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"                      <p class=\"imgtitle\">Stack</p>           The number of new asbestos cases filed in Madison County in the first half of 2009 is on pace to surpass last year's total.<br /><br />As of June 19, there have been 369 asbestos claims filed in Madison County. In 2008, there was a total of 639.<br /><br />Most Madison County asbestos claimants are from out of state. Most cases are brought by SimmonsCooper of East Alton or Gori, Julian and Associates of Alton. <br /><br />In one week alone, June 8-12, there were 29 new cases filed. <br /><br />Several of those were brought by an attorney who had not recently filed asbestos cases in Madison County, the wife of U.S. District Judge Patrick Murphy.<br /><br />Patricia S. Murphy of Energy filed eight new claims on behalf of former oil workers &ndash; Illinois residents &ndash; claiming asbestosis. The suits name oil and drilling companies. <br /><br />After reaching a peak in 2003, at 953 cases, the number of new asbestos claims filed in Madison County steadily declined, until 2007. <br /><br />In 2007, 455 asbestos suits were filed. In 2008, the number increased again, to 639.<br /><br />Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack presides over the asbestos docket.<br />"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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