A locomotive engineer is suing Central Railroad Company, alleging the train’s cab seat collapsed and broke, causing him to sustain serious injuries. Joshua Ohmart filed a complaint July 28 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois Central Railroad Company, alleging violation of federal law. According to the complaint, Ohmart was working as a locomotive engineer for Central Railroad…
Within the first week of reopening schools and welcoming back students and staff, several Indiana districts reported their first coronavirus cases. In central Indiana alone, at least half a dozen districts saw a teacher or student test positive for the virus last week—a reality the state’s top health official said is unavoidable. State officials aren’t shutting down schools, but insist…
More than one-third of states have accepted COVID-19 as an occupational illness for certain professionals, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Overall, 19 states have made changes to workers compensation compensability amid the pandemic, according to the Boca Raton, Florida-based ratings agency. Eleven states have issued executive orders, directives or emergency rules on…
The family of a suburban Chicago woman who died of complications related to COVID-19 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a meatpacking plant where her husband worked and contracted the virus. The family of Esperanza Ugalde alleges in their lawsuit that Aurora Packing Co. in North Aurora failed to take steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the…
A motorist claims he suffered injuries when his vehicle was rear-ended by a Metro-East Transit employee. Charlie Harris filed a complaint July 29 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Metro-East Transit District of St. Clair County, doing business as St. Clair County Transit District, the St. Clair County Transit District Board of Trustees, Southwestern Illinois College, the Board…
A BJC Medical Group patient claims a physician failed to properly diagnose and treat her wound, which she claims led to an infection in her bone. Holly Olmstead filed a complaint Aug. 3 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Herbert Biel M.D., and BJC Medical Group of Illinois, alleging negligence. Olmstead alleges in her complaint that during a…
The coronavirus pandemic dealt a relatively modest $2.5 billion blow to five insurers with large U.S. operations in the second quarter – a cost that was far less than feared and which the industry has absorbed without touching capital, analysts said. American International Group Inc. and Chubb Ltd. said payouts on claims related to the disease accounted for most of…
A northern Indiana utility is facing a $1.1 million fine, the largest in state history, after state regulators cited it for natural gas pipeline safety violations and specified that the company cannot pass that cost onto its ratepayers. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission cited the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. for instances of failing to locate or mark underground pipelines…
A diabetic patient claims he suffered a surgical wound infection after Saint Anthony’s delayed his follow-up treatment by terminating his physician. Dennis Jarden filed a complaint Aug. 3 in the Madison County Circuit Court against OSF Healthcare System, doing business as OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center, and OSF Multi-Speciality Group, alleging institutional and medical negligence. According to his complaint, Jarden…
Wal-Mart must defend a claim that a lamp with a clamp caused a fatal fire, Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel ruled on July 30. She denied motions to dismiss claims that the estate of Gina Breeze brought against Wal-Mart and lamp maker Bayco Products. She allowed a claim for punitive damages, finding the case permitted an exception from a…
