News from 2006
New Lawsuits: Friday, July 21
Fresh from the courthouse:
Wal-Mart customer sues for falling on substance
Delores Weston of Belleville is seeking in excess of $50,000 from Wal-Mart for injuries sustained in a slip and fall at the store's Belleville location in December.
It takes two to taint...
Kudos to Chief Judge Ann Callis for having the courage last week to finally put her most unbecoming colleague on ice.
Mad as Hell...
This week's column returns to form, with the 1976 classic "Network," as its theme. The winner of multiple Oscars, the film was nosed out for Best Picture by sentimental favorite, "Rocky."
Contingency plan
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier has asked straight shootin' Judge Lola Maddox if she wouldn't mind staying on for another two-year hitch, sources tell Dicta, just in case one of the three judges running for retention in the Third Circuit gets knocked off in the Nov. 7 general election.
St. Clair County Dems raise $156k in first half of year
The St. Clair County Democratic Central Committee raised $156,079 in the first half of 2006, according to records filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. And even though the committee spent more than that in six months, it ended a recent reporting period with $27,524.43 on hand.
Countrywide moves to dismiss from class action
Countrywide Home Loans, defending itself in a proposed Madison County class action suit that its former counsel helped to start, has filed a motion to throw out the suit.
Maddox rejects suggestion that Madison County is overwhelmed
Madison County Circuit Judge Lola Maddox has denied a motion to transfer a Jersey County man's proposed class action suit to Jersey County.
Rutherford unveils customer-friendly plan for Secretary of State office
Senator Dan Rutherford State Sen. Dan Rutherford unveiled a plan to transform the Illinois Secretary of State's office into a high-tech, customer-friendly operation during a tour of the Metro-East Thursday.
Med mal suit filed against Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital Walter May's estate filed a medical malpractice suit against Belleville Memorial Hospital and Ifath Bashiruddin, M.D. in St. Clair County Circuit Court July 14, alleging that Bashiruddin negligently failed to timely diagnose and treat a perforated bowel.
Judge rules Peel will get only one trial
Gary Peel U.S. District Judge William Stiehl ruled that former Lakin attorney Gary Peel will have only one trial.
NY trial lawyers welcome advertising restrictions
A trial lawyer organization in New York supports new restrictions on attorney advertising as a means of restoring dignity to the profession.
Illinois joins massive price-fixing suit against computer chip makers
CHARLESTON, West Va. – West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw and 33 other AGs -- including Illinois' Lisa Madigan -- have filed a lawsuit against the world's largest manufacturers of computer chips seeking monetary relief for consumers and state agencies that paid more for computers because of alleged price-fixing.
Casino workers sue under 'seaman' proviso
The "home of the loosest slots" was named in two separate Jones Act suits filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court on allegations that the riverboat gambling facility failed to provide two employees safe places to work.
Tavern sued by patron exiting at 2 a.m.
A woman who fell down while leaving a Belleville tavern at 2 a.m. filed a personal injury suit in St. Clair County Circuit Court July 10, seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
Dead defendant's attorney moves to dismiss client
Robert Mitchell of Chicago, who died with a Madison County lawsuit hanging over him in a case that had nothing to do with Madison County, still has the suit hanging over him.
Dead plaintiff should answer questions, class counsel argues
Jeffrey Millar For two-and-a-half years the Lakin Law Firm has carried on a Madison County class action lawsuit with a dead plaintiff.
ATLA votes in favor of name change
The Association of American Trial Lawyers of America voted today to change its name to the American Association for Justice.
Appellate Court rules St. Clair County not proper in Vioxx class action
Justice Spomer The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that St. Clair County Circuit Judge Michael O'Malley erred in denying a motion to transfer a Vioxx class action lawuit to Cook County.
Oregonian files asbestos suit in Madison County
An Oregon woman suffering from mesothelioma filed an asbestos suit against 63 defendants in Madison County Circuit Court July 18, alleging she was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers from family members' clothing.