News from 2009
St. Clair County and employee sue driver over rear-end accident
A St. Clair County man and the county itself have filed suit against a driver they claim failed to stop at a stop sign.
No means no, dude
"NO OTHER DRIVER PERMITTED" is an all caps line on the first page of a four-page Enterprise Leasing car rental agreement.
Why Medical Malpractice Reform is Off Limits
(Editor's note: This commentary first appeared in the Wall Street Journal Sept. 29. It is reprinted with Mr. Howard's permission).
Courts seize too much power
To the editor:
Granite City fender bender trial set Oct. 5
Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth is set to open the trial of a 2004 accident suit Monday. The trial is set to open at 9 a.m.
Congressman's son would benefit from state funded shopping mall
SPRINGFIELD – Congress collects income taxes, and a Congressman's son will collect sales taxes if Illinois legislators stick with a plan for a 900 acre mall where Illinois Route 157 meets Interstate 270 in Glen Carbon.
Nursing home fall trial moved to Sept. 2010
Matoesian The trial of a suit against a nursing over a patient's allegedly fatal fall has been moved to September 2010.
Trial to open Monday in day care center emotional distress suit
A suit over the emotional distress allegedly suffered by a boy at a Granite City day care center is set to open Monday.
Tillery would add 66 new class members to atrazine suits
Tillery Stephen Tillery of St. Louis leads 40,000 small town residents into economic battle against makers of weed killer atrazine, and suspense builds as his army grows.
Retaliatory discharge suit over alleged assisted living home neglect report settles
A lawsuit over the alleged retaliatory discharge of an assisted living home worker over her reports of neglect that led to a resident's death in 2004 has settled.
Bathrobe manufacturer sued by woman who caught on fire
An Illinois woman has filed suit against the manufacturer of a robe she owned, alleging she was severely burned after the robe caught on fire as she passed near a burning candle.
Casino Queen sued by man who falls in hotel bathroom
A man has filed suit against the Casino Queen, alleging he fell in a walkway in a hotel bathroom.
Casino Queen sued by woman who falls in hotel bathroom
A woman has filed suit against the Casino Queen, alleging she fell in a walkway in a hotel bathroom.
Belleville rear-end accident is subject of suit
Three people have filed a lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle who they say rear-ended them, allegedly causing them severe injuries.
Another Sauget group claims hazardous substances caused health problems
One more group of Illinois residents who live in or near Sauget have filed a separate lawsuit over the release of various hazardous substances they claim have created a severe health risk and have contaminated their properties.
Pedestrian claims driver hit him while crossing street
A St. Clair County man has filed suit against the driver who he says hit him as he was attempting to cross the street.
Eckert's retirement could leave door open for Republican interim
Eckert St. Clair County Circuit Judge Annette Eckert's retirement announcement this week could potentially usher in a Republican interim judge in a county dominated by Democratic judges.
Restaurant negligence suit settles
The scheduled trial of a negligence suit against Wildfire Restaurant and the company that owns it is off. The suit settled in late August. The trial had been scheduled to open before Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack at 9 a.m. Monday.
Judge to decide whether Troy cop stands trial in Pizza Hut door case
Ruth Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth must decide whether Troy policeman Clarence Jackson should stand trial in civil court on a claim that he willfully and wantonly injured local lawyer Amanda Verett.
White House begins vetting U.S. Attorney candidates for Southern District of Illinois
Another step in the process to fill the vacant U.S. Attorney's seat in the Southern District of Illinois is under way, Sen. Richard Durbin's office said Thursday.