can file answer to lawsuit alleging wrongful termination
EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois ruled Sept. 6 that a manufacturer and seller of auto-related components Toyota Boshoku America Inc., doing business as Toyota Boshoku of Illinois LLC, be allowed time to file an answer to an amended complaint made by a woman who alleged she was wrongfully terminated by the company.
Federal judge denies adding defendants to coal mine suit, saying it was attempt to defeat jurisdiction
EAST ST. LOUIS – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois declined a request to add additional defendants to a lawsuit seeking damages for a man killed in a coal mine accident, saying it was an attempt to remand the case from federal jurisdiction to an Illinois state court.
Civil rights leader, author: 'You can be born in a ghetto, but the ghetto isn’t born in you'
EDWARDSVILLE – The message local civil rights leader Bobby Collins hopes to impart to people who read his new book titled “No Excuses, Biography of Bobby Collins,” is one of motivation, hope and courage.
Seminar for attorneys on choosing expert witnesses set for Chicago on Sept. 7
CHICAGO – An instructional seminar hosted by the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) will advise attorneys on how to pick expert witnesses to back up their client’s defense.
Plaintiff's motion denied in Kmart, Medicare false claims case
EAST ST. LOUIS – A move by plaintiff James Garbe to compel the production of retail giant Kmart's privileged attorney-client communications in a False Claims Act (FCA) case has been denied.
Illinois Supreme Court rejects woman’s alternative driving impairment claim
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court on April 20 rejected the appeal of a woman who maintained that it was low blood pressure and not illegal drugs that caused her to lose consciousness at the wheel of her car and seriously injure two other people in a crash.