Steve Korris News
Jayne Conroy seeks appointment as class counsel in Ohio train derailment case
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanly Conroy in Alton and colleagues from Colorado and Delaware applied for appointment as interim class counsel in train disaster litigation at U. S. district court on March 15.
Woman appeals declaratory judgment for insurer in dispute over $6.7 million award
BENTON – Bailey Watson, who obtained a $6.7 million judgment for injuries she suffered when a wood chipper ran over her, plans to appeal an order finding Atain Specialty Insurance doesn’t have to pay it.
Video game writer settles defamation suit against Belleville woman
BENTON – Computer game writer Chris Avellone of California and Karissa Barrows of Belleville settled his defamation suit against her.
Jurors return defense verdict in crash suit; Plaintiff attorneys previously complained of jury bias
BENTON – Jurors at a highway crash trial in U. S. district court needed only 48 minutes to reach a verdict against plaintiff Teresa Neville of Madison County.
Dugan denies dismissal for former Casino Queen owners in pension fraud suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – U. S. District Judge David Dugan denied stacks of motions to dismiss pension fraud claims against former Casino Queen owners on March 6 and March 8.
Everytown for Gun Safety files amicus brief supporting gun ban; Attorneys donated to Democrat justices set to hear legislation challenge
EAST ST. LOUIS – National group Everytown for Gun Safety moved on March 9 to file a brief as friend of U. S. district court in favor of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s law regulating semi automatic weapons and "high capacity" magazines.
Default judgment sought in suit alleging unlicensed boxing matches at East St. Louis bar
BENTON – Joe Hand Promotions, which licenses broadcast rights for boxing matches, moved for default judgment on March 8 on a claim that Da Beno bar in East St. Louis showed matches without licenses.
Cahokia Heights residents want to hold city liable for pollution
EAST ST. LOUIS – Cahokia Heights residents suing for clean water want U.S. District Judge David Dugan to hold the city liable for pollution so he can focus on remedies.
St. Clair County jurors award patient $500,000 in medical malpractice trial
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County jurors awarded $500,000 to Darren Vines on a malpractice claim against surgeon Aaron Greenspan on Feb. 27, half for disability and half for pain and suffering.
Regions Bank granted guardianship of child in negligent delivery suit, seeks $1 million at trial
EAST ST. LOUIS – Regions Bank seeks at least $1 million from the United States this week as guardian of a child in a negligent delivery trial at U. S. district court.
St. Louis injury lawyers ask to conduct voir dire instead of judge, saying jurors favor defendants
BENTON – Biases of American jurors skew toward defendants, Emory Reusch of Brown and Crouppen injury firm in St. Louis claimed as trial approached over a highway crash.
Fifth District: Banning social media for child sex offender violates free speech
MOUNT VERNON – Banning social media for sex offenders on supervised release violates the First Amendment guarantee of free speech, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on March 1.
Rosenstengel sanctions assistant Illinois AG again for continuing to violate her orders in discrimination suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – Chief U. S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel struck all affirmative defenses of assistant Illinois attorney general Thomas Ewick on Feb. 23 for violating her orders in a civil suit against Chester Mental Health hospital.
Illinois Sheriff's Association seeks to file opposition to gun ban in federal court suits
EAST ST. LOUIS – Gun owners and dealers suing in U. S. district court for an injunction against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s gun law found a friend in the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association.
Asbestos defendants dismissed from suit to avoid federal jurisdiction
EAST ST. LOUIS – Oshkosh Corporation and Hyster-Yale Group were dismissed from asbestos exposure claims after removing the case from St. Clair County circuit court to U. S. district court.
Rep. Stuart proposes all-gender bathroom legislation, calls opponents 'out of touch extremists'
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Rep. Katie Stuart of Edwardsville proposes to change a law that originally gave women equal access to toilets into a law for “all gender multiple occupancy restrooms.”
Insurer seeks to deny coverage of suit alleging crash evidence was destroyed
BENTON – Mutual insurer Acuity sued Diamond D Transport of Collinsville in U. S. district court on Feb. 21 to deny coverage of a claim that Diamond D spoiled evidence from a collision.
Psychiatrist allowed to testify for Flora school board in bullying case
EAST ST. LOUIS – U. S. Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty decided not to exclude testimony of Flora school board’s expert psychiatrist Alexander Rose, who overheard conversation between a lawyer and a son of a client.
Orthopedic expert in crash suit cancels deposition over 'insufficient' $2,250 fee
EAST ST. LOUIS – Orthopedic expert Brett Taylor cancelled a deposition on a day’s notice because he considered a $2,250 fee inadequate, according to Alton lawyer Lanny Darr.
Lawyers from Simmons Firm represent Ohio residents over Norfolk Southern train derailment
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Five lawyers from John Simmons’s firm in Alton represent residents of East Palestine, Ohio, who sued Norfolk Southern railroad at U.S. district court over the flaming, toxic wreck on Feb. 3.