Steve Gonzalez News
Dec. 26-29
Alton & Southern
New Lawsuits: Friday, Dec. 22
Ken Edwards v. Raymond Stillwell and Nathan Anderson
Paxil litigators wrangle for position in competing class actions
Crowder It was a busy day for lawyers in the Paxil litigation in Madison County on Tuesday as a routine hearing to enforce an injunction branched into three separate, contentious hearings with two judges.
ARDC files complaint against Tom Lakin
L. Thomas Lakin The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission has filed a complaint against Lakin Law Firm founder Lowell Thomas Lakin charging him with sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor and with delivering controlled substances.
New Lawsuits: Tuesday, Dec. 19
Fresh from the courthouse:
Barge worker hurt from gunwhale fitting, suit says
A Mississippi River barge worker filed a Jones Act complaint against National Maintenance and Repair Inc. in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 15, claiming he was severely injured Dec. 16, 2003, while fitting a gunwhale on a barge.
New Lawsuits: Monday, Dec. 18
Linda Abernathy v. Rosewood Care Center
Worker hit in the head with crane sues Olin
Olin A construction worker who was injured while using a crane filed a personal injury suit against Olin Corp. in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 13, claiming Olin failed in its duty to provide him a safe place to work.
Weber's H&R Block class action dismissal appealed by Lakin
The Lakin Law Firm filed an appeal with the Fifth Appellate District claiming former Circuit Judge Don Weber erred when dismissing a class action lawsuit against H&R Block on Nov. 9.
Woman claims false imprisonment at Schnucks
Schnucks in Granite City A woman who was accused of shoplifting from the Granite City Schnucks filed suit against the grocery chain in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 12, claiming her constitutional rights were violated.
Florida man files asbestos suit in Madison County
A Florida man diagnosed with mesothelioma filed suit approximately 800 miles away from home in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 15, claiming 143 defendant corporations are responsible for his illness.
Battle of the plaintiffs' attorneys heating up on Paxil turf
Stephen Tillery GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) filed a motion asking Madison County Associate Circuit Judge Ralph Mendelsohn to enforce an injunction which would prohibit plaintiffs in a similar St. Clair County Paxil class action lawsuit from holding a certification hearing on Dec. 28.
Whopper asbestos case will net $19k in filing fees
Perry Browder A Missouri widow filed an asbestos suit in Madison County Circuit Court against 187 defendant corporations claiming during the course of her husband's employment he inhaled large amounts of asbestos.
Defendants have banner year in Madison County
Jeff Hebrank Even though Madison County made the American Tort Reform Association's "judicial hellhole" list for the fifth consecutive year, defendants in cases seeking at least $1 million in damages have fared very well here this year.
Funeral home socked with $1.4 million judgment and investigation
Weber In one of his final acts on the bench, Madison County Circuit Judge Don Weber ordered the Werner-Mick Funeral Home to pay Timothy Werner $1,406,231.30 in a retaliatory discharge dispute.
Just Ask Gonzo: Suit against Wal-Mart settles
Question: Last year you wrote a piece on a man who tripped at the Belleville Wal-Mart and filed suit in East St. Louis. I went to school with a Chester Evans and was wondering if you could tell me if his suit was successful.
Madison and St. Clair counties' status drops in 'Hellhole' report; Illinois still dominates poll
Madison and St. Clair County courts still remain on the nation's "Judicial Hellholes" list, but according to the fifth annual report issued by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), they are showing signs of improvement.
Owens-Illinois worker claims asbestos exposure in suit
A former mold-maker at Owens-Illinois Glass in Alton filed an asbestos suit against 13 defendant corporations claiming his exposure to asbestos caused his lung cancer.
Maddox tosses class action on last day in office
On her last day on the job, Madison County Circuit Judge Lola Maddox dismissed a class action suit that alleged Pekin Insurance Co. improperly reduced payments for treatment of patients who suffered injuries in accidents.
Applicants have until Jan. 11 to apply for Third Circuit vacancy
Duane Bailey Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis has officially given notice to members of the bar that a vacancy exists for an associate judge position following the election of Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder.