Federal Court News
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Dugan rejects Cahokia Heights' report on sewer system
EAST ST. LOUIS - U.S. District Judge David Dugan rejected a report by Cahokia Heights on progress toward a consent decree for better sewers and decided to measure it for himself.
Federal Court
Beatty denies summary judgment for Flora School District in suit alleging autistic twins were severely bullied
Magistrate Judge Mark Beatty concluded that autistic twins James and Jacob Pennington provided enough evidence of severe and pervasive bullying by students and staff at the Flora Community Unit School District No. 35 to defeat the district’s motion for summary judgment.
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Judge: Litigation financier Burford can seize control of Sysco's claims in chicken prices lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin rejected poultry producers' attempts to shut down Burford Capital's move to step into court in place of Sysco, saying poultry producers need to accept that third party lawsuit funders can take control of lawsuits to protect their investments and maximize profits
Federal Court
Trademark violation suit over shuttered Hofbrauhaus in Belleville settles
BENTON - Owners of American rights to the brand of Germany’s Hofbrau beer and a receiver for the vacant Hofbrauhaus on Route 15 in Belleville settled a suit over its failure.
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Plaintiffs seek MDL for claims that minors became addicted to video games
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lawyers who claim in federal courts of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas that video games damage young minds seek consolidation of their cases by the Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation.
Federal Court
Meta Platforms to appeal arbitration denial in unfair competition suit
BENTON - Meta Platforms posted notice on March 22 that it would appeal denial of arbitration for an unfair competition claim that 107.1 FM owner Metroplex Communications of Alton brought in U.S. district court.
Federal Court
Cahokia Heights disputes residents' claims about the sewer system's capacity
EAST ST. LOUIS - Cahokia Heights claims residents suing for better sewers filled a brief about a possible consent decree with inaccuracies, misstatements, and misrepresentations.
Federal Court
S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination
Federal Court
Yandle finds claims against Honeywell were not timely filed; Metropolis residents claim uranium processing caused cancer
BENTON - U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle granted summary judgment for Honeywell on claims that its uranium processing caused cancer.
Federal Court
Seventh Circuit: Barge company not liable after crewmember went overboard, became trapped under barge in freezing temps
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Magistrate Judge Reona Daly’s ruling that American River Transportation Company LLC (ARTCO) did not owe a duty to a crew member who plunged into freezing water and briefly became trapped under the barge.
Federal Court
Casino Queen employees appeal denial of class certification in pension dispute
EAST ST. LOUIS - Past and present Casino Queen employees petitioned U. S. Seventh Circuit appellate judges to review denial of class certification for their suit over the collapse of their pension plan.
Federal Court
McGlynn grants $1 million default judgment for British musician Jason Kay in suit alleging trademark violations
EAST ST. LOUIS - British musician Jason Kay secured a permanent injunction against counterfeit websites and will collect $1 million if he can find the owners or their assets.
Federal Court
Seventh Circuit: Insurer had no duty to cover $6.7 million judgment in wood chipper injury dispute
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that U.S. district judge Phil Gilbert properly dismissed Bailey Watson’s claim for more than $6.6 million against insurers after she was run over with a wood chipper.
Federal Court
Cahokia Heights residents urge Dugan to order sewage cleanup, sewer repairs
EAST ST. LOUIS - Neither Cahokia Heights nor environmental regulators will expand the capacity of the city’s sewers and nothing less will work, according to residents pressing U. S. District Judge David Dugan for action.
Federal Court
Rosenstengel compels deposition of Apple senior executive, denies sanctions in BIPA suit
U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ordered Apple to produce Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi for depositions but denied a request for sanctions sought by Apple product users who claim their biometric identifiers were collected and stored through the Photos App.
Federal Court
Dugan rejects remand in Walmart termination suits and severs claims into separate cases
EAST ST. LOUIS - Walmart turned down an offer from former employees to limit damages on their discrimination claims to less than $75,000 each so they could litigate in St. Clair County.
Federal Court
Apple moves to bar software engineering VP from being deposed in BIPA suit; Plaintiffs seek sanctions
Apple product users who claim their biometric identifiers were collected and stored through the Photos App's facial recognition technology seek sanctions against the tech giant for failing to produce its Vice President of Software Engineering for a deposition ahead of the March 8 discovery deadline.
Federal Court
Yandle denies Meta's motion for arbitration in suit alleging unfair competition
BENTON - Owners of 107.1 FM and Advantage News may pursue an unfair competition suit against Facebook provider Meta Platforms, U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle ruled on March 5.
Federal Court
Edwardsville doctor pleads guilty to healthcare fraud involving Medicare billing scheme
Edwardsville physician Phillip J. Greene, 59, pleaded guilty to federal healthcare fraud for documenting false services provided to nursing home patients for Medicare reimbursement.
Federal Court
Gilbert denies dismissal in suit alleging St. Clair County 911 dispatchers were not paid for overtime work
BENTON - St. Clair County must defend a claim that it owes overtime pay to 911 dispatchers, Senior U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert ruled on Feb. 20.