News from October 2004
New Filings, Madison County Circuit Court Law Division, September 24th-September 30th
Sharon Ebers as next friend of Delores Paige v. Eden Village Retirement Center
Class Action: Steven Faulkner v. American Express
Faulkner claims he was illegally charged by AMEX while shopping overseas.
Class Action: Laborers' Union International Local 40 v. Ameritech Corp dba SBC
The union claims SBC billed them for bogus charges.
Metro Kirby Company, United States of America v. Christopher Hines, Illinois Farmers Insurance
Circuit Judge George Moran will hear all pending motions Thursday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. in Metro Kirby Company v. The Hines Agency, a class action case that was filed in February 2002.
I-LAW blitzkrieg reminds voters of lawsuit abuses
In the final weeks before southern Illinois' watershed Supreme Court race, Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch (I-LAW) executive director Steve Schoeffel is reminding message-laden voters about the impact of lawsuit abuse.
Merck sued over Vioxx in Madison County Court
Asbestos attorney Mike Bilbrey seen here with his wife, Linda, also owns an exotic animal farm/bed and breakfast in Edwardsville. Mike Bilbrey, an experienced Madison County plaintiff's lawyer, filed a class action complaint against Merck Tuesday on behalf of his mother, Patricia Bilbrey of Madison County.
Stack transfers asbestos case, says "cash cow" docket is not a "business"
Judge Daniel J. Stack took over Madison County's giant asbestos docket on September 8, 2004. In his first forum ruling as chief of the nation's largest asbestos case docket, Judge Daniel J. Stack argued the "astronomical burden" of looming trials demanded he dismiss cases that were not connected directly to Madison County.
Work comp cases driving businesses out of Illinois
A panel of experts are coming together to discuss why jobs are leaving Illinois and what can be done about it.
More class action suits filed against Merck
When pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. removed its arthritis pain medication Vioxx from the market last week for safety reasons, it didn't take long for plaintiff attorneys and their clients to rapidly respond.
Can state lawmakers stop frivolous lawsuits?
Kevin Conway, president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association As Illinois courts face an increasing caseload burden, will state lawmakers follow federal government's attempts to crackdown on frivolous lawsuits by passing legislation to curtail such behavior?
Alerts Sign-up