News from March 2006
Patient sues ob/gyns for baby's death
A woman who claims that her obstetrician-gynecologist kept her on blood pressure medication during pregnancy filed a wrongful death and medical malpractice suit against two Maryville physicians in Madison County Circuit Court March 24.
New Lawsuits: Tuesday, March 28
Fresh from the courthouse:
Court reform attracts investors
Lt. Gov Peter Kinder ST. LOUIS – Court reforms helped automaker DaimlerChrysler choose to invest more than a billion dollars in Missouri, according to Lt. Gov Peter Kinder.
Lakin attorney calls Weber a liar during hearing
Joe Whyte Last week Madison County Circuit Judge Don Weber and Lakin Law Firm attorney Charles Chapman were seen breaking bread together at a popular Main Street watering hole in Edwardsville.
Illinois moves up in Harris Poll, but Madison County still has problems
In the land of lawsuit abuse, Illinois inched up one place from 46th to 45th place in the annual Harris State Liability Systems Ranking Study released Monday.
New Lawsuits: Monday, March 27
Fresh from the courthouse:
Reporter subpoenaed in judge substitution hearing
Lawyers from the Lakin Law Firm subpoenaed a Belleville News-Democrat reporter on short notice Monday to testify at a hearing on the alleged bias of Madison County Circuit Judge Don Weber.
New Lawsuits: Friday, March 24
Fresh from the courthouse:
Man sues Gold's Gym for slipping on basketball court
Corey Strother is suing Gold's Gym in O'Fallon for injuries he suffered after slipping on a wet basketball court.
CAFA keeps its promises
February 18, 2006, the first anniversary of the federal Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), came and went with barely a whimper around these parts.
Appreciating legal profession
To the editor:
March 27-31
Abbott Labs
MLK bridge crash suit filed in St. Clair County
A grim reminder of a fiery crash that claimed four lives and shut down the Martin Luther King Bridge on Nov. 12, 2004, showed up in St. Clair County Circuit Court on March 22.
Peel to answer charges April 13
Attorney Gary Peel will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Wilkerson at 1 p.m. on April 13 to answer a four-count indictment charging him with bankruptcy fraud, obstruction of justice and possession of child pornography.
Tuned out voters didn't turn out in primary
Republican Jim Oberweis hammered away at his primary rivals, aiming his strongest attacks at Judy Baar Topinka. Oberweis' downstate campaign was well-organized and vigorous. In Madison and St. Clair counties, he received 63 percent more votes than Topinka. Family dysfunction in the GOP and an unwelcome snow storm on the first day of spring contributed to an abysmally low voter turn-out in the primary election March 21.
Hildebrand suspended from law indefinitely
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended Thomas Hildebrand from the practice of law for repeated conflicts of interest and dishonesty.
Byron preserves class action, allows more time for tardy plaintiffs
Judge Byron Madison County Circuit Judge Nicholas Byron granted the Lakin Law Firm three extra weeks to preserve a class action against insurer GEICO, after the firm blamed its tardy response on the departure of Thomas Maag.
Peel indicted on bankruptcy fraud, obstruction of justice, child pornography charges
Gary Peel Attorney Gary E. Peel has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bankruptcy fraud, obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of child pornography.
Plaintiff doesn't show, Weber throws out case
Tracy Sanders of Chicago succeeded in switching from defendant to plaintiff in a Madison County highway crash case, but she failed to take advantage of the transition.
Assignment options running thin, chief judge steps in to hear case
Chief Judge Edward Ferguson will descend from the attic of the Madison County courthouse March 27, to hold the integrity of his court in his hands.