Asbestos attorney Randy Gori is expected to appear in court Wednesday morning on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
According to an Edwardsville Police Department incident report, Gori was arrested on Marine Road at 11:52 p.m. on Nov. 21 - the night before Thanksgiving - for improper lane usage.
Officer Vahle wrote in the report that while speaking with Gori, he "observed his eyes to be glossy and his speech was slurred. I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from Gori's breath" during a field sobriety test.
Gori submitted to a blood alcohol test which registered at .101, exceeding the lawful limit of .08.
He was driving a vehicle identified as a 2016 black Ford passenger car.
It's not the first DUI for Gori, who since 1994, has been charged with multiple traffic offenses, according to the Madison County docket.
On Sept. 9, 2007, while driving a 2006 Bentley, Gori was arrested in Edwardsville for crossing the "fog" line and speeding on the 400 block of State Route 157.
At the time he was employed by the Goldenberg Heller firm in Edwardsville, which then was a leading Madison County asbestos firm.
According to the incident report, after being pulled over the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol, and Gori failed field sobriety tests.
He refused to submit to a blood alcohol test during that arrest, and as a consequence was required to surrender his driver's license for six months.
Then State's Attorney William Mudge asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor out of concern for conflict of interest. The state appointed David Rands, who has handled numerous sensitive cases in Madison and St. Clair counties.
In addition to DUI and improper lane usage charges, Gori also was cited for operating an uninsured vehicle and expired registration.
Represented by Curtis Dawson of Lucco Brown in Edwardsville, Gori petitioned for a judicial driving permit as the nature of his employment "required extensive travel" through Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Alabama and California.
He received a professional alcohol evaluation on Oct. 15, 2007. And on Nov. 7, 2007, Associate Judge Stephen Stobbs granted Gori's petition for a judicial driving permit allowing him to drive seven days a week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
On Nov. 14, 2007, Stobbs dismissed Gori's DUI for insufficient evidence. Per a plea arrangement, Gori paid a fine of $1,055 and received 12 months supervision on the improper lane usage charge.
Stobbs was appointed associate judge in 2006. He was named Madison County's asbestos judge in 2013.
Gori's law firm - Gori Julian and Associates - is the most prolific filer of asbestos litigation in the nation.