News from 2014
Class action filed against Home Depot over data breach
Two days after retailer Home Depot confirmed that its payment data systems were breached, a class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in East St. Louis.
Man ticketed by Fairview Heights police seeks $15 million claiming sex discrimination
A man alleging sex discrimination in a suit against the Fairview Heights Police Department is seeking more than $15 million in damages.
Bicyclist claims driver made improper left turn into him
A bicyclist has filed suit against the driver whom he alleges broke his collarbone when she made a left turn and struck his bike.
St. Clair County clerk accused of wiping out warrants
St. Clair County deputy circuit clerk Rowena Butenhoff faces three criminal felony counts after allegedly wiping out warrants for a driver who has amassed more than 100 traffic tickets over the last decade and a half.Robert Loeffler, apparent beneficiary of her action, has racked up 30 convictions since 1997, five of which were misdemeanor convictions.Associate Judge Brian Babka issued a warrant against
Accident at I-255 and I-64 merge subject of suit
A man has filed suit against the driver whom he alleges struck his vehicle while he yielded to traffic.Michael Hill alleges he was in the process of merging from Interstate Highway 255 onto eastbound Interstate Highway 64 when he yielded to oncoming traffic. At the same time, defendant Craig Cheatham, who was following Hill, collided with his vehicle, according to the complaint filed Aug. 26, in S
Columbia Quarry claims Petroff Trucking has failed to pay for IDOT work
BozarthA material provider has filed suit against the trucking company that it alleges failed to pay for services.Columbia Quarry Company of Dupo alleges it contracted with Petroff Trucking of Granite City in which it agreed to perform work for an IDOT job on Interstate Highways 55/70 in Illinois. Although Columbia Quarry Company performed all work expected of it, Petroff has failed to pay for it,
Former Olin Winchester worker alleges retaliatory discharge after filing work comp claim
RosenstengelA Bethalto woman is suing a former employer she alleges fired her for filing a workers' compensation claim. Kimberly J. Feeney filed the lawsuit against Olin Brass and Winchester Inc. of East Alton on Aug. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court. Feeney says she was working for Olin Winchester in May 2010, when she was involved in an on-the-job accident. According to the complaint, ammunition
McLean County woman sues DePuy, J&J in Madison County over hip replacement device
DrippsA McLean County woman is suing in Madison County over allegations she was implanted with a hip replacement product that doctors knew was defective.Carole Owen filed the lawsuit against DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. of Warsaw, Ind., DePuy International Limited, Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, N.J.; Dr. Thomas Schmalzried, Vail Consulting of San Francisco, and Dr. Thomas Park Vail on Aug. 21
Asbestos litigation exploded under Byron's watch; Docket designed to 'beat defendants into submission,' critic says
ByronMadison County’s asbestos docket has seen a number of judges on its road to becoming the epicenter for asbestos litigation in the U.S.The docket was first established in the mid-1980s with mass asbestos filings against local industries brought as a result of union-provided cancer screenings.Defense attorney Raymond Fournie of Armstrong Teasdale estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 cases were
Madison County circuit court served as class action mecca until CAFA; President Bush called for reform in Collinsville
ByronMany local lawyers and judges reject a "Judicial Hellhole" designation that the American Tort Reform Association first branded on Madison County in 2003.Whether the label is fair or not depends on who you ask. But how was it derived?When the Record first began publishing in September 2004, class action lawyers at the Madison County courthouse were developing consumer actions out of a wide range