News from February 2018
Motorist allegedly struck parked vehicle in Marissa while fleeing from police
BELLEVILLE – A man alleges he was injured when his parked vehicle was struck by another driver attempting to elude police.
Medical malpractice suit alleging delayed cancer diagnosis at trial in Ruth’s court
A medical malpractice suit is at trial in Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth’s courtroom alleging an Alton pediatrician failed to diagnose a patient’s malignant germ cell tumor despite a persistent fever and swelling.
Rare GOP primary contest for St. Clair County judgeship goes negative
Republican voters in St. Clair County will see something unusual on the ballot March 20 – two candidates vying for the same judgeship.
Limbaugh assigned to Dicamba MDL over Herndon; Attorneys say SDIL disposition time nearly slowest of all
EAST ST. LOUIS – Multi district litigation against Monsanto involving weed killer Dicamba will go before District Judge Stephen Limbaugh at the Eastern District of Missouri, in spite of calls for the Southern District of Illinois.
Herndon denies summary judgment to State Farm in $9 billion RICO case
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge David Herndon on Feb. 6 denied summary judgment to State Farm on a $9 billion racketeering claim.
Madison County projected to 'go live' in April on state's new centralized E-File Manager, circuit court clerk says
EDWARDSVILLE – In spite of its request to extend a deadline for making court documents available through the state's new centralized E-File Manager (EFM) being denied, Madison County Circuit Clerk Mark von Nida says he hopes his office will done by early spring, well ahead of a mandatory July 1 deadline.
Judge Lisa Wilson to speak at Lawyers' Assistance Program dinner
PEORIA – The Lawyers' Assistance Program (LAP) is slated to hold its annual Joseph R. Bartylak Dinner at The Waterhouse in Peoria on Thursday, April 5, with this year’s event featuring the Honorable Judge Lisa Wilson as keynote speaker.
District court judge denies part of DOJ motion for summary judgment in white supremacist's FOIA case
BENTON – A district court judge recently denied in part a U.S. Department of Justice motion for partial summary judgment in the Freedom of Information Act request of imprisoned white supremacist William A. White.
St. Clair County GOP chair says Rauner is the best candidate for governor; Ives campaign claims Rauner is unelectable
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County Republican chairwoman Barbara Viviano said only incumbent Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner can defeat Democrat contender J.B. Pritzker this November and that Rauner’s Republican challenger Jeanne Ives is unelectable.
Opioid judge doesn't want media to know details of settlement talks
CLEVELAND (Legal Newsline) - The judge overseeing multidistrict litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors has named the teams of lawyers who will try to negotiate a settlement of hundreds of federal lawsuits - a complex task given parallel investigations and litigation by state attorneys general and potentially conflicting goals of private attorneys and their government counterparts.
Federal judge denies Centralia inmate's motions in Fair Credit Reporting Act lawsuit
CENTRALIA – A federal judge has denied two separate motions filed by a Centralia Correctional Center inmate suing a consumer reporting agency that the inmate says has threatened him, according to separate memorandums and orders issued in the case.
Herndon awards $17 million in damages in trademark infringement case
BENTON – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois issued a ruling that Southern Illinois Storm Shelters Inc. and others must pay $17.3 million in damages involving a trademark infringement case to a Missouri residential construction company.
Former employee alleges Jimmy John's noncompetition agreement violates antitrust laws
BENTON – A former Madison County Jimmy John's employee alleges the restaurant chain's anti-competitive behavior to restrict competition between franchises unfairly suppresses employee wages.
Appellate court vacates order appointing appraisal umpire in State Farm dispute with homeowners
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court has sided with State Farm in a dispute over a demand for appraisal by an Illinois couple.
Motorist claims Florilli Transportation driver's negligence caused Marion County collision
BENTON – A Shobonier driver alleges the driver of a West Liberty, Iowa, company negligently and carelessly backed his tractor-trailer in an unsafe manner and caused a collision.
Driver alleges federal employee ran red light in Murphysboro collision
BENTON – A Murphysboro woman is seeking more than $75,000 after a federal employee allegedly ran a red light and collided with her vehicle.
Fifth District affirms Rudolf in foreclosure proceeding
The Fifth District Appellate Court has affirmed St. Clair County Associate Judge Heinz Rudolf in a foreclosure proceeding where a losing bidder who claimed to have been the highest bidder was not allowed to intervene in the case to object to the sale going to the second highest bidder.
Homeowners allege Holishor Association wrongfully collected money in RICO suit
BENTON – A homeowners association for Madison County residential lots allegedly wrongfully collected money from the owners of two properties in Edwardsville.
Green Mount Catholic Cemetery alleged to owe more than $35,000 in funds
BENTON – A joint labor-management organization alleges an Illinois employer owes payment of delinquent contributions.
Appellate court upholds Crowder in family dispute over IRA funds
The Fifth District Appellate Court has upheld Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder in a family's dispute over ownership of a deceased man's retirement account valued in excess of $500,000.