Paul Marks
Richard Burke
Paul Marks of the Lakin Law Firm in Wood River will fill the shoes of former Lakin lawyer Gary Peel as attorney of record in 46 Madison County civil cases.
Richard Burke of the Lakin firm will take over seven other Peel suits.
Peel left the Lakin firm in March, after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of bankruptcy fraud, obstruction of justice and possession of child pornography.
Peel announced his withdrawal from his cases by e-mail to the court April 13.
Following up, Steve Schweizer of the Lakin firm split Peel's suits between Marks and Burke in an April 18 notice to the court.
Burke will take the five oldest suits in Peel's portfolio, from 2000 and 2001. Burke will also pick up a pair of connected suits from 2003 and 2005.
Marks will take 16 suits from 2002, 17 from 2003, 11 from 2004 and two from 2005.