News from 2006
Prisoner seeks $12 million for effects of second hand smoke
Serving a 100-year rape and robbery sentence, a prisoner at maximum security Menard Correctional Center in Chester is seeking in excess of $12.1 million from 11 prison employees claiming he is constantly subjected to high levels of tobacco smoke.
Asbestos Motion Dockets: Week of March 20
Monday, March 20
Fuzzy the dog is subject of $200k lawsuit
The parents of a child attacked by a dog named "Fuzzy," filed suit against the owner seeking more than $200,000 in damages.
Union Pacific loses appeal, can't block traffic more than 10 minutes
The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed St. Clair County Associate Judge Richard A. Aguirre's decision to grant a permanent injunction prohibiting Union Pacific from obstructing a grade crossing on Monsanto Avenue in Sauget for more than 10 minutes in accordance with the Illinois Vehicle Code.
Couple seeks $10 million from USA for skin cancer metastasis
A $10 million lawsuit filed against the United States of America claims doctors at a Veterans Administration clinic failed to properly treat a Fayette County man's skin cancer.
Cash is free speech
The U.S. Supreme Court didn't give its reasons for passing on a review of Avery, Southern Illinois' $1 billion verdict against State Farm rejected by our state's Supremes last summer, but we can fashion some pretty good ones of our own.
High court should have heard Karmeier case
To the editor:
Rasta man sues prison for restraining him while dreadlocks lopped
An inmate at the Menard Correctional Center filed a civil rights complaint in federal court against the Illinois Department of Corrections alleging he was forcefully restrained in order to have his dreadlocks cut off.
D-2: Cash flows in appellate court primary race
Stephen McGlynn The Metro-East judicial candidate with the most cash is also the only one running in a contested race.
Defense in comfortable posture as next asbestos trial approaches
Circuit Judge Dan Stack On the heels of another recent defense victory in Madison County's crowded asbestos docket, mesothelioma sufferer Ronald Thompson is set to take on giants Ford, General Motors and Midas.
In Madison County lawyers pronounce the verdict: Weber asks appellate court for ruling
Thomas Maag In a normal court, a judge pronounces a verdict and a lawyer loses. In the court of Madison County Circuit Judge Don Weber, a lawyer pronounced a verdict and the judge lost.
Friday, March 17
9 a.m.
GEICO plaintiffs fail to oppose Avery motion to decertify class
Jeffrey Millar Plaintiffs in a class action against insurer GEICO have not responded to a motion to decertify their class under the Avery decision of the Illinois Supreme Court, according to GEICO attorneys.
Tillery skirts substitution rules by amending and adding
Stephen Tillery Everybody in Illinois gets a free shot to remove a judge from a case without cause. Nobody gets two free shots – except attorney Stephen Tillery.
March 13-17
Abbott Labs
Silicosis diagnosing doctors take the 5th in congressional hearing
Joe Barton, R-Tx. After a medical expert and law professor tore apart the validity of national asbestos and silicosis litigation before a congressional committee Wednesday, doctors responsible for diagnosing nearly 10,000 disputed claims chose to remain silent.
Driver arrested in train accident sues railroad for not having gates
A Worden man filed a personal injury suit against Norfolk Southern Railway and one of its engineers claiming he suffered brain injuries when a freight train collided with his pick up truck last year.
Hildebrand's chances to obey court order running on
While attorney Thomas Hildebrand waits for the Illinois Supreme Court to decide his future in the practice of law, Madison County Circuit Judge Lola Maddox gets to decide if Hildebrand deserves six chances to obey a court order.