Daily Record (St. Louis, MO/St. Louis Countian) articles from February 2004

Daily Record (St. Louis, MO/St. Louis Countian) archives from February 2004

State court rules that statute of limitations ran out for injured worker.
February 3, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter A woman injured while working at the General Motors plant as a statutory employee cannot bring a workers' compensation claim against the company because the statute of limitations has run out. The claimant's...

St. Louis City Judicial Comm. selects panel to fill vacancy on city court.
February 3, 2004... Byline: staff The St. Louis City Judicial Commission announced on Tuesday the panel of three nominees to be submitted to Gov. Robert Holden to fill the vacancy on the St. Louis Associate Circuit Court created by the appointment of Judge...

Mo. Appellate court rules collateral estoppel does not apply in arbitration case.
February 3, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter It is not enough to have "substantially identical" issues in a prior case for the rules of collateral estoppel to apply, a Missouri appellate court said last week. The case pitted several plaintiffs against...

Mo. Court of Appeals retains authority to distribute marital property after spouse dies.
February 3, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A nunc pro tunc judgment correcting a dissolution of marriage decree after a mother's death stands, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, found on Thursday, providing a Douglas County trial court the...

Ruling clears way for city's use of eminent domain.
February 3, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A federal appeals court released a preliminary injunction on Tuesday that barred the city of St. Louis, Target Corp. and the city's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority from using eminent domain to seize a...

Mo. Court of Appeals reduces worker's $1.4M jury award.
February 5, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright The Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, reduced a chunk of an injured railroad worker's $1.4 million jury award Tuesday, finding the railroad company entitled to medical expense offsets. The appellate...

Missouri Supreme Court offers Black History Month exhibit.
February 5, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess The Missouri Supreme Court is kicking off Black History Month with an exhibit titled "The Verdict of History," offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience Missouri's African-American legal history firsthand...

Kotovsky named president at St. Louis-based Koch Development.
February 6, 2004... Byline: Erin Piel A self-professed oxymoron, John Kotovsky, Koch Development's new president and chief executive officer, said it was a "divine coincidence" that brought him to the St. Louis-based real estate development firm and back to...

Negligence lawsuit brought against doctors and Jefferson County Hospital.
February 6, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley Barry Mark White believes that doctors missed out on warning signs of a serious cardiac condition in the early stages of his treatment. White was initially treated by Kevin J. Sides, D.O., who has expertise in...

Commentary: Helping corporate Chapter 11 debtors return to profitability.
February 6, 2004... Byline: staff Despite the recent turnaround in the economy most experts are expecting the number of bankruptcies to maintain their current level in 2004. Statistics indicate that more than 8,400 corporate bankruptcies were submitted during...

Meadows elected to Missouri General Assembly.
February 6, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter Democrat Tim Meadows is the 101st District's newest representative in the Missouri General Assembly. In a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rep. Ray Adams, Meadows received 63.56 percent...

Ambassador Hospitality L.L.C. opens Parkway Hotel in St. Louis.
February 6, 2004... Byline: staff Patients and guests of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and visitors to St. Louis have a new hotel to choose from during their stay in the city. Ambassador Hospitality L.L.C. has opened the new $20 million Parkway Hotel, which is...

Taylor Morley managers gain national awards.
February 6, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon Recognition by one's peers is said to be the greatest honor to be gained in any profession. Andrea Lenzen and Erin Whitehead confirmed that premise last week after having received awards from the National Association of...

Owner of new SBTV is an inspiration for entrepeneurial women.
February 7, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley Susan Wilson Solovic already has many accomplishments in her career, but she isn't quite finished yet. Her latest endeavor is SBTV (Small Business Television Network). SBTV is the first television network on the...

Civic Entrepreneurs Organization elects first women president.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Lathrop & Gage L.C. attorney Colleen McNitt Ruiz was recently elected first women president of the Civic Entrepreneurs Organization, where she will coordinate the organization's annual economic forecast and spring forum. This...

Martinez, Schoene, Van Uum selected to receive Daily Record Women's Justice Awards.
February 7, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter Linda M. Martinez, Kathleen S. Schoene and Betty Van Uum have been chosen as the 2004 recipients of the Daily Record Women's Justice Awards. The three will be honored at the sixth annual awards dinner on April 8 at the...

Behr, McCarter & Potter hires new associate.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff William C. Robinson has joined the firm of Behr, McCarter & Potter as an associate, where he will concentrate in the areas of civil litigation and professional negligence defense. He graduated magna cum laude from the...

Walmsley joins Douglas Group as director of corp. development.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Stephen Walmsley recently joined the Douglas Group as director of corporate development. He brings 10 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions working with buyers and sellers. Originally from the United Kingdom, he...

Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal hires two new attorneys.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Stefanie L. London and Susan E. Block recently joined the firm of Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal as principal attorneys. London, a returning employee, spent more than eight years at Anheuser-Busch practicing in the areas of...

Lowe opens law practice in Clayton.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Jeffrey J. Lowe opened his new firm of Jeffrey J. Lowe P.C. Attorney at Law in Clayton, Mo., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury and civil litigation. Lowe is a former managing partner at Simon, Lowe &...

Governor Holden appoints Sobocinski to state pharmacy board.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Gov. Bob Holden recently appointed Gary Sobocinski to the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, which issues renewal and original licenses to pharmacists. He is currently the vice president of Specialty Distribution Services at...

Coldwell Banker's Iahn, Brophy elected to organizations.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Anita F. Iahn, management vice president of Coldwell Banker Commercial CRA, has become the president of the Building Owners & Managers Association for its St. Louis chapter. She has served on the organization's board of...

Ascent Corp. hires Holmes to head its construction services division.
February 7, 2004... Byline: staff Pam Holmes has joined Ascent Corp., heading the new construction services division as a construction services manager where he will provide general contracting and construction management services to new and existing clients....

8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allows benefit claim under Employment Retirement Security Act.
February 11, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A man who fell from a tree will have a second chance to bring his benefits claim under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a reversed decision on Friday. ...

8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules drunken driving death an accident under ERISA plan.
February 11, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter In a case of first impression, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday threw out a lower court's determination that a man's death as a consequence of his drunken driving was reasonably foreseeable and therefore...

Lawsuit alleging co-workers failed to fix brakes is moved from St. Louis to Jefferson County.
February 12, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley A lawsuit filed by a man who hit the side of a building when the brakes failed to stop the vehicle he was driving has been moved to Jefferson County on a change of venue from the city of St. Louis. The lawsuit names...

Missouri Supreme Court finds St. Louis venue to be proper in lawsuit against Doe Run Resources.
February 12, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter The St. Louis City Circuit Court has won the latest - and likely the final - round of the venue dispute in a lawsuit filed against The Doe Run Resources Corp. by individuals who own residential property in Herculaneum,...

8th Circuit holds corporation and sole proprietor jointly liable for ERISA obligations.
February 12, 2004... Byline: Deborah Fauver Splitting your company into multiple related business entities can solve a variety of common business problems - but only if you continue to observe the corporate formalities of each entity. For the consequences...

8th Circuit Court of Appeals rules witness testimony to impeach another witness is permissible.
February 13, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright Providing the value of the testimony outweighs the risk of the jury misusing the information, witness testimony brought on behalf of a defendant to impeach another defense witness is permissible, the 8th U.S. Circuit...

Corrigan raising awareness of lack of lawyers in Missouri legislature.
February 13, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess Missouri Bar President William Corrigan Jr. challenged members of the St. Charles County Bar Association at its meeting on Tuesday to spread the word about the appalling lack of lawyers in the Missouri legislature and to...

Commentary: Warner's statements highlight religion in the workplace.
February 13, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon "He's just being a troublemaker now," was one of the comments made during coffeehouse conversation last week as sports fans and business observers discussed reported statements made by St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt...

Refinancing of home mortgages proves beneficial for homeowners and economy.
February 13, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon During a typical year, housing accounts for about 15 percent of the gross domestic product. For the past three years, real estate has led the way through a recession and into recovery by demonstrating how many facets of...

Residential office tax deductions carry rules.
February 13, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon More than 30 million Americans performed their jobs from home last year, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that with the combination of advanced technology, self-employed individuals, contract workers and...

Lawyers seeking change advised to check their goals.
February 14, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess As February gets under way, and the resolutions made in January dim, many lawyers may begin to take another look at the career goals they set for themselves for 2004. With the pressures of law firm life increasing,...

Vincent L. Johnson appointed to First National Bank of St. Louis' Board of Directors.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Vincent L. Johnson has been appointed to First National Bank of St. Louis' St. Charles County Board of Directors. Johnson, an attorney with The Johnson Law Firm, has served as corporate counsel to the Commonwealth Land Title...

Economic Development Center of St. Charles County hires new vice president.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff The Economic Development Center of St. Charles County has hired Scott Drachnik as its new vice president, bringing 15 years of regional and international experience in marketing, community outreach and economic development...

Susan Nell Rowe elected to serve on executive committee of The Stolar Partnership L.L.P.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Susan Nell Rowe, a partner with The Stolar Partnership L.L.P., has been elected to serve on the firm's executive committee, where she, along with five others, will determine firm policy and strategic direction. For 17 years,...

Habitat for Humanity St. Louis elects new board members.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Habitat for Humanity St. Louis recently elected the following new members to its board: Greta Bia, director of Human Resources at Emerson Electric Co.; James Brennan, president of McKelvey Homes; Stephen Jones, partner at...

Sara Woodward joins the law firm of Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan P.C.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Sara Woodward has joined the law firm of Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan P.C., focusing on civil litigation and white-collar criminal matters. Past experiences include clerking for a law firm and clerking for Judge Frank...

Jonathan P. Whiting, CPA, CVA, joins accounting firm of Schowalter & Jabouri P.C.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Jonathan P. Whiting, CPA, CVA, has joined the accounting firm of Schowalter & Jabouri P.C. as a senior tax manager. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Missouri Society of Certified...

Missouri governor appoints Barbara Bennett to the judicial disciplinary commission.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Gov. Bob Holden recently appointed Barbara Bennett to the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges. Currently, she is the chief executive officer of the Women's Support and Community Services Agency. A...

Candace Iveson named director of strategic initiatives for Citizens for Missouri's Children.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Candace (Cande) J. Iveson has been named to the new position of director of strategic initiatives for Citizens for Missouri's Children. Currently, she is senior policy analyst for the organization. Under her new role, she...

Kathleen C. Reardon named counsel at the law firm of Bryan Cave L.L.P.
February 14, 2004... Byline: staff Kathleen C. Reardon has been named counsel at the law firm of Bryan Cave L.L.P. Joining the firm in 1998, she is a member of the Healthcare Client Service Group, where she focuses on transactional, compliance and operational...

MO Court of Appeals dismisses arbitration party's appeal of its vacated award.
February 18, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A trial court's call for a rehearing stood in the way of an arbitration party's appeal of its vacated $604,581.17 award, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, found as it dismissed the appeal on...

Missouri legislation seeks to reform state's jury system.
February 19, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter Does Missouri's jury system need reforming? State Sen. Anita Yeckel thinks so. The senator, who represents a portion of St. Louis County, has introduced a bill into the Missouri General Assembly that would do away with...

New financing alliance between Fannie Mae and lenders focuses on manufactured homes.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon In an effort to increase opportunities for working families needing affordable housing, Fannie Mae has entered into an alliance with nine nationally chartered lenders across the country to provide access to moderately...

Jefferson County prepares for effects of growth.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright As more and more portions of St. Louis and St. Charles counties light up the satellite maps from space, their southern counterpart gets ready to make its mark. With ground ripe for the digging and buildings hungry...

Survey highlights Jefferson County residents' views of taxes, growth.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley Survey results from a random telephone survey of 614 Jefferson County residents on their views about the county and its future show that 88 percent think it is either an excellent or good place to live. Most noted...

Missouri governor appoints Bryant associate judge of 22nd Judicial Circuit.
February 20, 2004... Byline: staff Gov. Bob Holden announced on Thursday the appointment of Paula Perkins Bryant of St. Louis as associate circuit judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. "Paula brings a wealth of experience both as a trial attorney and...

St. Louis-based Guarantee Electrical acquires Fenton-based Tel-Vi.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess Guarantee Electrical Co. is on the grow again, tapped by the city of St. Charles to provide power and light for the $33.8 million St. Charles Convention Center, in addition to its acquisition of Tel-Vi Communications, a...

Application freeze for subsidized housing through North East Community Action indicates need.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon An announced March 1 freeze on accepting applications for subsidized housing through the North East Community Action Corp. is both cyclical and an indicator of the need for affordable housing among low-wage earners,...

Kansas City-based Polsinelli law firm adds four attorneys.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess The Kansas City law firm of Polsinelli Shalton & Welte has expanded its St. Louis office with the addition of four new attorneys practicing in the areas of real estate development, lending, tax credit-enhanced...

Missouri Court of Appeals rules summary judgment improper in construction dispute.
February 20, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright When Kitsmiller Construction Co. hit rock bottom, the thought that a general contractor would not pay Kitsmiller for its work on a Silver Dollar City building project never crossed its mind. Yet the dispute...

Legislation seeks to open Missouri's juvenile courts to the public.
February 21, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A new foster care bill initiated by the Missouri House Children and Families Committee will change the way the public accesses information inside the juvenile courts. Repealing 45 sections while enacting 71 new...

Armstrong Teasdale L.L.P. elects Anita M. Kidd and Robert D. Klahr partners in its law firm.
February 21, 2004... Byline: staff Armstrong Teasdale L.L.P. has elected Anita M. Kidd and Robert D. Klahr partners in its law firm. Kidd, a member of the firm's litigation department, practices in the areas of medical professional liability and asbestos...

Jordan B. Cherrick joins law firm of Husch & Eppenberger L.L.C.
February 21, 2004... Byline: staff Jordan B. Cherrick has joined the law firm of Husch & Eppenberger L.L.C. as member, co-chairing the new appellate and complex litigation support group. Mark Arnold will also co-chair the group. Cherrick will represent...

Patricia Sturm joins Coldwell Banker Commercial as a sales and leasing associate.
February 21, 2004... Byline: staff Patricia Sturm has joined Coldwell Banker Commercial C.R.A L.C.C. as a sales and leasing associate. Bringing three years in residential real estate to her new position position, she will be responsible for general commercial...

Kurtis B. Reeg, James G. Nowogrocki and Joseph F. Yeckel form new Clayton law firm.
February 21, 2004... Byline: staff Kurtis B. Reeg, along with partners James G. Nowogrocki and Joseph F. Yeckel, have formed the new Clayton law firm of Reeg, Nowogrocki & Yeckle L.L.C. Guided by the principles of responsiveness, efficiency, effectiveness and...

8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denies humanitarian asylum in immigration case.
February 21, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter A Guatemalan woman who was gang raped in her native country has been denied humanitarian asylum in the United States by a divided panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The two-judge majority held that...

Robert Kern joins Gershman Mortgage as a loan officer in St. Louis office.
February 21, 2004... Byline: staff Robert Kern has joined Gershman Mortgage as a Loan Officer in the company's St. Louis office, bringing over seven years of loaning experience to focus on residential mortgages in Jefferson County. Gershman is the oldest...

Missouri governor to speak at St. Louis/Mound City Bar Assn.'s Black History Month celebration.
February 24, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter Gov. Bob Holden will speak at the Lawyers Association of St. Louis/Mound City Bar Association 11th annual Black History Month Celebration on Thursday. Judge Booker T. Shaw of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern...

U.S. Court of Appeals rules Ten Commandments monument violates Establishment Clause.
February 24, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess Keeping in line with several courts across the country, a divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled on Wednesday that a Ten Commandments monument located in a city park is a violation of the Establishment...

MO Court of Appeals rules school board's procedural error doesn't change teacher's suspension.
February 25, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright A procedural error occurring during a school board's disciplinary deliberations wasn't enough for a teacher to escape paid suspension status, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District ruled Tuesday in a...

Tort Victims' Compensation Fund does not cover fraud loss.
February 25, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess While financial fraud may be painful on the wallet, it does not amount to a personal injury covered by the Missouri Tort Victims' Compensation Fund, ruled a unanimous panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern...

MO Court of Appeals upholds teacher's termination for making racial comments.
February 26, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter The Crystal City Board of Education had the right to terminate the employment of a teacher who said, during class, that couples of different races should not marry and, if they did marry, that they should not have...

8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers effect of post-termination conduct.
February 26, 2004... Byline: Deborah Fauver An employee's post-termination conduct is relevant to whether front pay is available on a sexual harassment verdict, a divided panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held on Tuesday, vacating a $638,000...

Construction lessons offer students skills, honors.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon There was a time when classes such as geometry, chemistry or English left many students asking, "Why do I need to know this?" Now young people are being offered a concrete example of how studies in math, science and even...

Building Owners and Managers Association in St. Louis hears legislative update.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Mike Nixon Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association in St. Louis were offered an update last Thursday on bills before the Missouri General Assembly and how those legislative measures might impact their work and...

Jefferson County files lawsuit against individual property owners.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley In an unusual turn of events, Jefferson County has filed a lawsuit against individual property owners. County Counselor Marc Fried filed the case on behalf of Martin Toma, the director of the Department of Land Use,...

Unique development in Central West End features universal design apartments.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Erin Suess Finding affordable, accessible housing in the Central West End will be much easier thanks to a first-of-its-kind development called the 6 North Apartments, spearheaded by Brinkmann Construction and real estate developer...

Missouri state Rep. Mark Abel and Arnold Mayor Mark Powell file for state treasurer.
February 27, 2004... Byline: staff State Rep. Mark Abel, D-Festus, and Arnold Mayor Mark Powell have both filed as candidates for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer. Former state Rep. Jason Klumb of Butler, Mo., will also be on the Democratic...

23rd Judicial Circuit seeks ways to pay for courthouse renovation.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Cathy Kingsley Judges in the 23rd Judicial Circuit are getting creative in figuring out ways to build two courtrooms at the county courthouse. They plan to use about $190,000 made available from interest money previously...

U.S. Courts report personal bankruptcy filings rise, business filings drop in 2003.
February 27, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright With the arrival of 2003's total bankruptcy tallies, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has good news and bad news to report. The bad news is bankruptcies flooded the nation's courts at a 5.2 percent...

RGL - Forsensic Accountants & Consultants supervisor earns the Certified Fraud Examiner designation.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff Della E. Ostendorf, a supervisor with the RGL - Forsensic Accountants and Consultants, St. Louis office, has earned the Certified Fraud Examiner designation from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. With the new...

Carmody MacDonald P.C. adds Kelley F. Farrell and Jeffrey E. Atkinson to its litigation group.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff The law firm Carmody MacDonald P.C. has added Kelley F. Farrell and Jeffrey E. Atkinson to its litigation group and Matthew G. DeLaruelle to its corporate group. Farrell brings 10 years of experience to the firm and will...

Ramsey Maune joins Grubb & Ellis, Krombach Partners as an equity partner.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff ***** CORRECTION: In the Thursday Sept. 13 story "Negligence dispute over water main break at junior college to be decided by Missouri Supreme Court," both the headline and the lead paragraph erroneously referred to a...

James H. Ferrick III joins Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale P.C. as an associate.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff James H. Ferrick III has joined Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale P.C. as an associate and will practice in the areas of commercial litigation, product liability, class action and insurance coverage. Bringing trial extensive...

Missouri's Supreme Court issues a limited decision in gun case.
February 28, 2004... Byline: Donna Walter The Missouri Supreme Court in a 5-2 decision on Thursday upheld the right of the General Assembly to enact the concealed gun law at the same time it said the law was an unfunded mandate in violation of the Hancock...

State Rep. Hanaway talks to St. Louis business leaders.
February 28, 2004... Byline: Emily Umbright During a breakfast briefing Friday morning, Rep. Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, gave members of The Downtown St. Louis Partnership the lowdown on key issues confronting state legislators, focusing on how the...

Christy Byrd named vp of Charter One Mortgage's St. Louis branch office.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff Christy Byrd has been named vice president and manager of Charter One Mortgage's St. Louis branch office. After joining the company in 1999 as a loan officer, she was named to manage the company's Jefferson County office in...

American Insitute of Architects awards Doris Danna with Gold Honor Award.
February 28, 2004... Byline: staff The American Institute of Architects has awarded Doris Danna, an AIA fellow, with the Gold Honor Award for her 50 years of public service and contributions to the architectural community. She has held various leadership...