Callis
A suit against the O'Fallon school district, its teachers union and a former music teacher will stay in Madison County, at least for one defendant.
Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis denied motions by the O'Fallon School District #203 Sept. 24 that, if granted, would have severed the suit against it from the claims pending against former music teacher Matthew Lang.
Those claims filed by Jane Doe, the mother of minor Mary Doe, would have then gone to St. Clair County.
Jane Doe originally filed suit against the Alton school district and Lang, alleging that the district failed to take action when Lang began a sexual relationship with her teenage daughter.
O'Fallon and its teachers union were later added to the case.
In her claims against them, Jane Doe contends that the two concealed information about Lang's previous inappropriate sexual contact with students from Alton when it inquired about hiring him.
Lang pled guilty earlier this year to criminal charges in connection with his relationship with Mary Doe.
The O'Fallon district and the union argued that the since all the acts alleged in the claims took place in St. Clair County, her suit against them should be sent across the county line.
The school district's motion to sever and transfer appears to be the only one ruled up in the Sept. 24 hearing, leaving a possibility that the teachers union's motion remains pending.
The order gives the O'Fallon district 21 days to answer.
The Alton school district and its board of education were dropped from the case earlier this year.
Thomas Falb represents the Does.
Bennett Rodick and Stephanie Jones represent O'Fallon School District #203.
The case is Madison case number 09-L-886.