Chapman reassigned to Rick Jones' suit against home buyer

Madison County Associate Judge Thomas Chapman will take over hearings in a suit brought by a former real estate mogul against the purchaser of home in one of his developments.

Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis, who had been overseeing the case, reassigned it to Chapman May 19.

Chapman will also oversee the upcoming hearing on damages in the suit June 7 at 9 a.m.

Callis had previously found for plaintiff Rick Jones on the issue of liability in his breach of contract suit against Melissa Tucker.

Jones' suit, filed last year, claims Tucker failed to go through with the purchase of one of the homes in a Jones development.

The plaintiff is currently serving a 15 month prison sentence stemming from a guilty plea to federal tax evasion charges.

His suit seeks damages in excess of $50,000 and costs.

Jones filed another suit around the same time as the Tucker case last year against the city of Wood River, also on breach of contract claims.

That case is assigned to Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla.

Jones is represented by Harry Sterling.

The Tucker case is Madison case number 09-L-891.