News from January 2010
Free speech for everyone, not just certain ones
"Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech," says the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Earn it, Learn it or Lose it: The Pursuit of Knowledge
Hopkins Come on out to the next session in your area. You might be entertained. You might be challenged. You might be confused. In any event, you will be the better for it. The students are of all ages, bright, dedicated and the discussions are lively. You might just learn something valuable for a lifetime.
Sweet sworn in as Madison County's newest associate judge
It was standing room only in courtroom 327 as friends, family and colleagues gathered to watch Wood River attorney Dean Sweet get sworn in as Madison County's newest associate judge.
Plummer for Lt. Gov.
To the Editor:
Local entrepreneur offers innovative product for process servers, attorneys
Kellerman and Brown One of the newest innovations in the process serving industry was developed by local entrepreneur Greg Kellerman of Glen Carbon.
Expert witness against H&R Block admits he bought 'peace of mind'
EAST ST. LOUIS – Class action expert Don Kovacic plans to swear that tax preparer H & R Block shouldn't sell peace of mind, but apparently his wife made him buy it.
Illinois Bell wants to keep unclaimed funds in class action settlement
Stack Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack is set to hear a defense motion asking him to modify an order that settled a seven-year old class action case for more than $21 million last November.
Lakin's 'reverse auction' theory rejected in NJ Sprint settlement; class to get about 44 cents
Lakin NEWARK, N.J. – Brad Lakin failed to prove that Paul Weiss and Richard Burke settled a class action against telephone company Sprint for less than Lakin would have obtained in Madison County, U.S. District Judge Jose Linares ruled.
Kubota tractor trial set to open Monday in Madison County
Broom A 2009 product liability suit involving a tractor's brake failure is set to go to trial Monday.
Campaign spending decision draws attention at State of the Union
President Obama WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama went out of his way to criticize the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday night, though some are writing that he was wrong in his argument.
Madison County Transit and bus driver named in suit by injured passengers
Two Madison County Transit bus passengers and a driver say they sustained injuries after the Madison County Transit bus driver rear-ended a vehicle.
Conference moved in Sears class action case
A January status conference in a St. Clair County class action brought over lawn mower horsepower marketing has been moved to March.
First mate stumbles on M/V Kate Maurine, suit claims
A barge crew worker has filed suit against his employer, alleging it failed to provide him with a safe workplace and caused him to trip over a wire and to fall.
Ceiling falls on woman watching TV, suit claims
A Madison County woman claims she sustained a fractured left arm after a ceiling in her apartment fell on her.
Man claims doctor performed unnecessary elective prostate surgery
A Wood River man has filed suit against Saint Anthony's Health Center and one of its doctors, alleging the doctor performed an unnecessary elective surgery on the man without warning him of its risks.
Motorcyclist sues truck driver over accident injuries
A man says he became disabled and disfigured after a truck driver struck his motorcycle.
Justice Kennedy: Law that banned 'Hillary' could have banned newspapers and books
Hillary Clinton WASHINGTON – Politicians who tried to discourage distribution of the movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," could have simply banned it under campaign finance laws the U.S. Supreme Court rejected on Jan. 21, according to Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Man sues Allstate claiming it failed to represent driver who struck him
A man has filed suit against an insurance company, claiming it failed to represent the driver who struck him in a lawsuit he filed against the driver.
Defendants file flurry of motions in Herr Funeral Home dispute
Funeral home owners fighting a battle over their firing of a former manager and his alleged misuse of the company credit cards have filed a series of motions in the 2009 St. Clair County suit.
Lawyers file appearances in wrongful death suit over skin peeling
A number of attorneys for the more than 17 defendants in a wrongful death suit have filed appearances and motions to dismiss allegations that a patient died from an allergic reaction that left her skin peeling off.