Madison County Circuit Judge Andreas Matoesian, who had been on leave since September and will retire next month, briefly returned to his office and presided over two May dockets, including a woman's suit alleging she was injured when the rear tires fell off a bus.
Madison County Chief Judge William Mudge said Matoesian, 81, returned to his office on April 29 after an extended leave for unspecified reasons and presided over a motion docket on May 3 and a case management docket on May 22.
Mudge announced last week that Matoesian will retire July 1.
Matoesian is the longest-serving judge in the state of Illinois. He first served as a magistrate judge in 1965. Since then, he has served continuously from associate judge to elected circuit judge in 1980. He was most recently retained in 2016.
During his brief return, Matoesian signed an order dismissing the personal injury case with prejudice on May 22 with each party bearing their own costs, fees and expenses.
The parties filed a stipulation for dismissal on May 20, stating that the controversy had been compromised and settled for an unspecified amount.
Plaintiff Denise Montgomery had been represented by Thomas G. Wilmowski Jr. of Schultz & Myers LLC in St. Louis.
Defendant Jack Schmitt Chevrolet of Wood River Inc. had been represented by Paul M. Rauschenbach of Law Office of Craig A. Hansen in Schaumburg, Ill.
Montgomery filed her complaint on May 8, 2018. She alleged she was a passenger in a bus maintained by the defendant on June 12, 2016 when the vehicle’s rear tires fell off on Edison Avenue in Granite City.
The plaintiff claimed she suffered serious and permanent injuries to her head, back, neck and shoulders. She also claimed she incurred medical expenses.
Montgomery alleged the defendant failed to perform repair work in a good and workmanlike manner.
In its answer to the complaint, Jack Schmitt Chevrolet argued that the plaintiff caused or contributed to her own injuries.
The defendant also argued that the acts or omissions of third parties caused or contributed to the alleged damages.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 18-L-618