Federal Court News
Federal Court
Testimony in $11 million legal malpractice trial shows defense ‘on their heels’ by Keefe team
BENTON - Jurors at U.S. district court didn’t decide whether attorney James Borland of Springfield committed legal malpractice in St. Clair County but they heard fascinating testimony from him and from the lawyer who defeated him, Thomas Keefe III of Swansea.
Federal Court
Plaintiffs in Caseyville flood suit: 'We're going after CSX as landowner who just happens to be railroad company'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Flood damage claims that Caseyville and Keller Farms brought against CSX don’t involve the railroad’s bridge over a creek, village attorney Doug Stewart and Keller Farms counsel Jason Johnson argued on March 5.
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Federal Court
St. Louis man sentenced to 12 years in scam involving online private car sales totaling $1.7 million
EAST ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in a vehicle sale scheme using fake cashier’s checks and targeting victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties.
Federal Court
Judge denies move to dismiss Cheddar Bay Biscuit case; Plaintiff claims 3.1 biscuit shortage per box
EAST ST. LOUIS - Accuracy of information on a box of Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuit mix doesn’t excuse baker Continental Mills from liability for inaccurate information on the box, Chief U.S. Judge Nancy Rostengel ruled on March 20.
Federal Court
More plaintiffs should be dropped from Paraquat MDL over failure to answer questions, special master says
EAST ST. LOUIS - Special master Randi Ellis recommended dismissal of 117 paraquat exposure suits on March 20 for failure to return necessary questionnaires.
Federal Court
Legal malpractice case settles as jurors begin deliberations
BENTON - Ansur America Insurance and lawyer James Borland of Peoria settled a legal malpractice claim after seven days of trial with jurors just beginning to deliberate.
Federal Court
Judge dismisses racketeering suit against Simmons firm and lawyers
CHICAGO - U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman dismissed a racketeering suit against John Simmons’s asbestos firm of Alton and seven of the firm’s lawyers on March 18.
Federal Court
Jersey County treasurer resigns amid divorce, foreclosure and shortage investigation
JERSEYVILLE - Jersey County treasurer Katie Abbey resigned on March 6 in the midst of divorce, foreclosure and an investigation of a shortage in the county’s books.
Federal Court
Seventh Circuit upholds Gilbert in short barrel tax and registration case
CHICAGO - Senior U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert of Benton correctly upheld taxation and registration of rifles with short barrels, Seventh Circuit appellate judges ruled on March 10.
Federal Court
Judge orders arbitration in Auffenberg class action alleging commissions not fully paid
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn ordered arbitration of a class action claim that auto dealer Christopher Auffenberg didn’t fully pay commissions on used car sales.
Federal Court
Celebrities claim strip clubs misappropriated their images in suits against Oz and Pony
BENTON - Ten celebrities claimed Oz nightclub in Sauget misappropriated their images and Carmen Electra claims the Pony club across from Cape Girardeau misappropriated hers.
Federal Court
Arizona Beverages awarded $154K as Dugan finds Sheehan pursued fraud claim for plaintiff who loved 'Arnold Palmer Lite'
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge David Dugan awarded $154,862.50 to lawyers for Arizona Beverages on Feb. 25 for work that class action lawyer Spencer Sheehan put them through on a claim that had no chance.
Federal Court
Yandle excludes attorney Bleyer as expert witness in legal malpractice claim
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle excluded lawyer Joseph Bleyer of Marion from testifying as an expert at a trial about legal malpractice in a St. Clair County case.
Federal Court
Acting U.S. Attorney named in Southern District of Illinois
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Prosecutor Ali Summers stepped up to acting U.S. Attorney on Feb. 18 when President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to fire Rachelle Crowe and 92 other U.S. attorneys.
Federal Court
In denying claim for unborn fetus, judge declines 'invitation to create new law'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel granted judgment to the United States on Feb. 18 against a claim that an unborn fetus can recover damages under the Illinois Survival Act.
Federal Court
EEOC seeks to drop transgender suit in light of new 'administration policy changes'
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity commissioners moved to dismiss their discrimination suit against Sis-Bro pig weaning business of New Athens on Feb. 14.
Federal Court
'Centreville Citizens' say 'enhanced' opportunities to comment on sewer dysfunction 'embellished'
EAST ST. LOUIS - Centreville Citizens for Change claim that opportunities to comment on sewer improvements in Cahokia Heights can’t substitute for intervention in judicial approval of a consent decree.
Federal Court
Belleville lawyer pleads guilty to wire fraud charges
EAST ST. LOUIS - Jason Caraway of Belleville, whose spending of client funds caused the Illinois Supreme Court to disbar him last year, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud at U.S. district court on Feb. 13.
Federal Court
Rosenstengel says Santander class action belongs in federal court, not St. Clair County
EAST ST. LOUIS - Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled on Feb. 11 that national class action law doesn’t allow St. Clair County jurisdiction for a claim that a buyer of automobile financing contracts takes advantage of borrowers who lack clear titles.
Federal Court
USA seeks dismissal of Honduran national's lawsuit claiming damages for the year she was expelled during Covid
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. attorney Rachelle Crowe moved on Feb. 7 to dismiss a complaint of a person in Caseyville who claims the U.S. should have granted her asylum upon her illegal entry from Mexico on the 11th day of the lockdown.