Currently under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 34, a document request cannot be served on an opposing party until the attorneys have met and “conferred as required by Rule 26(f)” with only a few exceptions. When the lawyers meet, “the parties must consider the nature and basis of their…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago has affirmed a decision by the U.S. district judge who refused to reopen a default judgment. Kyler Moje, a hockey player on the Danville Dashers of the Federal Hockey League, lost an eye to high-sticking during a game against the…
Glen Bellamy, age 50, was driving through an intersection on a green light when his car collided with a tractor-trailer driven by Thomas Godbold. Godbold was employed by Red Classic Transit LLC. It was alleged that Godbold ran a red light, causing this crash with Bellamy’s vehicle and severely injuring…
Under the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure §2-203.1 “Service by Special Order of Court” is allowed if it is impractical to serve someone (a defendant) at his or her place of abode. In that case, the court can direct a comparable method of service in any manner consistent with the…
Jimmy Hill was 66 years old and was unloading a truckload of chicks at a farm when an employee of the transportation company J.B. Hunt drove a forklift over Hill’s ankle. Hill underwent surgery to repair the broken ankle and later died of post-operative sepsis. He is survived by his…
Grayco Communications was installing cable at the home of Steven Thomas when a ladder became stuck. Thomas, a retired firefighter, climbed up the ladder to dislodge it. He fell, suffering a compound leg fracture. As a result of the severe leg fracture, he developed a bone infection that later required…
In a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983, Danny Farley hired an attorney who began the process of filing the complaint in the Southern District of Illinois in East St. Louis, Ill. The local rules in the district require that documents be filed electronically through the CM/ECF system. Attorneys…
Daniel Orr died in a motorcycle accident in August 2012. His beneficiaries, who were his daughters, Hailey and Daniell, filed claims seeking benefits payable under a group life insurance policy governed by ERISA. The insurance policy was issued by Union Security Insurance Co. to Orr’s former employer. The policy provided…
On July 18, 2010 Geraldine Mular was a guest of the home of Dawn Ingram. Mular fell into a backyard pool and was injured. No lawsuit was filed until July 16, 2012, just one day before the statute of limitations would have expired. The lawsuit named Ingram as the defendant.…
The plaintiff Shrempf, Kelly, Napp & Darr, Ltd. was granted summary judgment by the Circuit Court of Madison County for attorney fees and costs they claimed were due pursuant to the Illinois Common Fund Doctrine. The defendants, the Carpenters’ Health and Welfare Trust Fund and the trustees of the Carpenters’…