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State regulators have fined an excavating company $14,400 for workplace safety violations discovered after three workers, including a father and son, died in August while working on a northeastern Indiana sewer project. The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed the fine on Jan. 29 against Fort Wayne-based Crosby Excavating Inc. after an inspection found three “serious” safety violations and…

Indiana legislators are poised to finalize a fast-tracked proposal that will give a broad shield protecting businesses and others from lawsuits by people blaming them for contracting COVID-19. The proposal is a top priority of Republican legislative leaders and GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb even though supporters don’t point to any such lawsuits in the state. Supporters maintain that the liability…

A woman is suing a Belleville Wendy’s, alleging she was injured when she tripped and fell while walking in the parking lot. Mamie Saffore filed a complaint on June 7 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against BB St. Louis LLC, Wendy’s Properties LLC and Wendy’s International LLC alleging negligence. The suit states that Saffore was walking through the parking…

A woman alleges she suffered multiple injuries after driving over an unlocked and unsecured manhole cover in the Village of Cahokia. Laveta Horace filed a complaint Jan. 22 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Village of Cahokia, alleging negligence. According to her suit, Horace was driving her vehicle northbound on Ellen Street near the intersections of St. Stephens…

The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill that includes prejudgment interest in the recovery of damages in personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. HB 3360 specifies “that in all actions brought to recover damages for personal injuries or wrongful death resulting from or occasioned by the wrongful conduct of any other person or entity, the plaintiff shall recover prejudgment…

An ambulance driver is accused of failing to use lights and sirens while attempting to pass vehicles on an Illinois state highway, which allegedly resulted in a collision. Carrie Grandcolas and Jeffrey Grandcolas filed a complaint (part 2) Jan. 11 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Abbott EMS, Abbott EMS of Illinois, Mission Care of Illinois, Global Medical…

A motorist claims she suffered a back injury in rear-end collision that resulted in burns from a tens unit used during her physical therapy treatments. Tecia McKinney filed a complaint Jan. 14 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Scott Hedger, Upchurch Oil and Ready Mix Concrete Co., alleging negligence. According to the complaint, McKinney was driving her vehicle…