News from August 2007
Judge Lopinot punts Cueto defamation suit
St. Clair County Associate Judge Vincent Lopinot recused himself Thursday, Aug. 30, from a defamation /false light suit that disbarred attorney Amiel Cueto filed against the Madison County Record.
Orbitz attorney wants to depose Fairview Heights officials and citizens
Richard Burke Orbitz travel company couldn't give U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Wilkerson good reasons to depose a dozen Fairview Heights citizens, and class action attorney Richard Burke couldn't give Wilkerson good reasons not to depose them.
Honeymoon interrupted: Freed may be deposed over phone
Nothing yet has hooked up the Lakin Law Firm with Chicago attorney Eric Freed for a deposition about class actions they filed together, but satellites might do the trick.
Petrovich case back in federal court after residency dispute
Dr. John Petrovich removed a medical malpractice case filed against him to federal court for the second time alleging the plaintiff filed a fraudulent affidavit to get the case remanded the first time it was removed.
Class action alleges BCBS kept premiums of 'ineligibles'
An Alhambra man filed a class action suit against Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Illinois alleging the insurer violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act in connection with the sale and issuance of health insurance policies.
No second serving in Pizza Hut door injury suit, Byron rules
Madison County Circuit Judge Nicholas Byron has put an end to Amanda Verett and Tom Maag's efforts to collect a default judgment entered against a Troy police officer in the Pizza Hut door injury case.
Knee injuries claimed by railroad worker
A 31-year veteran employee at Norfolk Southern Railway filed suit in Madison County Circuit Court Aug. 24, alleging the railroad negligently and carelessly failed to provide him a safe place to work despite the fact that repetitive trauma injuries were completely foreseeable.
Sticky Wal-Mart floor leads to woman's head injury, suit claims
A Bethalto woman who slipped and fell on a sticky substance at the Wood River Wal-Mart on May 11, 2006, filed a $50,000 personal injury suit in Madison County Circuit Court.
Freed & Weiss sprouting new class actions with Lakin seeds, attorney argues
Chicago attorneys Eric Freed and Paul Weiss have started filing class actions in competition with their former teammates at the Lakin Law Firm.
Alton School District sued for uneven walking surface
A woman who fractured her right leg and knee at Lovejoy Elementary School in Alton filed a personal injury suit alleging Alton School District #11 failed to provide a good, safe and proper place for her to walk at the school.
Lakin's discovery request denied by Gilbert
United States District Judge J. Phil Gilbert on Tuesday denied Tom Lakin's motion for additional discovery.
Wexstten welcomes Cates to the 5th Appellate race
Jim Wexstten Appellate Justice James Wexstten pledged to highlight judicial credentials as he welcomed rival Democratic candidate Judy Cates to the race for the Fifth District Appellate Court.
Painter seeks $490k for not being rehired
Vern's Painting, Inc. of Belleville is being sued by a former employee seeking $490,000 for not being rehired after settlement of a workers' compensation claim.
Ice cream tub injures shopper's foot, suit seeks $100k in damages
Shop N Save customer Denise Walton is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages for injuries sustained when a four-gallon tub of ice cream fell out of a freezer door and landed on her left foot.
FELA complaint filed against Norfolk Southern
Randy Miller filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act suit against Norfolk Southern Railway in Madison County Circuit Court Aug. 15, alleging his employer failed to provide him a safe place to work.
Laborer files asbestos claim in Madison County
Robert Cooper of Pennsylvania filed an asbestos suit against 49 defendant corporations alleging he was exposed to asbestos while working from 1942 to 1981 as a coal miner, gunner, assembly line worker and mechanic at various locations in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Alberto Gonzales announces resignation
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced his resignation Monday, Aug. 27, ending a controversial cabinet tenure that included clashes with Congress over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and over the use of warrantless wiretaps in the war on terror.
Three strikes..
In his quest to pocket $1.8 billion in legal fees, Belleville lawyer Stephen Tillery suffered another setback last week.