Latest News
Suit: Head Start employees allegedly forced child to strip naked and locked him in room
EDWARDSVILLE -- Two employees of an East St. Louis pre-school program are accused of stripping a child naked and locking him in either a closet or a room.
Physician seeks to substitute Kolker in St. Clair County med mal suit
BELLEVILLE – Physician Helen Mussemann, facing a wrongful death suit, moved for substitution of Circuit Judge Christopher Kolker on April 1.
Glove fragments found in bed of Edwardsville couple who were fatally stabbed
Parts of a rubber glove or gloves were found on the bed and on the bedroom floor of an Edwardsville couple who were stabbed to death in March, according to Madison County prosecutors.
Madison County officials feud over access to records; Prenzler's team counter sues Auditor Faccin
EDWARDSVILLE -- Madison County officials are countersuing auditor Rick Faccin for access to his office's financial software, which he has vowed to keep private.
Mudge elected chief judge of Third Judicial Circuit
Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge was elected to take over as chief judge of the Third Judicial Circuit beginning June 3.
Woman's trip, fall suit against McDonald's at trial in Rudolf's court
A woman’s lawsuit alleging she tripped and fell on loose tile at McDonalds is at trial in St. Clair County Circuit Judge Heinz Rudolf’s courtroom.
Special prosecutor in DUI cases has dismissed tickets for persons connected to State’s Attorney
EDWARDSVILLE – At least five times in three years, special prosecutor David Rands dismissed drunk driving tickets for persons with connections to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons.
Lawsuit over county transit bus driver's sexual assault of passenger awaits ruling on elderly woman's competence
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County Transit District Bus driver Paul Rongey paid the state $1,917 for sexual assault on passenger Peggy Kachadorian, and now a lawsuit over the assault asks if anyone owes her anything.
Facility service provider counter sues Gori Julian over contract dispute at Edwardsville properties
EDWARDSVILLE – Gori Julian law firm, a national leader in asbestos litigation, has tangled itself in a $70,000 dispute over soap and towels and such.
Police find $727,000 in 60-year-old's car in Madison County; He says they can keep it
A state trooper found $727,000 in cash in a 60-year-old man’s vehicle in Madison County, and prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of the cash.
Fifth District reverses Baricevic, finding prisoner’s petition improperly denied due to trivial error
MOUNT VERNON – Former 20th Circuit chief judge John Baricevic improperly denied a prisoner’s petition due to a trivial error, Fifth District appellate judges ruled on April 1.
Yandle denies DOJ's motion to dismiss opioid 'false claim' suit alleging drug makers, CVS participated in kickback scheme
District Judge Staci Yandle denied the United States’ motion to dismiss an opioid suit for wasting the government’s time, which alleges drug makers and retailer CVS participated in a kickback scheme by providing free nursing and reimbursement support services.
Union County judge Boie assigned seat at Fifth District Appellate Court
Union County Circuit Judge Mark M. Boie, a Republican, has been assigned a seat on the Fifth District Appellate Court to fill the vacancy created by the election of Justice David Overstreet last November.
Probation officers, court workers sue St. Clair County officials over board's budget cuts
BELLEVILLE – St. Clair County’s board adopted a budget that would have harmed probation officers and court workers in four other counties, according to a suit their union filed in chancery court.
Missouri woman's insurance claim won't be decided in St. Clair Co.; State Farm had argued forum shopping
BELLEVILLE – Heather Brinkley of DeSoto, Mo., who sued State Farm in St. Clair County circuit court over coverage of her home, chose not to resist a challenge to the court’s jurisdiction.
Belleville law firm suing accountant over tax fines and penalties may have case decided by jury
BELLEVILLE – Chatham and Baricevic law firm didn’t want a jury to resolve its dispute with accountant Mark Diak, but Associate Judge Julie Katz has given herself an option to hold a jury trial.
DOJ seeks to keep identity of office partner in affair with former U.S. Attorney secret
NEW YORK CITY – Dodging a deadline to identify a former U.S. attorney who engaged in misconduct and his intimate office partner, U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman pleaded to keep the woman’s name secret in federal court in New York.
Retrial underway in Mudge's court for UPS worker's suit alleging injuries from dog attack
A trial on damages only in a suit involving a dog attack is underway in Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge’s court after the case’s previous jury award was vacated by the Fifth District Appellate Court over speculative testimony.
Lawyers have til April 22 to evaluate associate judges; ISBA poll precedes re-appointments
Lawyers in Illinois have until April 22 to evaluate associate judges (outside Cook County) in a poll conducted by the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA).
Gleeson grants dismissal in tax buyer's defamation suit; Plaintiff given leave to file amended complaint
St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson granted dismissal requests by Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler and property owners in a tax buyer’s defamation suit.