Rick Jones breach of contract suit against Wood River set for case management

A breach of contract suit against the City of Wood River filed by an imprisoned real estate mogul is due in court Wednesday for a case management conference.

The most recent action in the case, brought by plaintiff Rick Jones, was the filing of amended affirmative answers by Jones July 9.

Jones claims that the city failed to live up to its end of a real estate bargain.

Wood River has been fighting the suit since its filing last year.

The breach of contract suit is one of a pair of 2009 filings over Jones' real estate deals.

The other, filed against defendant Melissa Tucker, alleges Tucker failed to go through with the purchase of a home in one of Jones' developments.

Jones is currently serving a 15 month prison term as a condition of his plea to federal tax evasion charges last year.

In the suit against Wood River, Jones seeks at least $50,000 in damages and costs.

The conference is set for 9:30 a.m.

Jones is represented in the Wood River suit by Robert Bassett.

The city is represented by David Nester.

No attorney is listed for co-defendant, Dorothy Jones, Rick Jones' ex-wife.

The issue of damages in the Tucker suit, filed just prior to the case against Wood River, will be before Madison County Associate
Judge Thomas Chapman Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Harry Sterling represents Jones in the Tucker case.

Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla presides over Jones' Wood River suit.

The Wood River suit is Madison case number 09-L-641.