News from October 2022
Attorney General Raoul’s Office Received Nearly $400,000 Department of Justice Grant for Hate Crime Training
Attorney General Raoul’s Office Received Nearly $400,000 Department of Justice Grant for Hate Crime Training.
Jury verdict: BNSF must pay $228M to truck drivers for rail yard gate security fingerprint scans
The verdict against railroad company BNSF ended the first such class action lawsuit taken to trial under Illinois' biometrics privacy law. BNSF vowed to appeal
House District 114 contest: Incumbent defends SAFE-T Act vote; challenger would repeal
A negative mailer that recently hit House District 114 mailboxes describing Republican Kevin Schmidt as "extreme," and that "he voted to eliminate funding for seniors' in-home health care" seemed to come as a surprise to the challenger.
'Revenue drain': Republican officials, legislative candidates discuss SAFE-T Act's unfunded mandates
Illinois Republican leaders and legislative candidates joined to discuss the financial implications and safety concerns of the controversial SAFE-T Act, saying unfunded mandates could force local governments to reduce safety services and increase taxes.
Pre-pandemic analysis of Illinois public school achievement shows widespread failure; 'We didn't know how truly awful so many of them are,' WSJ opines
MADISON-ST. CLAIR – Most students in public schools of Madison and St. Clair counties failed to meet basic standards as of 2019, according to a survey of all Illinois school districts released by Wirepoints research group in Chicago.
St. Clair County real estate Jun. 21-24
An East Saint Louis apartment building sold for $5,600,000 as part of the St. Clair County real estate transactions Jun. 21-24.
Madison County real estate Aug. 29-Sep. 2
A Collinsville commercial property sold for $5,289,000 as part of the Madison County real estate transactions Aug. 29-Sep. 2.
Madison County civil docket Oct. 17-21
Madison County judges Ruth and Smith have law cases scheduled on the civil docket Oct. 17-21.
Assistant AG citing busy schedule forfeits right to discovery in employment dispute at Chester Mental Health
EAST ST. LOUIS – Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Chester Mental Health officials ruined their defense in an employment suit by forfeiting the right to depose anyone or start any discovery.
Martin Speaks at National Environmental and Toxic Tort Conference
Martin Speaks at National Environmental and Toxic Tort Conference.
Judge says IL Dems can't step in to join IL State Elections Board's defense vs challenge to IL vote by mail law
The judge recognized Democrats' election efforts could be strained, should he rule that mail-in ballots can't be counted if they are received after Election Day. But the judge said that's not enough to let them join the court fight
Top 3 myths told by Amendment 1 proponents
Proponents of Amendment 1 claim it applies to all workers, mimics other state constitutions and would help the economy. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong.
Pritzker cash is big factor in three top Illinois races: AG challenger raises issue at debate
SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker, running for a second term on his own money, makes it possible for Democrats in three crucial campaigns to run on his money too.
Threatening Illinoisans' safety: Six major flaws in the SAFE-T Act's end to cash bail
Proponents of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act claim that the law’s provisions to end the cash bail will make Illinoisans more safe once the provisions are implemented on January 1, 2023. They claim the new law will give judges more discretion to detain dangerous criminal suspects. They also claim that the law poses no problem for the state’s many jurisdictions concerned they’ll have to release what could total thousands of potentially dangerous defendants on January 1 as a result of the elimination of bail.
Trial lawyer money again funding Democrat judicial campaigns in St. Clair County
Two races for circuit court vacancies in St. Clair County have Democrat candidates leading Republican candidates in campaign financing by large margins due primarily to contributions from local and Chicago plaintiff lawyers.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul Warns Used-car Buyers to Watch for Cars Damaged by Hurricane Ian Flooding to Be Sold in Illinois
Attorney General Kwame Raoul Warns Used-car Buyers to Watch for Cars Damaged by Hurricane Ian Flooding to Be Sold in Illinois.
Paraquat plaintiff attorney's move to sanction Chevron over witness testimony boomerangs
EAST ST. LOUIS – Paraquat plaintiffs who moved to sanction Chevron over deposition of a witness 81 years old brought sanctions on themselves.
Pay dispute involving Corrigan Brothers settles in Judge McGlynn's court
EAST ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn resolved a pay dispute between mechanical contractor Corrigan Brothers of St. Louis and former employee Michael Stone on Oct. 3.
Illinois Courts Award $315,000 to Pilot Justice and Mental Health Collaborations in Circuits Around State
Illinois Courts Award $315,000 to Pilot Justice and Mental Health Collaborations in Circuits Around State.
I know a guy ... A tribute to Tom Long
The many acts of kindness by Tom Long often went unnoticed and unheralded, known only by the recipient.