Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP of Belleville, Illinois successfully defended a municipal client on a breach of employment contract in the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court. In April 2015 the Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the claim that alleged that the City wrongfully terminated the employment contract of the city manager.
Theresa Breslin already held a license to practice law from the State of Florida. When her husband, a member of the United States Air Force, was transferred to Illinois she applied for admission to practice law in Illinois under a provision of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules for admission of military spouses. In April 2015 Theresa was sworn in for Illinois by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier. Theresa began working for Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP in December 2014 as a litigation paralegal while she awaited her license. She will now work as a new attorney in the firm’s litigation practice.
In March 2015 Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP competed the expansion of its office space. The Firm opened on May 1, 2013. This expansion was necessary to accommodate the additional attorneys hired by the Firm since its start.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission affirmed Arbitrator’s decision in favor of employer represented by Attorney Jennifer Barbieri. Petitioner, a custodian worker for Respondent for over 20 years, claimed he sustained injuries to his bilateral hands and arms as a result of his repetitive job activities. Petitioner demanded that Respondent authorize surgery for his carpal and cubital tunnel conditions. Respondent denied the claim with Ms. Barbieri arguing that Petitioner’s job duties were not repetitive and did not contribute to the development of Petitioner’s injuries. The Arbitrator agreed with Ms. Barbieri’s position and the evidence put forth on behalf of the employer in ruling that Petitioner failed to prove that he sustained a work-related accident and that he failed to prove that his current condition of ill-being was related to the alleged accident.
The Arbitrator continually relied on Ms. Barbieri’s cross-examination of both the Petitioner, as well as Petitioner’s treating surgeon, as the evidence upon which her decision was based. All benefits were denied. Petitioner appealed the Arbitrator’s decision to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. Following briefs and oral arguments, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission affirmed and adopted the decision of the Arbitrator and found favors for the employer on all issues. Utley v. Cahokia School District.
In March 2015 the Court in St. Clair County, Illinois has given preliminary approval to the settlement of a class action filed against the City of East St. Louis, Illinois regarding its Photographic Speed Enforcement Program. The suit was brought by several persons who received notices of violations of the City’s speeding ordinance under the Program. The settlement provides for a dismissal of all pending charges and a refund of a portion of the fines paid to the City under the program. Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP represented the City in the suit and negotiated the settlement.
James Clayborne Jr. of Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP in Belleville, Illinois has been named to the Leading Lawyers’ Network in 2015. The Leading Lawyers Network was started by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publishers of the Chicago Law Bulletin, to help lawyers and legal consumers identify experienced, reputable lawyers in 84 different areas of law throughout the state of Illinois. Lawyers selected for the Network are those most often recommended by their peers in statewide surveys who are then further reviewed by an Advisory Panel. Less than 5% of Illinois’ more than 65,000 attorneys are admitted to the Network. Each member of the Network must qualify annually. John Sabo of Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner LLP has been a member of the Leading Lawyers’ Network since 2004.