News from February 2022
Edwardsville 7 to go 'mask recommended' after vote to block Pritzker's emergency rule
Edwardsville CUSD 7 superintendent Patrick Shelton told parents and staff that beginning Wednesday masks are "recommended" in schools, but the district cannot require they be worn without a court order or an order from the local health department.
Madison County civil docket Feb. 21-25
Madison County judges Ruth, Smith, and Threlkeld have law cases scheduled on the civil docket Feb. 21-25.
Intercompany Arbitration - Basic Concepts on February 17, 2022
Intercompany Arbitration - Basic Concepts on February 17, 2022.
Bost Introduces Bill to Get Toxic-exposed Veterans Lifesaving Care
Bost Introduces Bill to Get Toxic-exposed Veterans Lifesaving Care.
High cost of government shrinks Illinois' workforce
Population decline has shrunk Illinois’ workforce and the relative size of the state economy. Attracting more workers from other states starts with lowering the cost of living, decreasing pension costs and debt, and improving the state’s social services.
School mask mandate suspended following vote of state's rulemaking body
The Joint Committee of Administrative Rules (JCAR) voted today to stop Gov. JB Pritzker's attempt to reissue emergency rules that would have required school districts to enforce masking for K-12 public and private schools.
Bestwall bankruptcy judge holds asbestos plaintiffs in contempt for failing to submit questionnaires
CHARLOTTE – Bankruptcy Judge Laura Beyer held 2,140 asbestos plaintiffs in contempt on Feb. 10, and gave them a week to answer questions of Georgia Pacific entity Bestwall.
New allegation in wrongful death suit: Decedent’s body left out in the rain while awaiting coroner; Crash involved off duty Alton cop
EAST ST. LOUIS – Sauget police left the body of crash victim Toshorn Napper Jr. in the rain for hours and didn’t contact his family or visit their home, his mother Terri Coleman-Napper alleged at U.S. district court on Feb. 7.
Collinsville school board: Masks 'strongly recommended' but no longer required
The Collinsville CUSD 10 school board voted unanimously Monday to make masks “strongly recommended,” but not required, for students and staff.
Suit alleges design company failed to pay for equipment rentals
EDWARDSVILLE - A rental company claims Designs by Nino failed to pay for equipment rentals.
SCOTUS to hear arguments March 28 over injured engineer’s interpretation of ‘in use’ locomotive
WASHINGTON – In an injury case from Southern Illinois, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn decisions of district and appellate judges in favor of Union Pacific Railroad
Lawrence Correctional Center officers sued over inmate's suicide
EAST ST. LOUIS - An inmate at the Lawrence Correctional Center allegedly hanged himself in a segregation cell during a hunger strike in response to a disciplinary investigation.
Davis Re-introduces Bill to Make Trump Tax Cuts Permanent
Davis Re-introduces Bill to Make Trump Tax Cuts Permanent.
Bethalto Board of Education votes to make masks optional for students and staff
Bethalto’s Board of Education unanimously voted to make masks optional for students and staff on Monday. During the special board meeting, those in attendance listened silently and respectfully as parents, students, grandparents and community members voiced their concerns over mask mandates and urged board members to make masks optional.
Couple alleges false loan default claim resulted in inaccurate credit report
EAST ST. LOUIS - A couple claims Equifax has failed to correct their credit report after a mortgage company incorrectly accused them of defaulting on a loan.
Trial set Feb. 24 on merits of Madison County's suit over judicial subcircuit law
A Feb. 24 trial date has been set on the merits of Madison County's suit against the state over a judicial subcircuit law the legislature passed in January.
More than 500 Illinois schools eliminate mask mandates for students and staff
Greenville attorney Tom DeVore, who is spearheading the legal challenges against Illinois school mask mandates, has compiled a list of the state's schools that have agreed to make masks optional for students and staff.
Polsinelli Intellectual Property Department Ranks Among Top Patent Firms on Juristat’s 2021 Lists
Polsinelli Intellectual Property Department Ranks Among Top Patent Firms on Juristat’s 2021 Lists.
Rosenstengel says paraquat depositions belong to all plaintiffs in national litigation
EAST ST. LOUIS – Depositions that Stephen Tillery took in the court of St. Clair County Associate Judge Kevin Hoerner belong to all plaintiffs in national paraquat litigation, Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled on Feb. 8.
Suit alleges Roadworks failed to make employee benefits contributions
EAST ST. LOUIS - A pension fund claims Roadworks LLC failed to make employee contributions.