Steve Korris News
Gilbert to preside over trial involving excessive force claims against officers
BENTON – Madison County jurors found Brian Schell of Highland didn’t resist arrest and now jurors in U. S. district court must decide whether deputies should have tasered him twice.
Broadcast Music Inc. sues Silver Creek Saloon over alleged copyright law violations
BENTON – Silver Creek Saloon on Mascoutah Street in Belleville is accused of infringing on musical copyrights, according to Broadcast Music Inc. and owners of songs ranging from Bee Gees to Lady Gaga.
AG Raoul refuses to pay $1,350 for discovery violations in discrimination suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – Attorney general Kwame Raoul has ignored Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel’s order to pay Carbondale lawyer Shari Rhode $1,350 for discovery violations in a discrimination suit.
Jurors award tugboat worker $3.31 million for injuries from corn gluten fertilizer exposure
EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County jurors awarded $3,310,000 to former Lewis and Clark Fleeting tugboat worker Kevin Mogensen on Jan. 13.
Fayette County property owner claims neighbor removed his trees
BENTON – A lawsuit filed in federal court claims Nathan Marlen of St. Clair County and Doug Blankenship of Bond County wrongfully cut down trees that belonged to Joseph Lucas of Missouri.
Justice department seeks to dismiss privacy class action against military exchange stores
BENTON – U. S. District Judge Staci Yandle must decide whether to dismiss a class action privacy invasion claim against Exchange stores on military bases or remand it to Madison County where it started.
Fifth District affirms summary judgment in suit over stairway fall at Alton bar
MOUNT VERNON – Madison County Circuit Judge Christopher Threlkeld correctly ruled that Bubby and Sissy’s bar in Alton didn’t cause Lori Schnaare to fall down its stairs, according to Fifth District appellate judges.
Cahokia Heights flooding dispute continues; Defendants call it an ‘act of God’ as agencies work to unclog drains
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS – Water circled the home of Olivia Dunn on 80th Street more quickly than litigation seeking to control the water in the city has progressed, resulting in response from multiple agencies.
Dugan grants summary judgment in crash suit involving insurance purchased after the collision
EAST ST. LOUIS – Esurance Insurance doesn’t have to honor a policy that Lajavion Ramsey of Belleville purchased after a fatal crash, U. S. District Judge David Dugan ruled on Jan. 4.
Rosenstengel recuses herself from St. Clair Country Club's insurance dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has recused herself from a dispute over insurance for wind and hail damage at St. Clair Country Club.
Yandle orders mediation in video game writer's defamation suit
BENTON – Karissa Barrows of Belleville, defending a claim that she wrecked the career of video game writer Christopher Avellone, asserts that he wrecked it himself.
Rudolf denies dismissal in injury suit filed by Belleville attorney's daughter
BELLEVILLE – Statutes of limitation don’t operate on weekends according to Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf, who ruled that Abigail Hoerner could proceed with an injury suit she filed on a Monday.
Former Edwardsville High School golfer alleges injuries from unmonitored electric pain relief
BENTON – Edwardsville High School staff failed to control electric pain relief for former varsity golfer Bailey Vorachek and burned her back, according to her counsel Grey Chatham Jr. of Belleville.
British musician Jay Kay alleges trademark violations
BENTON – British musician Jason Kay sued dozens of “individuals, partnerships, and unincorporated associations” in U. S. district court on Dec. 22, claiming they use his trademarks to sell products online.
Fifth District reverses Johnson County murder conviction
MOUNT VERNON – Johnson County Circuit Judge James Williamson should have let jurors decide whether Dennis Schapmire killed his father by accident or on purpose, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Dec. 21.
Tugboat worker's suit alleging injuries from corn dust set for trial in Smith's courtroom
EDWARDSVILLE – Circuit Judge Sarah Smith plans to start trial Jan. 9 for former Lewis and Clark Fleeting tugboat worker Kevin Mogensen, who claims dust from corn and other products damaged his lungs.
Miami-Dade County seeks to remove FTX from Miami Heat arena
Miami-Date County petitioned the bankruptcy court to provide relief from a stay in litigation so it can remove FTX from the arena name for the Miami Heat basketball team.
State AG challenges federal jurisdiction in former correctional officer's mask challenge
EAST ST. LOUIS – Attorney General Kwame Raoul challenges federal jurisdiction over a claim that the state improperly tried to recover health care premiums from an employee it fired for not wearing a mask.
Lakin's legacy: Former lawyer remembered for rise in class action success and fall from drug charges, sex assault allegations
Former lawyer Lowell Thomas Lakin died last week and left behind a lesson in the price of having too much.
Hospital security guard seeks return to work after firing for refusing vax
EAST ST. LOUIS – Good Samaritan Hospital of Mount Vernon violated rights of security officer Joseph Goodrich when it fired him for refusing virus vaccination and testing, according to a suit in U.S. district court.