Steve Korris News
Former MC map and plat technician files discrimination complaint in federal court
EAST ST. LOUIS – Madison County employees taunted and harassed former map and plat technician Janice Koehler according to a suit Michael Gras of Brentwood, Mo. filed in U.S. district court on Dec. 12.
Amazon counsel seeks to preserve Madison County jurisdiction in tornado litigation; Plaintiffs prefer St. Clair County court
EDWARDSVILLE – Lawyers have filed more warehouse collapse suits against Amazon in St. Clair County than in Madison County where the tragedy occurred.
Student in Logan's cardiac sonography program sues over denial of religious exemption for Covid vax
EAST ST. LOUIS – Plaintiff Luke Wegmann’s devotion to Jesus Christ moved him to refuse vaccination and got him kicked out of a medical specialty program at John A. Logan College, according to a suit in U.S. district court.
Esurance had no duty to defend insured who bought insurance after crash, magistrate finds
BENTON – Insurance that LaJavion Ramsey of Belleville bought after a collision that killed a person and injured nine didn’t cover anyone, U. S. Magistrate Judge Reona ruled on Dec. 12.
Barberis dissents in case against GAL over panel's failure to distinguish conduct outside court appointment
MOUNT VERNON – Appellate judges Thomas Welch and Milton Wharton found a child’s guardian restricted a father in a custody dispute without authority but they immunized her from civil liability.
Refinery explosion injury trial set for April in Magistrate Beatty's court
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty pitched out a pile of pleadings at a hearing on a refinery explosion and set strict rules to prepare for trial in April.
Fiberglass mattress lawyers facing challenge in Dugan's court, pursue duplicate national litigation in California
EAST ST. LOUIS – Alabama lawyers making little progress in Illinois on a national class action claim that mattresses released fiberglass started an action in California for the other 49 states.
In apartment fire case, Supreme Court reverses 'duty to defend' action against landlord
SPRINGFIELD – All seven Supreme Court Justices reversed a ruling that insurers of landlords must defend tenants against liability claims of third parties.
Former law partner claims Cates concealed nearly $10 million in fee settlements
EDWARDSVILLE – Lawyer Ryan Mahoney claims lawyer David Cates concealed almost $10 million in fees while they negotiated terms for ending their partnership in the Cates Mahoney firm of Swansea.
WBA promoter sues local establishments alleging piracy of five fights
EAST ST. LOUIS – Owners of Da Beno at 6830 State Street committed piracy to show five World Boxing Association fights to patrons, according to a complaint that distributor Joe Hands Promotions filed in U.S. district court on Nov. 23.
Dugan allows flood suits against the dissolved 'Commonfields' to go forward
EAST ST. LOUIS – Commonfields of Cahokia water district no longer exists but citizens can pursue a claim that it failed to protect them from floods of water and sewage, U. S. District Judge David Dugan ruled on Nov. 14.
McGlynn blocks attempt by state to clawback healthcare deductions of worker who didn't wear mask
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn temporarily blocked state managers from recovering $1,195.92 they paid to corrections officer Garrett Rose of Salem while they went about firing him for not wearing a mask.
Plaintiff in BIPA action dies while awaiting rulings on statute of limitation, per violation damages
BENTON – Jermaine Minor, who claimed Sauget retailer Oldcastle violated Illinois law on privacy of fingerprints, died waiting for judges to interpret the law.
O'Gara reversed over a substitution among deliberating jurors distracted by cell phones and solitaire
MOUNT VERNON - St. Clair County Circuit Judge John O'Gara replaced a juror in deliberation at a criminal trial without guarding against prejudice, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Nov. 14.
Rudolf reversed at Fifth District in dispute over phosphorous in carpet care product
MOUNT VERNON – Appellate judges found St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf committed five errors when he dismissed a claim of unfair competition in the carpet cleaning business.
Deckhand injured by three-ton barge cable awarded $5 million in federal court
BENTON – U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle awarded $5,051,471.24 to former barge deckhand Kevin Beam of Randolph County on Nov. 8, for injuries he suffered when a cable hit him.
Oh fudge! Consumer fraud class action dismissed over meaning of the word
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel dismissed a potential class action over the meaning of fudge on Nov. 8.
Democrats win Illinois Supreme Court races retaining majority
SPRINGFIELD – Democrats who changed boundaries of judicial districts to protect their majority at the Supreme Court saw their strategy succeed on Nov. 8.
Still ballots to be counted, Amendment 1 is close to passage
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois voters amended their constitution to strengthen public employee unions by a margin of nearly 60-40%.
Lloyd's seeks to overturn $40K verdict it won against CSX; Insurer sought millions for four rail cars that crashed in ravine
EAST ST. LOUIS – Underwriters at Lloyd’s aim to overturn a $40,000 verdict they obtained against CSX railroad when they sought millions.