Suit against Ameren, GCSFCU and wife set for conference

A case management conference is set in a suit filed by a man over the theft of retirement savings and maltreatment he claims to have suffered at the hands of his wife of more than 20 years.

Plaintiff Thomas Dodd is suing his soon-to-be ex-wife, Carol Dodd, Ameren Services Co., and the Granite City Steel Federal Credit Union for damages in excess of $190,000 and other relief.

The conference is set Friday at 9 a.m. before Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

Thomas Dodd claims that Carol Dodd left him in a bathtub in the couple's home for days without food or water after he fell.

The plaintiff then alleges that Carol Dodd forged his signature on documents related to his Ameren retirement accounts.

Carol Dodd closed those accounts, according to the suit, and again forged her husband's signature in order to open accounts for the money at the Granite City credit union in her name and that of her sister.

Thomas Dodd contends that Ameren and the credit union should have caught the forgeries.

Ameren and the credit union have filed counterclaims against Carol Dodd.

Carol Dodd denies the allegations.

The Dodds filed for divorce in 2007 and that matter is pending before Madison County Associate Judge Steve Stobbs.

The most recent action in the case saw Thomas Dodd's attorney Thomas Burkart win $95 in copying fees from the credit union.

Burkart filed a motion for sanctions asking for $800 claiming that the credit union did not produce documents related to the Dodds as ordered by the court.

Burkart claimed he had to go to the credit union, demand them and copy them himself.

Madison County Associate Judge Clarence Harrison II, filling in for Stack, signed an order in late October granting Burkart the $95 in copying fees but denying the rest of the sanctions.

Alexander Wilson represents Carol Dodd.

James Craney and others represent the credit union.

Gary Meadows represents Ameren.

The case was previously assigned to Madison County Circuit Judge Barbara Crowder.

It will get a new judge shortly as Stack plans to retire Dec. 3.

The case is Madison case number 08-L-606.