News from January 2016
2015 statistics show heroin overdoses are on the rise in Madison County
Coroner Stephen P. Nonn reported that the total number of drug-related deaths in Madison County went down from to 92 in 2014 to 77 in 2015, however heroin overdoses have sharply increased.
Illinois is not prepared for the next recession
Sky-high debt and a meager rainy day fund make Illinois the second-least prepared state in the U.S. for its capacity to weather a recession.
Three judges want to bend state law rather than face voter retention
Could Barack Obama, for instance, complete his second term and then run for the presidency again, as if for the first time, under a new persona?
Ancient milk marketing case heard at high court; Justices poke at Highland dairy farmers' theory
SPRINGFIELD – Former Highland dairy farmers Michael and Denise Richter, who let a suit against Prairie Farms languish for five years, found no visible support at the Illinois Supreme Court for their plea that they didn’t let it die. At oral argument on Jan. 14, questions from the Justices harmonized better with Prairie Farms than with Fourth District appellate judges who kept the case alive.
Horrell Homes says basement mold was an open and obvious condition in rental property
A Collinsville property management company alleges that concealed mold was an open and obvious condition on one of its rental properties in a family’s lawsuit alleging the mold made them sick.
St. Clair Township Chairman supports government consolidation for Illinois
St Clair Township Chairman Robert M. Goins (R) told the Madison Record that he is behind government consolidation as laid out by the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandate’s Task force.
Fifth District finds circumstantial evidence was sufficient to secure FELA verdict against Union Pacific; Moore sharply dissents
A railroad worker who was rear-ended by a drunk driver while being transported in a van from a rail yard to a train in 2008 will get another shot at convincing St. Clair County jurors that Union Pacific was negligent for the auto accident.
Infant's hydrocephalus spurs lawsuit
BELLEVILLE – An Illinois woman is suing a physician and nurse practitioner alleging they failed to properly diagnose her infant son's hydrocephalus.
Son alleges driver to blame for dad's death
EDWARDSVILLE – A Madison County man, acting as the special administrator of his father's estate, is suing over the death of his father in an automobile accident.
Eco Recycling accused of reneging on aluminum deal
BELLEVILLE – An Illinois corporation is suing over a third-party purchase contract over a bale of aluminum that didn't happen, alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
Wrongful death suit filed over fatal forklift accident
BELLEVILLE–The special administrator of a man's estate filed a wrongful death suit alleging negligence led to his death when he and the forklift he was operating fell between a dock and a truck.
Trailer park tenant alleges she fell through a hole in the floor
EDWARDSVILLE – A Granite City woman is suing the owner of the trailer she is renting after allegedly falling through a hole in the floor.
Dog mix-up cited in negligence suit
BELLEVILLE – A Staunton woman is suing over a kennel's alleged release of the wrong dog, which was not hers and that subsequently injured her.
Wayward truck tire crosses median, causes collision
EDWARDSVILLE – A motorist is suing a trucking company and the driver of one of its trucks after a tire allegedly came loose, rolled across the highway median and struck his vehicle.
Motorist alleges careless driving caused accident
EDWARDSVILLE–A motorist is suing over injuries he suffered as the result of an automobile collision allegedly caused by the defendant.
Motorist claims faulty brakes and negligence to blame for crash
BELLEVILLE – A motorist is suing over injuries he suffered as the result of an automobile collision allegedly caused by the defendant.
Hearing officer recommends objections to judges' candidacies be overruled
Hearing officer David Herman is recommending that the State Board of Elections overrule objections to the candidacies of St. Clair County circuit judges John Baricevic, Robert LeChien and Robert Haida.
Only one in seven local judicial candidates raised funds in fourth quarter
Only one of seven circuit court candidates in Madison and St. Clair counties raised funds in the fourth quarter of 2015. Madison County Circuit Court Judge William Mudge received $35,150 in individual campaign contributions, half of which were not itemized. In the itemized contributions, Mudge's campaign committee received $17,425 through 62 donations, none of which exceeded $500.
Madison County Institutions Committee examines reports from education, mental health offices
In a recent meeting, the County Institutions Committee for Madison County, Illinois, assessed reports from the Education Office, Mental Health Office and Historical Museum.
Will Tillery take his appeal to USSC? Defense Counsel says it's certainly possible
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Supreme Court denied Stephen Tillery’s plea to recall a 2006 Court-issued mandate that struck down a $10.0 billion judgment against Phillip Morris in attempt to close the long-battled case.