Steve Korris News
Illinois Supreme Court sides with prosecutors in St. Clair Co. murder case
SPRINGFIELD - Supreme Court Justices ruled on June 6 that St. Clair County murder defendant Trenton Jefferson, facing a third trial on an indictment from 2011, can’t claim jurors at his second trial decided he didn’t fire the fatal shot.
Aldi real estate director pleads guilty to taking kickbacks, awaits sentencing in October
EAST ST. LOUIS - Former Aldi real estate director Louis Ross, who on May 29 pleaded guilty of taking kickbacks in a fraud scheme against his employers, sued them after they fired him for that conduct in 2018.
Pediatrician accused of exchanging RX for sex sued by mother over daughter's death
EAST ST. LOUIS - Fifteen days after grand jurors in St. Louis found pediatrician Craig Spiegel exchanged prescriptions for sex and photographs, Bonnie Lilly of St. Clair County filed suit claiming he caused the death of her daughter Nicole Laux.
Paraquat plaintiffs facing more headwinds; Attorneys seek review of expert's exclusion
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel should dismiss 137 paraquat plaintiffs who sued Syngenta and Chevron but didn’t return questionnaires, special master Randi Ellis reported on May 30.
Environmental actions brought by private parties must first go through Pollution Control, Supreme Court rules
SPRINGFIELD - Supreme Court Justices reversed Fifth District appellate judges who found Tri-Plex Technical Services of Freeburg could rely on environmental law to pursue a fraud claim against its competitors.
Belleville attorney disbarred over theft of $375K in client funds
SPRINGFIELD - Supreme Court Justices disbarred Jason Caraway of Belleville on May 23, finding he dishonestly appropriated more than $375,000 from clients.
St. Clair County litigation targets removing suits to federal court at rapid pace
EAST ST. LOUIS - In 12 days defendants removed eight civil suits from St. Clair County circuit court to U.S. district court.
McGlynn sets trial date over state weapon ban in September
EAST ST. LOUIS - Illinois leaders and citizens suing to block the state’s weapon ban agreed to set their trial for the week of Sept. 16 to 20.
Grandfather of mixed-race family voluntarily dismisses suit alleging retaliation for reporting racist comments
BENTON - Gregory Clark, a white grandfather of black grandchildren, dismissed a suit claiming American Legion Post 365 in Collinsville fired him for reporting racist comments.
Devon Archer to get new hearing on prison sentence for fraud, conspiracy
NEW YORK CITY - U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who sentenced Hunter Biden’s former partner Devon Archer for a year when guidelines ranged from 81 to 135 months, plans to further soften his punishment.
Nearly 750 Paraquat cases tossed after S. IL federal judge demands end to far fetched, implausible exposure claims
A year ago, U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel, chief judge of the Southern District of Illinois, ordered plaintiffs to dispense with questionable claims that weed killer paraquat caused plaintiffs' illness. Since then, 746 cases have been dismissed or withdrawn.
Gilbert rejects St. Clair County's motion to reconsider its request to dismiss emergency dispatcher wage dispute
BENTON - Senior U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert denied a motion to reconsider an order in favor of St. Clair County emergency dispatchers, comparing it to a magic trick.
St. Clair County voluntarily dismisses opioid suit against Express Scripts, OptumRx and United Health Care
EAST ST. LOUIS - St. Clair County voluntarily dismissed a claim that pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts, Optum Rx and United Health Care addicted its population to opioids and should bear the extra costs incurred by the local government.
Grandmother denies fabricating claim that minor became addicted to video games
EAST ST. LOUIS - Three lawyers for a Marion County grandmother who claims video games addicted her grandchild denied misconduct and one of them withdrew nine days later.
Sison compels arbitration in a former restaurant manager's wrongful termination suit
EAST ST. LOUIS - Former restaurant manager Amanda Aucutt of Dupo must abide by an arbitration agreement that she declared she didn’t remember signing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gilbert Sison ruled on May 1.
McGlynn grants dismissal of suit alleging Ciox violated False Claims Act with Social Security claims
EAST ST. LOUIS - Belleville disability lawyer Brent Gaines failed to convince U.S. Attorney Rachelle Crowe to pursue his claim that medical record manager Ciox charged Social Security $20 for records it should have provided free of charge.
Insurer argues it has no duty to defend attorney in Florida lawsuit over alleged fraudulent legal services
BENTON - General Star Insurance claims it doesn’t have to defend lawyer Andrew Rohne of Marion in a Florida lawsuit because Illinois prohibits coverage for illegal acts.
Seventh Circuit: Rudolf didn't bind federal courts to $2 million judgment against insurer; Suit alleges improper cleaning caused patient's infection
CHICAGO - St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf did not bind federal courts when he entered judgment for $2,080,585.95 against an insurer nobody sued, Seventh Circuit appellate judges ruled on April 24.
Farmer challenges Dept of Agriculture law prohibiting the use of 'wetlands,' claims Congress exceeds its power to regulate interstate commerce
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Farmer Jim Conlan seeks permission from a federal judge to plant crops on nine acres he owns but can’t use because the government claims it as wetlands.
Rosenstengel tosses cases set for trial in Paraquat litigation, excludes plaintiffs' primary expert witness
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel excluded epidemiologist Martin Wells from a witness stand where he alone would have testified that weed killer paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.