News from 2007
Defendants get a break in 2007: Whose 'judicial hellhole' is it anyway?
Circuit Judge Dan Stack Madison County may no longer be a "judicial hellhole" for civil litigation defendants. But ask a trial lawyer to gauge the climate and you may get a different answer.
Ex-ESL employee sues for wrongful termination
Former East St. Louis employee Phyllis Robinson claims she was terminated from her position as a housing health inspector for the Community Development Department in retaliation for refusing to sign a nominating petition for an individual running for political office.
Trackman files FELA complaint against ICR
Charles L. Scholes, a trackman for Illinois Central Railroad, filed a Federal Employers Liability Act suit claiming he was injured from being subjected to numerous repetitive traumas and walking on unstable ballast.
Steps removed outside portable building caused custodian's injuries, suit says
A custodian at Columbia Middle School is suing S.M. Wilson & Co., a construction company, for injuries he sustained as he exited a portable building.
Stage collapse on worker's foot prompts suit
A man who suffered an ankle injury while setting up a stage at Pop's Bar in East St. Louis is suing a production company and promotions company for damages in excess of $150,000.
Mack truck driver sues Alero driver in I-64 accident
A driver of a Mack tractor trailer is suing the driver of an Oldsmobile Alero for driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 64 and causing a collision.
Pizza Hut plaintiff 'dramedy' attracts most readers in '07
The following were the most well-read reports on the Record's website (www.madisonrecord.com or stclairrecord.com) in 2007:
2007 Persons of the Year
In the Record's annual tribute to people who make a significant impact on fairness in the Third Circuit, this year we select a host of individuals. The Record salutes the good citizens of Madison County who have dutifully given their time, attention and commitment to jury service.
Climbing out
Leadership counts.
It's a Wonderful County!
"One case, one judge, one lawyer, and we go from an unknown Illinois county to the poster child for Tort Reform overnight. Every single argument in Springfield or D.C. ends up railing about the mess in Madison County."
Lawyer hangs out laundry in Freed & Weiss matter
In case anyone didn't believe Brad Lakin when he alleged that state regulators are investigating his former class action teammate Paul Weiss of Chicago, Lakin now produces documentary evidence.
Injury 'could have' happened in Madison County, Maag argues in appeal
MOUNT VERNON - Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack erred in sending a Tennessee trucker with a Tennessee injury to a Tennessee court, according to Thomas Maag, because the injury could have happened in Madison County.
Tillery free to light up class action against RJ Reynolds
Tillery MOUNT VERNON – Now that the Illinois Supreme Court has laid to rest Stephen Tillery's $10 billion class action against cigarette maker Philip Morris, Tillery can thaw out a similar suit against cigarette maker RJ Reynolds and start all over again.
Man with cut fingers claims saw's manufacturers to blame
A Godfrey man who was injured while using a radial arm saw filed suit against Sears and Emerson Tool Co. alleging the defendants failed to warn of the saw's dangers.
Patient claims CT tech slammed hand on machine
A woman allegedly injured during a CT scan at Alton Memorial Hospital filed a personal injury suit against the hospital in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 18, alleging she has sustained damages in excess of $50,000.
Internal bleeding not stopped following hysterectomy, suit claims
A gynecologist with Southern Obstetrics and Gynecological Associates is being sued by a patient who claims the doctor "closed" before locating the source of bleeding after a hysterectomy.
Personal injury lawsuit in Madison County settles
A man who was accused of killing a motorcycle passenger settled a wrongful death suit for $125,000, just 17 days after the case was filed against him.
Powell's conviction upheld by federal appeals court
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago affirmed the convictions of Charlie Powell, Jesse Lewis, Sheila Thomas and Kelvin Ellis for paying voters and conspiring to pay voters in East St. Louis in the 2004 federal election.
Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital and physicians named in wrongful death suit
Frederick Glenn is seeking in excess of $600,000 from Jaafar Bermani, M.D., Mohammad Hashemi, M.D. and Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, claiming they failed to diagnose and treat his wife Sonya Sanchez Glenn for her pulmonary embolism.
Madison County asbestos trial marks fifth defense verdict in a row
Randy Gori Without calling one single witness to testify in its defense during a rare Madison County asbestos trial, NL Industries was granted a defense verdict Dec. 14.