To the editor:
The "hellhole" designation of Madison and St Clair counties is not only given by corporate interests, I give it also.
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association 3rd Vice President Greg Shevlin's letter in the Belleville News Democrat on Jan. 7 brings to public focus the corrupt nature of the Illinois judicial system.
The letter is about caps on medical malpractice non-economic damages and insurance reform. Shevlin conveniently leaves out the term "punitive damages" to fully describe non-economic damages.
Why should there be punitive damages? "Punitive" means that the medical malpractice was intentional and willful, when it never is. Punitive damages should only be allowed when intentional and willful medical malpractice is proven to a jury.
The hellhole designation is also well earned from the practice of class action lawsuits.
In Madison County class action lawsuits, Ashley Peach sued Wal-Mart over a $1.39 balance on a gift card and Darin Pichee sued O'Reilly Auto Parts over the return of 58 cents of Illinois sales tax.
State and federal class action lawsuits should be abrogated by law and Peach, Pichee and the lawfirm of Lakin/Chapman suffer punitive damages for their abuse of the Illinois judicial system.
Charles Sullivan
Waterloo
Punitive damages should be allowed only when proven to a jury
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