Even though Madison County made the American Tort Reform Association's "judicial hellhole" list for the fifth consecutive year, defendants in cases seeking at least $1 million in damages have fared very well here this year. It also was a banner year for defendants in the eyes of the Fifth District Appellate Court, which often ruled in favor of defendants, reversing decisions made by judges on motions to dismiss and forum. In addition to several major Madison County defense verdicts and favorable appellate rulings, former Circuit Judges Lola Maddox and Don Weber have had a profound effect on the disposal of several class action suits. In the past year, Weber knocked out cases against First Bank over check cashing fees, H&R Block over electronic filing fees, Equicredit over courier fees, UPS over late delivery and National City Mortgage over fax fees....