Steve Korris News
Students who put up with remote learning can't claim breach of contract, McKendree argues
BENTON - McKendree University of Lebanon argues that because Kelsey Delisle and Riley Ponce put up with virtual instruction in 2020 they can’t claim the school breached their contracts.
Truck injury trial canceled days ahead of start over marital conflict of interest
EAST ST. LOUIS - Marital conflict created a conflict of interest in court and caused cancellation of a trial Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel would have started on June 24.
Granite City landlord claims he was punished by city for opposing eviction ordinance
EAST ST. LOUIS - Landlord Kevin Link claims Granite City charged him with ordinance violations in 2019 as punishment for opposing an ordinance that compelled eviction of renters that police connected to criminals.
Church: Theological controversies should not be decided by courts
EAST ST. LOUIS - Roxana Church of the Nazarene claims U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn lacks jurisdiction over a claim that it violated its bylaws when it terminated membership of Wood River resident William Ray Rogers.
Grandmother dismisses gaming addiction suit ahead of sanctions hearing
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cynthia Jiminez of Marion County escaped possible penalties for suing video game developer Epic Games without evidence by dismissing the suit.
When is a suspect too dangerous to release? Answers may come from two appeals
SPRINGFIELD - Supreme Court Justices picked two cases to guide local and appellate judges in deciding when to declare a suspect too dangerous to release.
Maune Raichle lawyers can't appeal $402K contempt order until Bestwall bankruptcy case closes
CHARLOTTE - Lawyers at Maune Raichle in St. Louis could lose licenses and face malpractice suits over contempt and sanction orders at bankruptcy court in North Carolina, according to appellate judge Robert King of the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia.
Man sues church claiming wrongful expulsion; Case goes to federal court as First Amendment question
EAST ST. LOUIS - William Rogers of Wood River seeks a court order preserving his membership in Roxana Church of the Nazarene.
State's weapon ban expert - 'rain making trauma surgeon' - on administrative leave
Surgery professor Martin Schreiber filled 100 pages with his credentials as Gov. Pritzker’s expert on assault weapons but didn’t mention that Oregon Health and Science University placed him on administrative leave.
Pig weaners' defense: Gender transitioning claimant's suit 'literally gasping for factual air'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Sis-Bro pig weaning business of New Athens moved on May 28 to dismiss a suit of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging hostility and constructive discharge against a worker in gender transition.
No MDL for teen video addiction lawsuits, judicial panel decides
WASHINGTON - Judges with authority to assign a single judge for suits from many districts denied a petition to consolidate 15 claims that video games cause addiction.
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.