News from 2025
OTHS failed to accommodate student's disabilities, lawsuit says
BENTON - O’Fallon Township High parents Robyn Pfershy and Matthew Pfershy seek an order compelling the school to answer information requests for their suit alleging discrimination against their daughter.
Justice Department to support effort to strike down IL law pushing 'diverse' nonprofit boards
The Justice Department under President Trump has moved to intervene in the lawsuit brought against the state by the American Association for Equal Rights, seeking to overturn Illinois' law requiring nonprofits to report on the races and genders of their board members and staff. They say the law promotes intentional discrimination
Fifth District affirms decision denying Brighton man's forfeiture claim
MOUNT VERNON - William Laird of Brighton tried to secure a court order protecting himself from tax delinquency and forfeiture of property but Fifth District appellate justices found he failed to show an actual controversy.
New filing: Illinois has constitutional authority to ignore immigration law, complicate deportations
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul responded to the Trump administration's lawsuit vs Illinois' 'Sanctuary' laws, arguing the U.S. Constitution and past court decisions allow the state to pass laws forbidding police from cooperating with nearly all federal immigration enforcement 'schemes'
Caseyville man met by three cops days after speaking out at village board meeting
CASEYVILLE - Resident Billy Hayes criticized mayor G.W. Scott Sr. at a meeting of trustees on Feb. 19 and five days later three police cars rolled up to his home on South 7th Street.
IL high court questions if GOP gerrymandering suit is 'timely;' GOP: 'Unquestionably' so
Democrats have yet to respond to a Republican lawsuit seeking to toss out Democrats' partisan gerrymandered Illinois state legislative maps. But the Democrat-dominated Illinois Supreme Court moved on its own to ask both sides to present arguments if the challenge to the maps was "timely."
Celebrities claim strip clubs misappropriated their images in suits against Oz and Pony
BENTON - Ten celebrities claimed Oz nightclub in Sauget misappropriated their images and Carmen Electra claims the Pony club across from Cape Girardeau misappropriated hers.
Arizona Beverages awarded $154K as Dugan finds Sheehan pursued fraud claim for plaintiff who loved 'Arnold Palmer Lite'
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge David Dugan awarded $154,862.50 to lawyers for Arizona Beverages on Feb. 25 for work that class action lawyer Spencer Sheehan put them through on a claim that had no chance.
Yandle excludes attorney Bleyer as expert witness in legal malpractice claim
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle excluded lawyer Joseph Bleyer of Marion from testifying as an expert at a trial about legal malpractice in a St. Clair County case.
LIVE WEB - How To Advise Your Criminal Law Client Regarding Deportation Issues on February 28, 2025
Get the information and updates you need to effectively advise your clients on important immigration law issues, as well as how to answer questions regarding their immigration status and the threat of deportation.
Illinois Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments At Southern Illinois University on March 18
The Illinois Supreme Court will leave the Illinois Supreme Court Building in Springfield behind for a day and “ride the circuit” to hear oral arguments at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale on March 18, 2025.
Fifth District upholds, denies separate Madison County arbitration cases
MOUNT VERNON - Madison County Circuit Judge Sarah Smith and Associate Judge Ronald Foster denied arbitration in separate cases but Smith decided correctly and Foster didn’t, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on Feb. 20.
Ahead of Hearing, Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement on Lawsuit to Preserve Funding for Medical and Public Health Innovation Research
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as part of a coalition of 16 attorneys general, today issued a joint statement ahead of a court hearing in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health.
HeplerBroom Sponsors Environmental Seminar on Land and Waste Regulations on February 27, 2025
HeplerBroom is proud to be one of the sponsors of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group’s (IERG) Land & Waste Conference.
Acting U.S. Attorney named in Southern District of Illinois
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Prosecutor Ali Summers stepped up to acting U.S. Attorney on Feb. 18 when President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to fire Rachelle Crowe and 92 other U.S. attorneys.
Attorney General Raoul Takes Action to Keep Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Working
Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in support of federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) employees who were told by the Trump administration and Elon Musk to stop working on cases investigating deceptive and abusive conduct by companies.
Justice Mary K. O’brien Announces At-large Vacancy in Thirteenth Judicial Circuit
Justice Mary K. O’Brien of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Judge vacancy in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Please be advised that any candidate seeking appointment to this vacancy shall reside within the circuit boundaries.
In denying claim for unborn fetus, judge declines 'invitation to create new law'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel granted judgment to the United States on Feb. 18 against a claim that an unborn fetus can recover damages under the Illinois Survival Act.
LIVE WEB - Artificial Intelligence Advisor: Use AI To Help Manage Your Firm on February 25, 2025
Many groundbreaking inventions begin with someone’s desire to eliminate a rote task or annoyance.
Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Wesley Gozia as At-large Circuit Judge in Fourth Judicial Circuit
Justice David K. Overstreet and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Wesley A. Gozia as an At-Large Circuit Judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.