Steve Korris News
First trial over claims that Enfamil formula caused infant's death is underway in St. Clair County
BELLEVILLE - Pressure will build for weeks at the St. Clair County courthouse in the nation’s first trial on a claim that Mead Johnson’s Enfamil formula caused an infant’s death, but the first day of jury selection brought smiles and connected the community.
Mistrial declared after jury reaches impasse in former SIU-C professor's discrimination suit
EAST ST. LOUIS - One juror among eight prevented a verdict at a discrimination trial of former Associate Professor Tawanda Greer-Medley against Southern Illinois University.
Seventh Circuit affirms Dugan in Ancestry.com arbitration dispute
CHICAGO - Users of Ancestry.com agree to arbitrate disputes, but if they test their children then the children don’t lose the right to sue, U.S. Seventh Circuit appellate judges ruled on Feb. 15.
Dupo woman opposes arbitration in wrongful termination dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS - Amanda Aucutt of Dupo, who sued former employer Capstone Restaurant Group, claims she never saw or signed an agreement to arbitrate such a dispute.
Suit alleges man was crushed by machinery while performing maintenance
EAST ST. LOUIS - Lisa Mattern of Albers seeks damages from the manufacturer of a foundry machine that crushed husband Mark Mattern at Century Brass Works in Swansea in 2022.
Rosenstengel grants default judgment in suit over broadcast of boxing match
EAST ST. LOUIS - Khalilah Liddell owes $14,445.15 to Joe Hand Promotions for showing a boxing match at Teddy’s bar in Cahokia Heights without a license, Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled on Feb. 13.
Suit: Florida lender chartered under Wisconsin tribal law charges 712% interest and isn't tribe member
EAST ST. LOUIS - Katherine Schnefke of Edwardsville, who last year settled a claim that online lender First Loan charged 777% interest, filed another claim last week that online lender Avail Blue charged 712%.
Another paraquat plaintiff selected for deposition dismisses claims
EAST ST. LOUIS - Another plaintiff in national litigation of claims that weed killer paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease closed a case rather than testify about it.
Rosenstengel partially denies summary judgment in Chester Mental Health employee's suit alleging failure to accommodate disabilities
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chester Mental Health Center admissions and discharge coordinator Angela Kongeal deserves trial on claims that her employers didn’t accommodate her disabilities, Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled on Feb. 12.
Route 13 Diner cook granted default judgment in overtime pay dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS - Route 13 Diner owner Jimmy Johnson owes more than $3,000 to former cook Dorrine Douglas and more than $7,000 to her lawyer Nathan Volheim of Lombard, U.S. District Judge David Dugan ruled on Feb. 6.
Illinois Supreme Court grants petition for outside judge in Hulme, Dorman suits
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Supreme Court gave former Madison County Administrator Doug Hulme and former Technology Director Rob Dorman an outside judge for a day to decide if they require an outside judge for good.
More than one third of plaintiffs selected for depositions on paraquat claims have dismissed their cases
EAST ST. LOUIS - Nine of 25 plaintiffs that Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel selected to test the substance of claims that weed killer paraquat caused Parkinson’s disease dismissed their claims in two weeks.
Cates, Mahoney to appeal arbitration ruling in $10 million settlement fee dispute
EDWARDSVILLE - Ryan Mahoney and David Cates, former partners in a $10 million dispute over fees from settlements, both plan to appeal an order of Circuit Judge Sarah Smith awarding each of them a partial victory on arbitration.
McGlynn moves forward with gun ban litigation, says he won't wait for gov to figure out what they actually passed
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn told Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wells he won’t wait for the state to explain the choices legislators made in the weapon ban they passed last year.
EPA report: No risk of Parkinson's disease from weed killer paraquat
WASHINGTON - Benefits of weed killer paraquat easily outweigh risks, according to regulators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A report they issued on Jan. 30 assigned no weight at all to a risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Fifth District reverses Jumper on pretrial release of man charged with illegally possessing firearm
MOUNT VERNON - Madison County Associate Judge Ryan Jumper abused his discretion when he ordered release of criminal defendant Demontez Spruill, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Feb. 2.
East St. Louis consolidated into 13 precincts, resulting in competition among incumbents
EAST ST. LOUIS - Consolidation of precincts resulted in ten incumbent Democratic precinct committee members running against incumbents.
Cates sues Express Scripts, Optum Rx over opioid crisis on behalf of St. Clair County
EAST ST. LOUIS - David Cates of Swansea, as special counsel to St. Clair County, claims pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Optum Rx negligently disseminated massive quantities of prescription opioids into the county.
Anderson Hospital seeks Madison County jurisdiction in class action alleging medical information shared with Facebook
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel must decide whether a class action claim that Anderson Hospital shared private information with Facebook belongs in her court or Madison County.
Graphic Packaging requests approval of nearly $1 million BIPA settlement
EAST ST. LOUIS - Graphic Packaging of Atlanta will pay about $1,000 each to 600 persons who worked at its Centralia plant from 2016 to 2021 to settle a biometric privacy invasion claim, if U.S. District Judge David Dugan approves.