Honoree
Dicta sleuths recently confirmed that the notorious Edwardsville Pizza Hut plaintiff is THE Amanda Verett, a Madison County family law attorney.
You'll recall that Ms. Verett, with the help of prolific personal injury lawyer Thomas Maag, claimed a shoulder injury in a recent suit against the pizza chain and a man for whom she opened the door.
Courthouse observers say the young attorney is being well-groomed under Mr. Maag's expert tutelage. For example, Ms. Verett's shoulder sling is carefully obvious as she moves about her business inside the building, but is of apparent no use while outside the courthouse.
Last month's pizza suit wasn't the first time Ms. Verett walked into court on the arm of Mr. Maag. Complaining of back injuries a few years ago Ms. Verett, with Mr. Maag's counsel, sued the driver of a car that rear-ended her at a red light.
Six More Years
Madison County State's Attorney-turned judge Nicholas Byron broke covenant with the local Democratic machine circa 1980. Promising he'd only run for one six-year term, the taste of black-robed consumer advocacy proved to be too sweet for his appetite.
As word spread about Byron's upcoming victim appreciation award from left-wing Citizens Action/Illinois, those who've been around long enough vividly recalled that Byron didn't keep his word way back when.
A bench without Byron could have been a court without attention. But then, there'd be no free and spiffy Madison County Criminal Justice Center without the Philip Morris bond money derived from the overturned $10.1 billion tobacco judgment.
Another Weber?
The hands-down favorite for filling a newly-created associate judgeship in Madison County appears to be assistant state's attorney Keith Jensen.
Sources tell Dicta that Don Flack of Korein Tillery is his only real competition.
Known for an aggressive courtroom manner, Jensen, they say, is the Democrat version of Republican state's attorney-turned Judge Don Weber. Having paid his obligatory political dues, Jensen is "overdue" and ready to collect.
Godspeed
Dicta wishes a speedy recovery to Mac Warfield, Madison County Democrat Central Committee chairman, who is currently battling cancer.