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Southern Illinois

  • December 2, 2011 | People
    Law office cat tale: Comiskey returns after 4-month absence

    Longtime ISBA member Don Brandon received an early Christmas gift recently when he walked into his office to find that his 7-year-old cat, Comiskey, had returned after a four-month hiatus. Brandon and other office staff had posted missing posters around the southern Illinois town of Herrin.

    The office has a pet door that allowed Comiskey to come and go as he pleased. He had last been seen on Aug. 7.

    "He showed up 7 years ago as a kitten and I gave him a cup of milk," Brandon said. "He stuck around with him and we became very fond of him. He sits wherever he wants."

    Brandon attended law school at Chicago-Kent and said the dog's black coat and white paws reminded him of the Chicago White Sox.

  • November 18, 2011 | People
    R. Stanley Tyler 1929-2011

    R. Stanley Tyler, age 82 of Charleston, passed from this life on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at Heartland Christian Village in Neoga, Illinois.

    Stanley was born March 5, 1929 in Martinsville, Illinois, a son of the late Elmer and Zella (Atkins) Tyler. He married Lorain Lambdin of Marshall, Illinois on August 21, 1949.

    In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Stanley received a B.S. degree from Indiana State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois where he graduated first in his law class of which he was also president. While still a student, he passed the Illinois Bar Exam and was admitted to the practice of law. Later in his career, he was also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court and the Supreme Court of the United States.

    After two years in a Chicago law firm, Stanley came to Charleston in 1954. He first practiced law with the late Wayne Shuey and later joined the Reasor Corporation as Legal Counsel and as a member of the Board of Directors. He left Charleston in 1970 to accept a faculty position in the College of Business and Administration at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

  • November 17, 2011 | ISBA News
    Russell Scott to receive Illinois Bar Foundation's Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award

    The Illinois Bar Foundation will honor Belleville attorney ISBA Board member Russell K. Scott with the foundation’s prestigious 2011 Distinguished Service to Law and Society Award. The award will be presented at a meeting of the ISBA's Midyear Meeting in Chicago.  Past recipients of the award include U.S. Senators Alan Dixon and Paul Simon, Illinois Supreme Court justices, federal judges and noted attorneys. Scott is a senior litigation officer with Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. and co-manager of the firm’s Southern Illinois Practice Group, based in Belleville.

    The award honors Scott for significant contributions to law, society and the Illinois Bar Foundation and The Fellows program. Founded more than 50 years ago, the foundation ensures meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those of limited means, and assists lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.  Find our more at www.illinoisbarfoundation.org.

    With Greensfelder, Scott’s practice includes the defense of legal and medical malpractice suits, product liability actions, industrial accident cases, premises liability, automobile, construction, insurance coverage, class action, toxic tort, general commercial and personal injury litigation. He is also a certified mediator.

    Scott was inducted into the Academy of Illinois Lawyers in 2009. He is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and fellow and board member of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution.

  • November 3, 2011 | Practice News
    Nicole L. Villani appointed circuit judge in 2nd Circuit

    The Supreme Court of Illinois announced Thursday the appointment of Jefferson County State's Attorney Nicole L. Villani as a Circuit Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit.

    Ms. Villani was appointed to fill the resident Circuit Court seat which will become vacant upon the December 31, 2011 retirement of Circuit Judge Terry H. Gamber.

    The appointment is effective January 1, 2012 and will expire December 3, 2012, when the position will be filled by the winner of the 2012 General Election.

    Prior to serving as Jefferson County state's attorney, Ms. Villani, 41, practiced in family law, civil litigation and criminal defense with the Mt. Vernon law firm of Villani and Villani for six years. From 1998-2004, she worked as first assistant state's attorney in Jefferson County. For two years, Ms. Villani served as assistant state's attorney for Franklin County.

    Ms. Villani received a B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 1992. She received her juris doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in l995.

    She was admitted to practice law in Illinois in l995, and has also been admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and is certified as lead counsel by the Illi-nois Supreme Court to handle death penalty cases.
    Ms. Villani is member of the Illinois State and Jefferson County Bar Associations. A member of several local civic organizations, Ms. Villani was appointed board member of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (C.A.S.A) of Jefferson County from 2006-2009.

  • November 3, 2011 | People
    Lemonds receives Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award

    Attorney Jim Lemonds was presented with the Land of Lincoln Joseph R. Bartylak Pro Bono Award on October 27, 2011, at a meeting of the St. Clair County Bar Association. Mr. Lemonds is lead trial attorney with Brown and Crouppen in St. Louis and has spent over 200 volunteer hours in the past six years assisting attorneys in the Central Regional Office of Land of Lincoln in East St. Louis. Mr. Lemonds has participated in multiple trial advocacy skills trainings held for Land of Lincoln attorneys, performed demonstrations, and provided critiques of individual staff performances during these intensive, multiple-day trainings.  In addition, he has also served as a consultant on a number of predatory lending cases in the Central Region, helping our attorneys to evaluate damage claims.

    “Jim has dramatically improved the quality of our skills training, because of his vast deposition and trial experience,” states Richard Chase, Litigation and Training Specialist with Land of Lincoln. “He has handled more than 1,000 depositions and tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict. He is able to draw on this experience to give our attorneys invaluable advice on how to improve their litigation skills.”

    “I very much appreciate the Board recognizing my work,” Jim Lemonds states. “But the real award goes to the lawyers and staff of Land of Lincoln who work their hearts out every day, just as Joe Bartylak did, to serve those among us who would otherwise be denied access to our justice system because of a lack of financial resources.”

  • October 26, 2011 | People | Events
    Madison County Bar Association kicks off Pro Bono Week with luncheon

    One hundred fifty members of the Madison County Bar were honored Tuesday at a Pro Bono Luncheon in Edwardsville sponsored by Heyl, Royster, The Simmons Firm, and the Madison County Bar Association. Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier, 3rd Circuit Chief Judge Ann Callis, and 3rd Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder praised the volunteers for accepting pro bono cases through the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.
     
    Among volunteers were Billie Johnson of Johnson and Anderson in Edwardsville, Amy Garrett of The Simmons Firm, and Bonnie Levo of Levo and Donahoo in Troy, joined by Joan Spiegel, pro bono coordinator of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance, Madison County Bar President Ron Foster, and Judge Crowder.
     
    The event was held to coincide with national Pro Bono Week activities.
     

  • October 21, 2011 | People
    Susan Marie Settle 1961-2011
    Susan Marie Settle, age 50 of Glen Carbon, IL, born April 20, 1961 in St. Louis, MO passed away Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL.

    Susan was employed as an attorney and practiced law in Illinois and Missouri. She was associated with the Gary Underwood Law Firm of St. Louis and also she acted as counsel pro hac vice for various law firms. She attended Son Life Church in Collinsville, and was a former member of Maryville Assembly of God in Maryville.

    She graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1979, earned a Bachelor degree from Evangel University in Springfield, MO in 1983, and earned her law degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK in 1986.She is survived by her mother and father, Norma L. nee Flanigan and Kelley R. Settle of Glen Carbon; sisters:  Diane C. Settle of Sarasota, FL; Julie A. (Alan) Stolzer of Port Orange, FL; a nephew, Benjamin Stolzer and a niece, Hannah Stolzer both of Port Orange, FL.  She was a beloved daughter, sister and aunt.  Susan will be greatly missed by all who knew her. 

    Memorials may be made to New Rivers Assembly of God (formerly Maryville Assembly of God), 2620 North Center, Maryville, IL 62062.

  • October 17, 2011 | Practice News
    Federal Courts have opening for Pro Se Law Clerk in Southern Illinois

    Position: Pro Se Law Clerk, Temporary
    Vacancy Announcement Number: 2011-06
    Location: East St. Louis, Illinois
    Starting Salary Range: $47,448 (JSP 9/1) to $96,690 (JSP 14/1), depending on qualifications
    Date Posted: October 13, 2011
    Closing Date: November 4, 2011

    Position Summary
    The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is seeking a full-time temporary Pro Se Law Clerk for the East St. Louis and Benton courthouses. This temporary position is for a 2 year term. The Pro Se Law Clerk provides legal advice and assistance to the court in connection with prisoner petitions and complaints.

  • October 12, 2011 | People
    Maurice Dailey Sr. 1922-2011

    Maurice Dailey, Sr., passed away in his sleep at his home in Edwardsville on Sept. 22, 2011.

    Maurice was born June 25, 1922 in Auburn, Ill., to Mae and Daniel H. Dailey. He started his schooling at St. Boniface in Edwardsville and moved to Taylorville when he was 8 years old. After graduating high school, he attended Illinois College in Jacksonville.

    While attending college, he worked for the deaf and blind school. Upon graduation he enrolled in Notre Dame Mid-Shipman's School. From there he served in World War II in the Pacific as captain of a mine sweeper.

    After the war, he returned to Taylorville, working in the mines and eventually entering John Marshall Law School in Chicago, where he graduated top of class in June, 1950.

    From college, he relocated to Granite City, Ill. Maurice became associated with Roscoe Forth in 1950.

    Maurice married Judith Ann Jester July 15, 1951, after meeting her in law school. They resided in Granite City until 1973, but his law practice continued in Granite City for a total of 52 years. His practice included real estate, condemnation, probate, banking, corporate and construction law.

  • September 9, 2011 | Practice News
    Judicial vacancy announced in Jefferson County

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier announced Thursday that an application process has begun for a resident Circuit Court vacancy in Jefferson County, Second Judicial Circuit.

    The resident Circuit vacancy is being created by the announced resignation of Circuit Judge Terry H. Gamber, effective December 31, 2011.

    Under the Illinois Constitution, the Supreme Court holds the authority to fill interim judicial vacancies. Justice Karmeier uses a committee to evaluate and interview applicants before making a recommendation to the Court for vacancies in the Fifth Judicial District.

    Applicants must submit a cover letter with the Requested Information of an Applicant Form to:

    • Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier
    • Supreme Court of Illinois
    • P.O. Box 266
    • Nashville, IL 62263

    The form may be obtained from the office of Chief Judge Kyle Vantrease of the Second Judicial Circuit in Benton; or from Jefferson County Circuit Clerk John Scott; or from Resident Circuit Judge Terry H. Gamber at the Jefferson County Courthouse; or from the Jefferson County Bar Association; or from Justice Karmeier.

    Applicants' cover letter and completed form must be received in Justice Karmeier's office no later than Friday, September 30, 2011. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will serve until the position is filled through the November 2012 General Election. The appointment will terminate December 3, 2012. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a resident of Jefferson County at the time of the appointment.