Case management set in mother's suit against O'Fallon #203

A case management conference is set today in a woman's suit against O'Fallon School District 203 and former music teacher Matthew Lang.

Meanwhile, O'Fallon is asking the judge overseeing the case to stay the suit until the appellate court in Mount Vernon decides whether it should proceed in Madison or St. Clair County.

Plaintiff Jane Doe is suing O'Fallon, its teachers union and Lang for damages in excess of $50,000 and other relief.

Jane Doe claims that the school district and the teachers union hid information about Lang's previous inappropriate sexual relationships with students when Alton school officials inquired about Lang during a hiring process.

Alton went on to hire Lang.

Lang went on to have a sexual relationship with the plaintiff's teenage daughter, Mary Doe.

Lang pled guilty to criminal charges in connection with that relationship earlier this year.

The motion to stay the suit pending the appellate court's ruling on the venue issue will be Dec. 17 at 9 a.m. by Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis.

O'Fallon is appealing a September order Callis signed that kept the case in Madison County.

O'Fallon argues that the actions that caused the claims took place in St. Clair County and the suit should be litigated there.

The defendants deny the claims.

Callis took over the case from Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

The Alton school district was dropped from the case earlier this year.

Thomas Falb represents the Does.

James Craney and others represent the O'Fallon District.

Lang does not have an attorney listed in the civil suit.

The case is Madison case number 09-L-886.