Latest News
Former magistrate appointed special master to antitrust case he managed at SDIL
EAST ST. LOUIS – Former U.S. magistrate judge Stephen Williams will make $425 an hour managing an antitrust suit he left behind when he resigned.
Objector wants ‘clandestine interactions’ with court divulged in Hale v. State Farm fee dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS – A class action objector pressing for disclosure of Trish Murphy’s fee from a $250 million settlement with State Farm, argues that a brief from Murphy’s colleagues proved that the fee belongs in the public record.
Trial lawyers are paying millions to a handful of experts necessary to push their talc cases
A small group of highly paid experts, one of whom recently testified his firm has made $30 million offering mostly pro-plaintiff testimony, are the key ingredient for more than 10,000 lawsuits claiming talcum powder is laced with deadly asbestos, forming the tip of an inverted pyramid upon which the rest of the cases depend.
New judge in Just for Men class action must sort out jurisdictional puzzle
EAST ST. LOUIS – Former U.S. District Judge David Herndon presided over 8,655 claims of injury from Just for Men hair dye for two and a half years, and now that he is retired, District Judge Staci Yandle must solve a jurisdictional puzzle.
Madison County calls VAC funding suit 'frivolous'; Lavite, VAC seek more than $1M in funding shortfalls
Madison County called a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million due to alleged shortfalls in funding for the Veterans Assistance Commission “frivolous” and without “basis in fact or law."
'That can't be right': Group defending disputed insurance law project gets judges involved
PHILADELPHIA – It's curious that a group of lawyers and scholars that traditionally sought to help judges by restating existing laws - but has since been accused of trying to create its own - is involving federal judges as it explains itself, attorneys feel.
New lawyer representing plaintiffs in Sauget pollution case; Will seek to invalidate $21 million settlement
BELLEVILLE – Jacqueline Everson and Tyrha Dooley, who fired their lawyers for settling 11,256 pollution-related disease and property damage claims against Monsanto for $21 million, have retained attorney Greg Lathram of Collinsville.
Asbestos to family law: Barry Julian sworn in as associate judge
Newly appointed Madison County associate judge Barry Julian will preside over the family division after being sworn into his new role on Feb 8.
Lawmaker's bill aimed at stopping gun-rights sanctuary counties
Critic says Illinois politicians want to 'disarm the public'
Yandle calls out lawyer litigating pollution remediation suit for using court ‘to extract payments’
BENTON – U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle, who stayed a pollution suit against 3,500 defendants so plaintiffs could streamline it, found they used her authority to their advantage instead.
Former federal magistrate Williams joins Belleville law firm
Also served as federal public defender - Gary Peel was former client.
Lawyers oppose motion to disclose wife of former federal judge will share $80 million fee
EAST ST. LOUIS – Lawyers who settled a class action against State Farm for $250 million oppose a motion to disclose the fee for Trish Murphy, wife and law partner of former federal judge Patrick Murphy.
Fifth District affirms circuit court's ruling in estate dispute
MOUNT VERNON -- The Fifth District Appellate Court has affirmed a circuit court decision in a complaint involving the division of an estate.
Proponents of venue reform say out-of-state claimants have 'gamed' St. Louis city courts
JEFFERSON CITY – Speaking for the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers in opposing a bill that would tighten jurisdiction over civil suits, injury attorney Brett Emison argued that cities produce better trials because jurors have time and resources to sit for weeks, whereas jury prospects in rural counties have to get their crops in.
Bankruptcy judge denies motion to dismiss Bestwall’s Chapter 11 case; Beyer: Bestwall’s case ‘wrongfully motivated’ but justified by ‘sufficient financial distress’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bankruptcy judge Laura T. Beyer said Bestwall LLC’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition under Section 524(g) was “wrongfully motivated” but denied the Official Committee of Asbestos Claimants' motion to dismiss for filing in bad faith.
Missouri lawmakers seek to limit out-of-state plaintiffs suing in St. Louis where huge verdicts have resulted
Legislation aimed at joinder of suits
Plaintiffs in mass pollution case agree to stay Cerro trial for Monsanto good faith finding
BELLEVILLE – Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson has ordered Monsanto to move for a finding of good faith in its $21 million mass settlement of pollution claims.
Madison County jury reaches defense verdict in patient’s suit alleging lacerated bladder
A Madison County jury returned a verdict in favor of St. Anthony’s Medical Center and a physician in a medical malpractice suit alleging a patient’s bladder was lacerated during a laproscopy procedure.
JIB complaints have resulted in 10 censures, 25 reprimands since creation in 1970
SPRINGFIELD – Some judges fall to the Judicial Inquiry Board (JIB), some rise above it, and some suffer consequence in a single word.
Objector to $250 million State Farm settlement wants to know why wife of former federal judge is entitled to fees
EAST ST. LOUIS – Class action objector Lisa Marlow of Tennessee, appealing an $80 million fee for class action lawyers who sued State Farm, wants to know how much attorney Patricia Murphy of Marion would get and why she should get it.