News from 2006
Judge preserves sexual assault case
Madison County Associate Circuit Judge Ralph Mendelsohn ordered the Madison County Circuit Clerk's office to preserve an expunged sexual assault civil case while a daily newspaper fights a legal battle to gain access to the sealed court file.
Madison County jury stingy on personal injury award
She wanted more than $50,000, was offered $15,000, but ended up with only $750.
Amiel Cueto seeks $45 million in punitive damages for busted ESL land deal
Disbarred Belleville lawyer Amiel Cueto is suing his business partners for not making good on a $5 million promise.
Daughter sues VIP Manor for mother's death
VIP Manor Alinda Rust filed a wrongful death suit against VIP Manor, claiming the Wood River nursing home failed to provide adequate care for her mother who died there in September 2004.
New Lawsuits: Monday, May 8
Fresh from the courthouse:
May 8-12
Abbott Labs
Friday, May 12
9 a.m.
Thursday, May 11
9 a.m.
Monday, May 8
9 a.m.
Callis' charge
The cynics among us would caution against taking tough talk by new Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis too seriously.
First salvos?
To the editor:
Newspaper files emergency order to preserve expunged sexual assault case
The Belleville News-Democrat filed an emergency motion seeking an order to preserve a sexual assault case dismissed last week in Madison County Circuit Court.
Civil sexual complaint mired in secrecy
If the identities of parties involved in a sexual assault lawsuit filed April 21 in Madison County Circuit Court were known, "heads would spin," remarked an officer of the court bound by ethics from revealing anything more.
Supreme Court refuses to rehear Price v. Philip Morris
Justice Charles Freeman The Illinois Supreme Court announced today that it has refused to rehear Price v. Philip Morris, the $10.1 billion Madison County verdict it overturned in December.
Justices Charles Freeman and Thomas Kilbride dissented.
Schnuck's employee sues customer for running over him in parking lot
A Schnuck's employee filed a personal injury suit against Gregory Millsap of Alton, claiming that Millsap backed his 2000 Mazda into him while he was sweeping the parking lot at the Godfrey Schnuck's store on May 9, 2004.
New Lawsuits: Thursday, May 4
James Carroll v. Gregory Millsap
Motion to dismiss bankruptcy withdrawn by Peel
Gary Peel EAST ST. LOUIS – Bankruptcy trustee Carla Randolph and Deborah J. Peel, former wife of attorney Gary Peel, sealed their partnership at the U.S. courthouse May 1.
Just ask Gonzo: U-Haul case picked up by Thomas Maag
Reader: Last year you wrote about a man who was driving a U-haul truck from Florida to Illinois and was involved in an accident. He claimed that several components of the truck were defective.
Definition of 'until' gets defendant off class action hook
Founding father Thomas Lakin Once upon a time a Lakin Law Firm attorney could stroll into the Madison County courthouse with a shadowy client or a 156-year-old word trick, and magically come out on top.
Team Lakin could lose another class on summary judgment
Days after a Lakin Law Firm class action lawsuit remarkably bit the dust in Madison County Circuit Judge Nicholas Byron's court, another "manufactured" case aimed at the lending industry was targeted for the skids.