Steve Korris News
Wrongful tree cutting suit settles in U.S. District Court
BENTON - Nathan Marlen of Freeburg and Doug Blankenship of Greenville settled a claim that they trespassed on property of Missouri resident Joseph Lucas, changed his drainage, and cut down his trees.
Sierra Club's suit against coal burner Prairie State Generating can proceed, judge rules
BENTON - Sierra Club can pursue a claim that Prairie State Generating’s coal burning plant near Marissa must shut down, U.S. Magistrate Judge Reona Daly ruled on Aug. 9.
St. Clair County claims immunity in tax sale case alleging 'theft'
EAST ST. LOUIS - St. Clair County treasurer Andrew Lopinot asserts immunity against a claim that the county commits theft when it issues deeds to investors who pay delinquent taxes.
Appellate court reverses ICC's windmill power line approval for Grain Belt Express
MOUNT VERNON - Illinois commerce commissioners approved 207 miles of windmill power line for Grain Belt Express with no plan beyond a promise of high demand and a hint of bailout, according to an Aug. 8 decision of Fifth District appellate judges.
Attorney Cates must defend $10 million fraud claim brought by former partner Mahoney
SPRINGFIELD - David Cates of Swansea must defend a $10 million fraud claim of former partner Ryan Mahoney in Madison County circuit court rather than arbitration, Fourth District appellate judges ruled on Aug. 6.
Collinsville HS teacher apologizes for securing OP against innocent stranger in wake of her 'F' Trump remark
COLLINSVILLE – Following the failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, a Collinsville High School teacher posted on Facebook: “Fuck Trump. I’m sorry they missed.”
Trucking company says it never hired driver claiming wrongful termination
BENTON - St. Clair County resident Brian Nance claims CRST trucking company of Iowa wrongfully terminated him and CRST claims he never worked for them.
Counter-suit plaintiffs in fatal Route 4 crash point to 'loud talking' driver
EAST ST. LOUIS - Separate plaintiffs in two suits against the same truckers over a crash on Illinois Route 4 should have sued the man behind the wheel, according to the truckers.
Texas judge quashes Paraquat plaintiffs' subpoenas as Rosenstengel continues docket cleanup
HOUSTON - U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison quashed subpoenas that Paraquat plaintiffs served on Texas state agencies in search of evidence for a theory their lawyers failed for three years to support.
Kolker leading fundraising as circuit judges seek retention in November
BELLEVILLE - St. Clair County Circuit Judge Christopher Kolker raised $114,630 for his retention campaign in the first half of this year, mostly from lawyers.
Student lied about address, OTHS says in defense of bullying lawsuit
EAST ST. LOUIS - O’Fallon Township High School plans to plead that it couldn’t have harmed Zariah Anthony because she lied about her address.
East St. Louis responds to $825K default judgment: 'No valid service'
BENTON - East St. Louis and its police objected to a recommendation for an $825,035.97 default judgment in favor of Dorian Hendricks of Belleville on July 26, claiming they didn’t know he sued them.
Bad faith sanction order may be brewing for lawyer Sheehan in 'Arnold Palmer Lite' case
EAST ST. LOUIS - Law clerks write orders for U.S. District Judge David Dugan but he will make an exception for a motion to impose a $155,810.45 sanction on Spencer Sheehan of Great Neck, New York.
Belleville lawyer sues Amtrak in federal court for collision information
BENTON - Belleville lawyer Nathaniel O. Brown sued Amtrak at U. S. district court on July 23 to obtain information about collisions.
Judge recommends $825K default judgment against East St. Louis in excessive force case
BENTON - U.S. Magistrate Judge Reona Daly recommended default judgment of $825,035.97 on a claim that East St. Louis police used excessive force on Dorian Hendricks of Belleville.
McGlynn preparing for September trial on state gun ban; Neither side will call historians to testify
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn, preparing for a September trial on the state’s weapon ban, finds his parties have planned a hybrid event of paper and people.
In moving to dismiss asbestos fraud suit, Simmons calls it retaliation for $22 million verdict
CHICAGO - Attorney John Simmons of Alton alleges at U.S. district court that J-M Manufacturing of Los Angeles sued his firm in retaliation for winning a $22.2 million verdict.
Rosenstengel to decide $135 million stillborn lawsuit against Alton Memorial
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel gets to decide whether the estate of a stillborn baby can recover damages.
Washington Park strip club settles wage class action
BENTON - Scarlett’s Cabaret in Washington Park and its exotic dancers settled a class action complaint alleging violation of state wage laws and national labor law.
Bestwall subpoenas 21 plaintiff firms in asbestos bankruptcy challenging exposure
CHARLOTTE - Bestwall, the company Georgia Pacific created to resolve its asbestos liability, served subpoenas for documents of 21 law firms on July 2 including the Gori firm, Flint Cooper, and Goldenberg Heller of Edwardsville.