Steve Korris News
Syngenta, Chevron identify 611 questionable paraquat claims after discovering some active litigants were deceased
EAST ST. LOUIS – After discovering dead plaintiffs on the docket of national litigation over claims that weed killer paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease, defendants Syngenta and Chevron claim they’ve discovered 611 empty claims.
Fifth District affirms dismissal of Hulme and Dorman lawsuit, says Madison County Board did not violate Open Meetings Act
MOUNT VERNON – Madison County Board members who terminated administrator Doug Hulme and information technology director Rob Dorman in 2020 didn’t violate their rights, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on June 15.
Yandle denies dismissal in suit alleging construction company removed trees without permission on Fayette County property
BENTON – U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle denied motions to dismiss claims that Nathan Marlen of St. Clair County and construction company owner Doug Blankenship of Bond County cut trees that belonged to Joseph Lucas of Missouri.
Seventh Circuit affirms ruling requiring insurer to defend privacy invasion suit
CHICAGO – Citizens Insurance Company of America must defend a privacy invasion suit against a business that sold a facial recognition database to Chicago for police purposes, U. S. Seventh Circuit appellate judges ruled on June 15.
IL Supreme Court grants police access to cell phone passcodes; Dissent says it violates self incrimination protections
SPRINGFIELD – Passcodes on mobile phones won’t prevent law enforcement from access to the devices’ contents, the Illinois Supreme Court decided on June 15.
Genetic testing facility moves to dismiss suit over false paternity test results
EAST ST. LOUIS – Effingham residents whose lives would have turned out different if genetic testers hadn’t made a mistake in 1989 can’t pursue a suit about it now, defendants Sanofi-Aventis and Genzyme argue in U.S. district court.
Highland residents argue over billboard ownership
EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth must decide who owned a spot for a billboard along Interstate 70 while Eberhart Sign and Lighting paid $21,546 in rent for the spot.
Aspen Creek seeks to dismiss suit alleging resident with dementia froze to death
EDWARDSVILLE – Aspen Creek memory care home in Troy, where Kathleen Kinkel walked out and froze to death on Jan. 31, claims her estate can’t pursue a wrongful death suit under nursing home law because Aspen Creek doesn’t operate a nursing home.
McGlynn rules in favor of obstetrician following bench trial
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn cleared obstetrician Kallie Harrison of negligence in a delivery on June 9, finding she didn’t deviate from the standard of care.
Arkansas judge orders Hunter Biden to 'fully answer discovery' in child support case; Trial set for July
BATESVILLE, Arkansas – Independence County Circuit Judge Holly Meyer ordered Hunter Biden to appear on July 10 and show why she shouldn’t put him in jail and give his daughter his last name.
St. Clair Country Club seeks to quash insurer's subpoenas
BENTON – Cincinnati Insurance, defending a claim that it must cover replacement of the roof on St. Clair Country Club, sent subpoenas to seven contractors on May 23 regarding reports of possible storm damage.
East St. Louis claims Monsanto, others seek relief by changing civil case to criminal case
EAST ST. LOUIS – Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia allegedly improperly changed a civil case into a criminal case so they could move to disqualify attorneys for East St. Louis in a pollution action at U.S. district court, the city’s attorneys argued on June 5.
Lewis and Clark Community College removes potential class action over data breach to federal court
BENTON – Former Lewis and Clark Community College student Dennis Lancaster of Edwardsville seeks to lead a class action on a claim that a data breach allowed criminals to steal information about his identity and health.
McGlynn grants preliminary injunction for British band alleging trademark violations
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn granted a preliminary injunction on May 30 against counterfeiters who make and sell merchandise of British band Jarimoquai.
Illinois energy companies move to dismiss Sierra Club's suit seeking to shut down power plant
BENTON – Energy companies that own Prairie State power plant near Marissa have operated in accordance with Illinois law since they started burning coal, according to a motion they filed to dismiss a suit seeking to shut it down.
Hunter Biden produces legal bills in Arkansas child support battle; Illinois native is expert witness
BATESVILLE, Arkansas – On a Sunday before a hearing was set to begin, Hunter Biden produced his legal bills to mother Lunden Roberts in a child support suit that includes an expert witness from Effingham County, Illinois.
Fifth District reverses Hoerner, rejecting St. Clair County jurisdiction in battery suit
MOUNT VERNON – St. Clair County Circuit Judge Kevin Hoerner committed error by identifying South Dakota resident Lynna Clemens as an Illinois resident, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on May 24.
Monsanto seeks to disqualify counsel in East St. Louis contamination suit
EAST ST. LOUIS – Monsanto, Solutia, and Pharmacia moved on May 22 to disqualify former chief judge John Baricevic of Belleville and others as counsel for East St. Louis in a suit seeking billions in penalties for 50 years of alleged contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls.
IL AG's office substitutes attorney to handle sanctions for discovery violations
EAST ST. LOUIS – Lawyer Martin Plute no longer works for Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul, according to a substitution motion in a suit against Chester mental health hospital.
Devon Archer travels the world with appeal of prison sentence pending
NEW YORK CITY – U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams has given Hunter Biden's former partner Devon Archer a judicial ticket to fly around the world for business and pleasure while his criminal sentencing appeal is pending.