News from July 2015
Madison County real estate June 25-July 1
June 25, 2015 Alhambra •$124,900- 313 College St. - Scott and Sherry R. McKinley to Michael S. Goedecke
St. Clair County real estate June 22-30
June 22, 2015 Belleville •$100,000- 2000 W. A St.
St. Clair County foreclosures June 29-July 9
June 29, 2015 JPMorgan Chase Bank v. Anthony R. and Janet Houston
AG Madigan seeks direct appeal of state payroll decisions at Illinois Supreme Court
SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to put her in charge of the comptroller. Madigan continues to represent comptroller Leslie Munger without Munger’s consent, seeking orders Munger would rather not follow. On Monday, Madigan filed a motion for direct appeals of court orders on payment of state employees. “As the officer tasked by the Illinois Constitution with processing payments of public funds, the comptroller needs this court’s guidance,” deput
Motorist alleges red-light run caused collision
A motorist is suing a Belleville driver, alleging injuries sustained in a St. Clair County automobile accident.
Motorist seeks damages in collision that killed other driver
A St. Clair County motorist is suing a vehicle owner in an automobile accident that killed the defendant’s driver and left the plaintiff with permanent injuries.
USSC to take new look at old decision in Calif. union dues case, while Illinois litigation runs in two courts
Justices granted review to eight California teachers on June 30, in their First Amendment challenge to amounts they pay under collective bargaining law. A Supreme Court decision would likely resolve a federal suit challenging union charges on Illinois state employees, according to attorney general Lisa Madigan.
St. Clair County judge orders Comptroller to pay state employees July 15
St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert LeChien ordered Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger to pay 43,000 state employees on July 15, despite the lack of a state appropriation. At a hearing on July 9, LeChien said he would adopt findings of fact and conclusion of law that public employee union counsel Stephen Yokich of Chicago proposed.
Pedestrian alleges minivan driver caused crash that led to injuries
A pedestrian is suing a Randolph County motorist, alleging negligence in an automobile accident that he says caused permanent damages.
Supreme Court Rules Committee schedules public hearing on proposed rule changes
The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments July 22 at a public hearing in Chicago on several proposals, including one calling for changes to the rules that govern the legal profession and another seeking to use a word count instead of a page limit to regulate the length of appellate briefs. Other proposed changes deal with Supreme Court rules on amicus curiae briefs, certified questions, preparation of appeals, review of administrative orders and admission to the practice of
Peerless Premier Appliance alleges industrial firm sold hazardous equipment
A St. Clair County appliance business is suing a Carol Stream industrial firm regarding a disagreement over allegedly hazardous kitchen equipment.
Pedestrian faults local government, not driver, for striking her
A St. Clair County pedestrian is suing over an automobile accident on a curving Smithton Township road. Linn M. Lebonick filed suit over an accident that happened when a motorist was allegedly not properly cautioned by the district to drive safely.
Injured worker alleges retaliatory discharge
A Randolph County man is suing his St. Clair County employer, alleging unlawful termination following a workplace accident for which he sought worker’s compensation.
Rauner challenges Democrats; He says go ahead and pass a tax increase
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday essentially told legislative Democrats to just do it. If they won’t approve his ideas for “structural reforms,” the governor said, Democrats ought to pass tax increases to pay for the $36 billion budget spending plan they sent him. Rauner and fellow Republicans say the Democratic spending plan — which did not come with a matching plan for revenue — is $4 billion in the red. Rauner, echoing recent remarks by House Minority Leader Jim Durkin of Weste
Patient sues hospital over toilet accident
A St. Clair County resident filed a lawsuit against a health care facility, alleging that its defective restroom facilities caused him harm in 2013. David Kastner filed a complaint June 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Springfield, claiming that he sustained severe injuries when a toilet detached from a wall in the hospital in July 2013. According to the filing, Kastner was seated on the toilet on or about July 1, 2013 while using the restroom durin
Apartment owners sue building management following fire
A St. Clair County couple filed a lawsuit against a property management corporation regarding a 2013 kitchen fire that may have rendered their property in Belleville temporarily uninhabitable. James Egner and Barbara Egner filed suit June 30 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Belleville Property Maintenance Inc. alleging negligence in a service job that went awry at their jointly owned residence unit. According to the filing, the Egners own residential rental property at 15 South 14th S
I-LAW thanks Rauner for staying the course
Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch,(I-LAW) presented Gov.Bruce Rauner with an oversized “Thank You” card on behalf of I-LAW’s 20,000 supporters for his efforts to push for lawsuit reforms in Illinois.
Most state workers to go unpaid; Judge says no to full wages without a budget
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger plans to appeal a judge’s ruling that state employees who work during a no-budget shutdown can be paid only minimum federal wage — $7.25 an hour — plus overtime. Munger, R-Lincolnshire, said she was disappointed by and respectfully disagrees with the ruling issued by Judge Diane Joan Larsen on Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court. "My office will soon file an appeal to today's decision,” the comptroller said. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, D-Ch
Ousted associate judges can re-apply; Precedent exists for getting jobs back
While Madison County circuit judges denied retention to five associate judges, circuit judges in all other Illinois counties denied it to only three. The gap between Madison County’s 62 percent retention rate and 99 percent elsewhere illustrates the force of the judicial earthquake in Madison County. Associate judges Duane Bailey, Ben Beyers, Donald Flack, David Grounds and Elizabeth Levy all failed to win three fifths of the votes of circuit judges. Eight Madison County associ
Judge Reagan reduces sentence of former ESL detective Orlando Ward; Order signed and sealed July 1
U.S. District Judge Michael Reagan shortened the sentence of former East St. Louis detective Orlando Ward, who took $5,000 to guide a cocaine shipment through the region.