Steve Korris News
Abbott EMS settles BIPA class action for nearly $500,000
BENTON – Owners of ambulance provider Abbott EMS settled a potential class action over privacy of fingerprints for $499,000 on Aug. 14.
Smith denies Amazon's motion to transfer cases involving fatal 2021 tornado to Madison County for trial
EDWARDSVILLE – Circuit Judge Sarah Smith, presiding by Supreme Court appointment over trial preparation for Amazon warehouse tornado cases from Madison and St. Clair county courts, denied a motion to transfer the St. Clair County cases to herself for trial.
Armstrong Teasdale sued for allegedly breaching $1 million contract with asbestos defense chief
BELLEVILLE – Raymond Fournie, former asbestos defense chief for Armstrong Teasdale, claims his partners broke an agreement to pay him $1 million last year for working a transitional position after being forced to retire at age 70.
Mascoutah School District, volleyball coach settle suit with student
EAST ST. LOUIS – Mascoutah school district and volleyball coach Todd Gober settled with former student Brooke Junker on her claim that she was demoralized and degraded by a volleyball coach.
IL Supreme Court allows remote hearings to comply with SAFE-T Act until March 2024
SPRINGFIELD – Although legislators require hearings in person for suspects seeking release without bail in accordance with the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity Act (SAFE-T Act), Supreme Court Justices will allow remote hearings for the first six months.
Suit alleges money lender takes advantage of Indian tribe, offers rates up to 700%
EAST ST. LOUIS – Online lender Stanley Chao of Orlando collects illegal interest under a false cover of tribal immunity, Katherine Schnefke of Edwardsville alleges at U. S. district court.
McGlynn grants AG Raoul's request for a new judge in challenge to firearm liability law
EAST ST. LOUIS – U. S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn decided not to preside over a challenge to an Illinois law imposing civil liability on gun makers and sellers for crimes that gun owners commit.
Banowetz appears in court as hearing is set in dispute over bid to withdraw guilty plea
EDWARDSVILLE - Circuit Judge Kyle Napp set a hearing for Nov. 8 on State's Attorney Tom Haine's motion to dismiss convicted killer Timothy Banowetz's bid to withdraw his guilty plea for the murder of Edwardsville asbestos attorney Randy Gori in 2020.
McGlynn to hear arguments on gun ban 'vagueness' claim
EAST ST. LOUIS – While U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn awaits a Seventh Circuit decision on his injunction against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s weapon ban law, he tackles a claim that owners won’t know how to comply due to vagueness.
Belleville attorney Jason Caraway suspended for allegedly keeping $770K of clients' money
BELLEVILLE – Injury lawyer Jason Caraway kept about $770,000 that belonged to clients, according to Illinois attorney registration and disciplinary commissioners.
Trucking company denies liability in fatal crash with Greyhound bus at Silver Lake rest area
BENTON – Lack of parking space for trucks in Illinois contributed to a wreck that killed three people at Silver Lake rest area on Interstate 70, Robert Branum Trucking of Texas argues in U.S. district court.
Hulme, Dorman file new suit against Madison County and several officials
EDWARDSVILLE – Doug Hulme and Rob Dorman, who worked for Madison County County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler until the county board fired them in 2020, have filed a new lawsuit against the county and several individuals for damages in Madison County Circuit Court.
Summary judgment granted in pool injury suit against Edwardsville attorney's estate
EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County Associate Judge Ronald Foster granted summary judgment to the estate of late lawyer Randy Gori against an injury claim filed by plaintiff Sara Staack on Aug. 17.
Dugan dismisses shaving cream ingredient suit, cites attorney's 'wrecking ball' reputation
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge David Dugan dismissed a suit alleging misrepresented "pure" ingredients in shaving cream against Procter & Gamble on Aug. 17, and he issued a warning to lawyer Spencer Sheehan by citing a judge who called Sheehan a "wrecking ball."
Jumper grants hardship motion, releases luxury SUV seized due to driver's suspended license
EDWARDSVILLE – Five days after Alton police seized a luxurious BMW X7 from a driver with two felonies pending, Madison County Associate Judge Ryan Jumper transferred the title to a woman at the same address and released the vehicle to her after she filed a motion alleging hardship.
Raoul requests new judge in Constitutional challenge to firearm liability law
EAST ST. LOUIS – Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul doesn’t want U. S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn to preside over a constitutional challenge to Gov. Pritzker’s Firearm Industry Responsibility Act.
Class action alleges Face App violates BIPA
EAST ST. LOUIS – Edwardsville lawyer Jeff Cooper of Flint Cooper joined Belleville lawyers James Radcliffe, Christopher Cueto and Lloyd M. Cueto in filing a biometric privacy suit against Face App at U. S. district court on Aug. 8.
Party goers dispute over liability in injury suit against Randy Gori's estate
EDWARDSVILLE – A guest at the Edwardsville home of late asbestos lawyer Randy Gori - whom he never met - had a dispute over his liability for injuries she suffered in his pool, according to testimony of plaintiff Sara Staack and nearest witness Tatiana Del Valle.
Former Fayetteville treasurer alleges retaliation after reporting suspicious purchases by village officials
EAST ST. LOUIS – Former Fayetteville Treasurer Georgia Huelsman claims Village President Brian Funk fired her for reporting corruption that included suspicious purchases of ammunition, riot gear, and shotguns.
Fifth District affirms dismissal of suit seeking to disrupt Hightower's Sunnybrook housing in Alton
MOUNT VERNON – Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Aug. 10 that a suit against Ed Hightower’s plan to build 40 affordable homes in Alton copied a suit the city lost in 2019.