News from January 2018
Motorist claims driver followed vehicle too closely in East St. Louis crash
BELLEVILLE – A St. Clair County man alleges a Madison County woman followed his vehicle too closely in a collision in East St. Louis.
St. Louis native Cynthia Garnholz opens new law offices
ST. LOUIS – The Garnholz Law Firm LLC has opened with offices in Clayton and St. Charles, led by veteran attorney Cynthia Garnholz.
Former hospital shuttle service employee sues over unpaid vacation time in class action
EDWARDSVILLE – A Madison County woman alleges her former employers failed to compensate her for unused vacation time and time she spent working on-call.
Driver alleges concussion from Collinsville crash; Employer sued for failing to provide insurance coverage
BELLEVILLE — A Biotech X-ray employee is suing his employer and another motorist for allegedly causing a Collinsville collision and failing to provide insurance coverage.
Thompson Coburn law firm ranked best in country in railroad law, copyright law by U.S. News
BELLEVILLE – U.S. News & World Report has named the firm of Thompson Coburn as the best firm in the nation for railroad law. Best Lawyers also gave the firm the highest ranking in railroad law.
Couple accuses Ameron International, others of negligence in asbestos suit
BELLEVILLE – A man formerly employed as a construction manager alleges his lung cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos while on the job.
Man claims Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., others failed to warn of dangers of asbestos exposure
BELLEVILLE – A former laborer alleges his lung cancer was wrongfully caused by asbestos exposure.
Suspects detained 9 months under ‘SAFE’ program sue former LaSalle County SA Brian Towne, others
CHICAGO – Two men who spent nine months each in LaSalle County jail under $1 million bond seek damages from former state’s attorney Brian Towne, creator of a fake police squad that arrested them.
Tractor-trailer owner claims Speedco failed to properly install battery box, causing him to fall
EDWARDSVILLE – The owner of a tractor-trailer alleges he was injured when a Troy auto business failed to property reinstall a battery box.
Plaintiff admissions in Hale v. State Farm pinned mostly on one out of 18 lawyers; Trial set May 7
EAST ST. LOUIS – Lawyers preparing for a $9 billion racketeering trial against State Farm, under orders to admit or deny statements, pinned almost all their admissions on one lawyer and a class of plaintiffs who lost a case in 2005.
Collinsville church alleges it paid more than $220,000 for renovations that weren't completed
EDWARDSVILLE – A Collinsville nonprofit alleges a Dupo company and Columbia man failed to complete renovations they were hired to do.
Man suing Madigan asks court to order release of inspector general's 2014 report detailing Speaker's clout
A former candidate who is suing Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and some of his supporters for allegedly using political tricks to sabotage his campaign, is now locked in a fight in Chicago federal court to secure the release of a 2014 inspector general’s report his lawyer says is needed to shed light on how the longest serving state house speaker in U.S. history and his political organization work, to help substantiate the candidate’s claims.
Renters, attorney seek more than $20 million in defamation suit over Collinsville home explosion
Renters who were injured when their home exploded from leaking gas and their former attorney seek more than $20 million each from a man who allegedly made maliciously false statements regarding the circumstances of the explosion.
State AGs speak up in Janus case to preserve collection of union fees from non-union workers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Several friend-of-the-court briefs have now been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in the lawsuit brought by Mark Janus, an Illinois state government employee who feels union dues should not be taken from his paycheck since he is not a member of a union.
Kolker campaign raises more than $100K in fourth quarter; Plaintiff firms factor big
St. Clair County Associate Judge Chris Kolker's campaign committee raised more than $100,000 in the last quarter of 2017 as he seeks election to the vacancy left by circuit judge Robert LeChien who died in August.
Motorist sued over O'Fallon rear-end collision
BELLEVILLE — A motorist is suing another driver for allegedly rear-ending him and causing a multi-car collision in O'Fallon.
Appellate court reverses Flack in 'policy stacking' case that went against Country Financial
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court has overturned a summary judgment ruling that went against Country Financial Insurance Co. involving the "stacking" of insurance policies.
Vietnam vet awarded nearly $2 million after prostate cancer signs ignored at VA
BENTON – A Marine veteran was awarded a $1.93 million medical malpractice verdict in federal court over allegations that employees and physicians at the Marion VA Medical Center failed to timely diagnose and treat his prostate cancer.
Suit alleging former East St. Louis high school student was sexually assaulted settles during trial
A mother’s suit alleging her disabled daughter was sexually assaulted by another East St. Louis high school student settled shortly after voir dire ended in Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson’s courtroom.
Farmers Insurance Exchange claims Madison County insurance agent misappropriated information
EDWARDSVILLE – A Madison County insurance agent is alleged to have used confidential information to switch customers to competitors while working as a contractor for an insurance company.