News from March 2022
A stunning miscalculation: CDC cuts nation's reported child COVID deaths by nearly 25 percent
One of the greatest sins of our government’s approach to the COVID pandemic has been its oppressive treatment of children. Lockdowns, remote-learning and other mitigation policies have stunted the mental, physical, social and emotional development of children for two years. Research and coverage from NPR, New York Times, the Atlantic and other media increasingly show the damage to children has been enormous, though we won’t know the full impact for decades.
Suit alleges Edwardsville firm failed to prevent man from draining 401(k) during divorce proceedings
A woman claims the Edwardsville law firm Swanson and Sackett failed to prevent the plaintiff’s ex-husband from draining a 401(k) account during divorce proceedings.
St. Clair County real estate Nov. 29-Dec. 3
A Mascoutah farm property sold for $4,426,850 as part of the St. Clair County real estate transactions Nov. 29-Dec. 3.
Madison County real estate Feb. 7-11
An East Alton residence sold for $840,000 as part of the Madison County real estate transactions Feb. 7-11.
Madison County civil docket Mar. 28-Apr. 1
Madison County judges Ruth, Smith, and Threlkeld have law cases scheduled on the civil docket Mar. 28-Apr. 1.
Attorney General Raoul Files Lawsuit Against Marathon Pipe Line LLC Over Oil Spill
Attorney General Raoul Files Lawsuit Against Marathon Pipe Line LLC Over Oil Spill.
This bad idea won't go away: Illinois bill would make general contractors liable for wage claims against subcontractors
Leave it to the Illinois General Assembly to find ways to make life more expensive and difficult for employers.
Food label litigator has fourth class action in a month dismissed at federal court
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge David Dugan dismissed a class action complaint of label litigator Spencer Sheehan on March 17, as the fourth federal judge to disappoint Sheehan in 29 days.
Seventh Circuit upholds dismissal of syringe price class action
CHICAGO – U.S. Seventh Circuit appellate judges found Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel correctly dismissed a class action complaint over the price of syringes.
IL legislation would OK 'predatory lending practices' in third-party lawsuit funding, boost costs for all, biz groups warn
SB1099, the so-called Consumer Legal Funding Act, would produce even more lawsuits, that take longer to settle, while allowing lawsuit investors to charge 18% interest rates, assessed every 6 months, to people borrowing money to fund lawsuits, business groups say
Appeals panel: State Farm has no obligation to cover restaurant's losses from Pritzker's COVID closure orders
While the restaurant only closed because the governor ordered them to do so, it was the COVID-19 virus that actually caused the losses, so the steep losses the businesses suffered aren't physical losses covered by insurance policies, state appeals judges ruled
Manufacturing company allegedly terminated employee over disability
EAST ST. LOUIS - A man claims he was wrongfully terminated from his employment after suffering on-the-job injuries while trying to catch a heavy bucket.
Trucker seeking $10 million for crash injuries must turn over underlying health records
EAST ST. LOUIS – Former trucker James Manier, who seeks almost $10 million from Page Trucking for crash injuries, must produce 10 years of records about 10 other factors harming his health.
Woman alleges injuries from dog attack at Granite City home
EDWARDSVILLE - A woman is suing the owner of a German Shepherd that allegedly attacked her as she was leaving a Granite City home.
Dispute over construction cracks at St. Kateri Catholic Church playing out in federal court
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty recused himself from a case about cracks in a church where family member Steven Beatty tended the flock.
Davis Votes to Hold Putin Accountable, Suspend Normal Trade Relations With Russia and Belarus
Davis Votes to Hold Putin Accountable, Suspend Normal Trade Relations With Russia and Belarus.
Woman alleges construction company damaged water meter lid at Bethalto home, causing her to fall
EDWARDSVILLE - A woman claims a construction company damaged a water meter lid by driving heavy construction equipment over it, causing her to fall into a hole when she stepped on the lid.
DOJ wants to collect remaining assets of company that allegedly destroyed wetlands along Cahokia Canal
EAST ST. LOUIS – Petroff Trucking owners dissolved the company while defending a claim that they destroyed 15 acres of wetlands along Cahokia Canal, according to the U.S. justice department.
White farmers reject theory that Ag chief could expand debt relief from $4 to $40 billion
EAST ST. LOUIS – Including white farmers and ranchers in a debt relief law that excluded them wouldn’t cure defects in the law, white farmers Joshua Morton and Matthew Morton of Kell asserted on March 15.
Class action alleges insurer breaches contract by calculating depreciation in claims
EDWARDSVILLE - An insurance company is facing a class action, alleging it utilizes a depreciation methodology rather than a fair market methodology when calculating claims.