News from March 2018
Wind power business granted expedited approval by ICC knocked down by appellate court
MOUNT VERNON – Illinois commerce commissioners improperly expedited an application for a wind power line 203 miles long, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on March 13.
Motorist sues over rear-end collision
BELLEVILLE — A motorist is suing another driver for allegedly causing a rear-end collision.
Kay and Erhart both say they'd stand up to 'Stuart-Madigan' machine
EDWARDSVILLE – One thing for certain this election season for Republicans seeking state office: invoke the name "Madigan" to stir up support among the base.
SCOTUS decision changes everything in Missouri mass tort cases; Once-$72M verdict will stay vacated
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – The Missouri Supreme Court's decision earlier this month to not review a talcum powder case against Johnson & Johnson, leaving vacated a once-$72 million verdict signals that the "Show-Me State is now a less tort-friendly place," a mass tort litigator says.
Study on consumer lawsuit loans finds high rates, confusing terms
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The broadest study yet of consumer litigation finance – money forwarded to lawsuit plaintiffs in anticipation of a victory in court or a legal settlement – found a “very complicated and circuitous” system in which some borrowers appear to subsidize others and the median interest rate exceeds 40%.
Court upholds first-degree murder sentence in house fire case that killed 4 children
MOUNT VERNON – The 5th District Appellate Court of Illinois has upheld a first-degree murder sentence and conviction for a Cutler man relating to a house fire he intentionally set in 2013.
Cook County judge to determine what to do with Patton votes
CHICAGO – Republican voters in the 56th Senate district can mark their ballots for Hal Patton in the March 20 primary, but those ballots won’t do him any good.
Appellate court reverses decision on post-conviction relief because of failure to attach documentation
MOUNT VERNON – An appeals court has reversed a decision denying a man's amended petition for post-conviction relief on the grounds his counsel
Fifth District court reverses ruling finding parents were unfit, but they still don't get custody
MOUNT VERNON – The 5th District Appellate Court has vacated an order that found the biological parents of a 6-year-old girl unfit, but upheld the parenting order that granted an unrelated woman sole decision-making responsibility.
Illinois Prevailing Wage Act does not apply to state's high-speed rail project, court rules
BENTON – The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois granted summary judgment to Professional Transportation Inc. (PTI) in an Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (IPWA) case filed by a former employee.
Staples and politics in Madison County: Ballot access survivor will be tested in primary
Election laws sometimes can produce unfair results even when all that a civic minded citizen wants to do is fulfill a noble purpose - public service. A lawyer familiar with ballot access case law sees it this way: "They are the rules that we all live with, and the rules are the rules."
Adco, Carboline accused of failing to warn of asbestos dangers
A woman is suing a number of companies she claims dealt with asbestos, citing alleged failure to warn and negligence.
Woman claims Armstrong International, Crane, others exposed husband to asbestos
A widow has filed a lawsuit accusing a number of companies of exposing her husband to asbestos and citing alleged negligence.
Widow accuses Honda, others of not warning husband of asbestos risks
A widow is suing numerous companies whose products she claims included asbestos, citing alleged failure to warn and negligence.
CBS Corp., GE, others accused of using asbestos in products
A special administrator is suing asbestos products manufacturers, citing alleged failure to warn and negligence.
Man sues over Granite City crash
EDWARDSVILLE – A driver is seeking more than $50,000 in damages over alleged injuries from a collision in Granite City.
N.Y. opioid litigation won't be stayed; Lawyers seeking 1,000 more county-plaintiffs
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A New York judge has refused to stay lawsuits by a number of New York counties against opioid manufacturers and distributors, rejecting arguments that the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t yet determined whether narcotic painkillers are unnecessarily dangerous - a central question in any litigation.
Motorist allegedly failed to yield, causing St. Clair County crash
BELLEVILLE – A St. Clair County motorist and passenger allege another driver failed to yield and collided with the front of their vehicle.
Alaskan man convicted on conspiracy charges sues individuals over money collected for legal defense
EAST ST. LOUIS – An Alaskan man previously convicted on federal murder conspiracy charges alleges several individuals used money raised for his legal defense to unjustly enrich themselves.
Fifth District affirms dismissal of Belle Rive's lawsuit against railroad
MOUNT VERNON – The Fifth District Appellate Court has affirmed a circuit court's dismissal of a complaint filed by the village of Belle Rive over a nearly 100-year-old agreement with a railroad company.