Steve Korris News
AG Raoul's office fails to pay $1,350 sanction from October; Rosenstengel: 'My patience is out'
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has sanctioned Illinois state government twice for misconduct in a civil suit and could do it again if Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul fails to pay for discovery violations.
Trucker refuses to sign $400K settlement after receiving attorney's fees documents
EDWARDSVILLE – Louisiana trucker Shane Richard backed out of a $400,000 settlement agreement in an injury suit, according to lawyers on both sides.
Edwardsville school district seeks to dismiss battery claim from golfer's injury suit
BENTON – Edwardsville school district denies that it committed medical battery against golfer Bailey Vorachek by burning her back with a pain reliever.
Insurer does not have to pay $6.7 million judgment in wood chipper injury dispute, alleges collusion
BENTON – Atain Specialty Insurance doesn’t have to pay a $6,699,568.52 judgment that tree trimmer James Hodge owes to housemate Bailey Watson for driving his wood chipper over her, Senior U. S. District Judge Phil Gilbert ruled on Feb. 13.
Resolution possible in Hofbrauhaus litigation after Belleville restaurant suddenly closes
BELLEVILLE – The sudden shutdown of Hofbrauhaus Brewpub in Belleville could end litigation alleging the local restaurant tarnishes the reputation of the famous Hofbrauhause brewery in Germany.
Lawyer David Cates seeks to enforce arbitration in former partner's $10 million lawsuit
EDWARDSVILLE – Lawyer David Cates claims a $10 million lawsuit filed by former partner Ryan Mahoney belongs in arbitration rather than Madison County circuit court.
Beatty approves genetic testing in suit alleging infant suffered injuries during birth
EAST ST. LOUIS – Alton Memorial Hospital and the United States may test a child’s blood to see if a genetic disorder caused brain damage rather than negligence at delivery, U. S. Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty ruled at a hearing on Feb. 8.
East St. Louis seeks roughly $2.7 billion in penalties for pollution; Monsanto moves to file counter claim
EAST ST. LOUIS – Monsanto Company claims a lawsuit filed by the City of East St. Louis seeking penalties up to $2.7 billion for pollution violates the U. S. Constitution.
Benton attorney challenging weapons ban suggests exemptions favor public employee unions
SPRINGFIELD – Exemptions from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s gun law favor public employee unions according to Bryan Drew of Benton, who represents gun owners suing to overturn the law.
Man who fell from Skyjack scissor lift settles his suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – Tresean Gines of Park Forest, who fell from a Skyjack scissor lift while replacing lights outside Lowe’s in Fairview Heights, settled his claims against Lowe’s, Skyjack, and lift owner United Rental on Feb. 3.
Seventh Circuit reverses verdict in forklift injury trial over excluded witness testimony
CHICAGO – U. S. Seventh Circuit appellate judges reversed a jury verdict in a forklift accident trial on Feb. 1, finding District Judge Stephen McGlynn improperly excluded an expert’s opinion that forklifts need doors.
Marketing employee for Belleville hospice allegedly terminated for refusing Covid-19 vaccine
BENTON – Lisa Mann of Williamson County claims Hospice of Southern Illinois discriminated against her religion when it fired her for refusing Covid-19 vaccination.
AG Raoul's office allegedly 'working on securing' $1,350 sanction for discovery violations
SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul has failed to cut a $1,350 check his client has owed to Carbondale lawyer Shari Rhode since October.
Fifth District reveres felony conviction in Mengarelli's court; Jurors struggled with who ammunition belonged to
MOUNT VERNON – Fifth District appellate judges concluded that Madison County associate judge Martin Mengarelli's first criminal trial was spoiled as soon as it started.
Gilbert postponed trial on excessive force claims due to predicted winter storm
BENTON – Senior U. S. District Judge Phil Gilbert postponed an excessive force trial against Madison County deputies for three months in anticipation of a winter storm.
White County judge raises concerns about gun ban legislative procedure during hearing on TRO request, calls it 'egregious'
CARMI – Circuit judges can’t enforce constitutional requirements for passing legislation, Governor Pritzker’s lawyer told White County Circuit Judge Scott Webb at a Jan. 25 hearing for a temporary restraining order on a gun law Pritzker signed on Jan. 10.
Raoul moves to strike suit challenging firearm suppressor ban
EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul moved to strike about 40% of a complaint that challenges the state’s ban on firearm suppressors.
Yandle dismisses privacy invasion suit against military Exchange stores
BENTON – U. S. District Judge Staci Yandle rejected Madison County jurisdiction in a potential class action against Exchange stores on military bases and dismissed it on Jan. 19.
EPA stalls Cahokia Heights sewer work as Pritzker fails to deliver on $9.9 million grant promise
SPRINGFIELD – Environmental Protection Agency officials have stalled sewer improvements in Cahokia Heights and haven’t explained why, except to say questions were raised.
Yandle increases award for Carbondale servers, baristas to nearly $50,000
BENTON – Jurors made a mistake when they divided a wage claim against Longbranch Café and Bakery of Carbondale by ten, U. S. District Judge Staci Yandle ruled on Jan. 13.