Appeal questions state Supreme Court justice’s fairness

Attorneys want the Illinois Supreme Court to restore a billion-dollar verdict against State Farm, claiming the insurance company wrongly hid how much it donated to the campaign of a justice who later cast a key vote in tossing out the award.

The request filed last week by a group of lawyers questions the impartiality of Justice Lloyd Karmeier in 2005.

That Republican was elected in 2004 after a race that shattered state and national spending records. Months after election, he sided with State Farm in tossing out the award.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys say State Farm was responsible for at least $2.5 million to Karmeier’s campaign.

In response, State Farm notes that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge of the state court’s ruling.

Messages left with Karmeier’s staff weren’t returned.