Crowder
Two Lakin Law Firm class actions have dropped from the docket in Madison County Circuit Court, one through settlement and one through futility.
On July 7, Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder dismissed a suit claiming Wells Fargo Home Mortgage charged borrower Katherine Henderson an improper fee when closing a loan.
Crowder found that Henderson compromised and settled her claims.
Because Crowder hadn't certified the suit as a class action, she did not direct the Lakins to send notice to the class they sought to certify.
In 2006, the Lakins used Henderson's suit as a vehicle to seek disqualification of Circuit Judge Don Weber from all Lakin cases.
Chief Judge Edward Ferguson denied disqualification.
The Lakins gained nothing from a suit against Moonlight Marketing of Champlain, N.Y.
Plaintiff Dian Turner dismissed the suit in May, "without receipt of any payment or other compensation," according to Gerald Walters of the Lakin firm.
Turner sued in 2005, claiming Moonlight Marketing took payments from her checking account without her consent.
Former Lakin lawyer Thomas Maag represented Turner, and the case stalled after he left the Lakins to work for Brian Wendler.