News from January 2024
Ziegler declaration: Hunter Biden's laptop was not hacked; Contents published from his southern Illinois hometown
LOS ANGELES - Illinois native Garrett Ziegler, of the Marco Polo website, filed a declaration against Hunter Biden’s computer abuse suit stating, “We are not hackers. We are simply publishers.”
Roller skater sues Skateway over fall
EDWARDSVILLE - A skater claims she was injured when she fell on an uneven surface at a skating rink in Granite City.
Garrett Ziegler of Marco Polo seeks to dismiss Hunter Biden’s laptop suit or transfer to Illinois
LOS ANGELES - Garrett Ziegler of Effingham, Illinois, whose Marco Polo website published data from Hunter Biden’s computer, has asked U.S. District Judge Hernan Vera in Los Angeles to dismiss a suit Biden filed or transfer it to Illinois.
Update on Wage and Hour Issues for California Employers on January 17, 2024
Wage and hour compliance continues to be extremely challenging for California employers.
Wrongful death suit filed against Chinese tire manufacturer following fatal roll-over crash
BELLEVILLE - Widow Kerry Wickline of Caseyville filed a wrongful death suit against a tire shop ten miles away and a tire manufacturer in China.
Rep. Schmidt co-sponsors property tax relief bill that requires school districts to lower taxes in exchange for grant
Illinois imposes the second highest property tax in the nation on its residents, but a new Republican-backed bill for property tax relief has a new year and a new chance to move forward after languishing most of 2023 in the House Rules Committee.
Madison, St. Clair Counties adjusting well to SAFE-T Act mandates, but see increased demand on public defenders
Despite growing pains, Madison and St. Clair counties report success in enacting sweeping, unfunded changes to the court system mandated under the state’s new SAFE-T Act, including the nation’s first no-cash bond system.
LIVE WEB - 2024 Immigration Law Update: Effectively Representing Immigration Clients and Analyzing Immigration Matters in a Volatile World on January 16, 2024
Presented by the ISBA International & Immigration Law SectionCo-sponsored by the ISBA Labor & Employment Law Section, ISBA Education Law Section, ISBA Sports & Entertainment Law Section, ISBA Business Advice & Financial Planning Section, and ISBA Construction Law Section
BTI Lists Fox Rothschild Among Most Searched for Law Firms
Fox Rothschild is among the most searched for law firms in 2023 according to BTI Consulting Group’s analysis of searches for 300+ firms in Google Trends.
Dugan rejects immunity claims, grants trial request in Cahokia Heights sewer dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge David Dugan ruled on Jan. 5 that 33 Cahokia Heights residents have a right to trial on claims that floods of rain and sewage damage their properties.
Madison County jurors return defense verdict in suit over staircase fall
.Jurors in Madison County reached a verdict in favor of an East Alton resident who was sued by his guest alleging she fell down the stairs due to a faulty handrail.
Cortney Kuntze Sworn-in as New Fifth District Appellate Court Clerk
Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today the swearing-in of new Fifth District Appellate Court Clerk Cortney E. Kuntze at a ceremony held in the Fifth District Appellate Court Courtroom in Mount Vernon.
Woman's lawsuit vs Mexico zipline operators tossed
The lawsuit had claimed a child suffered head injuries after falling 65 feet while using a zipline in Mexico. The lawsuit was dismissed for non-activity after neither the plaintiff nor her attorney showed up in court in June for a hearing
Norkfolk Southern Railway sued over employee's alleged wrist injuries
EDWARDSVILLE - A Norfolk Southern Railway Company employee claims he suffered a wrist injury due to negligent working conditions.
East St. Louis seeks $3 billion in fines, plus additional damages in Monsanto litigation
EAST ST. LOUIS - The City of East St. Louis, seeking more than $3 billion in fines from Monsanto for contamination from its operation in Sauget, plans to seek damages, too.
Here’s what’s wrong with Pritzker’s emergency power proclamation for immigration crisis
You needn’t look much beyond the four corners of Gov. JB Pritzker’s latest emergency disaster proclamation to see what’s wrong with Illinois’ response to illegal immigration. Pritzker issued his eighteenth such monthly proclamation on January 5.
Prenzler urges Granite City school board, superintendent to put $20 million bond on ballot
Two months ago, Granite City District 9 passed a “backdoor referendum” to issue $20 million of “working cash” bonds and on Nov. 22 put a public notice in the Belleville News-Democrat. I believe the “right thing” for District 9 to do is to put this $20 million bond issue on the ballot for the people to decide.
***Consumer Alert*** Attorney General Raoul Urges Illinois Residents to Be Alert for Phone Scammers Using Ai to Mimic Voices
Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged Illinois residents to be aware of phone scammers potentially using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mimic the voice of a loved one.
Former Caseyville trustee, wife reject conspiracy claim in truck dispute, accuse village attorney of defamation
CASEYVILLE - Former Caseyville village trustee Kerry Davis and wife Carroll accused village attorney Doug Stewart of defamation at a meeting of trustees on Jan. 3 for linking them to an alleged criminal conspiracy, which they say is not true.
Madison County Chairman candidate Slusser: Prenzler ignoring roadway trash leading to landfill
Every day, I drive to work between Wood River and Edwardsville on Highway143, and as I pass 255, I begin to see all of the trash along the roadway. This continues on, all the way until Bender Hill Road, which leads back to the landfill. Sadly, our County Board Chairman has decided to place his own political interests ahead of actually solving this problem.