When it comes to fostering trial lawyer profits-driven litigation, the Madison County Courthouse gets most of the notoriety. And it should-- Edwardsville is where most of the worst venue shopping or class action abuses have historically originated. But just as important to perpetuating this hugely lucrative racket has been a complicit state appellate court. When the Lakins or Stephen Tillery slip their finest handiwork past chummy or intimidated judges in the Third Circuit, shell-shocked defendants routinely beg Mt. Vernon to reconsider. From the beginning, Southern Illinois' highest court has wielded the power to stop our "Hellhole" madness. That it hasn't, instead efforting to rationalize "jackpot" decisions like Avery and Gridley for the trial bar, shouldn't come as much of a surprise given the makeup of this group....