Rick Jones awarded $450k in case against homebuyer who didn't follow-through

Former Wood River real estate tycoon Rick Jones has won $450,000 in a default judgment against a woman who did not go through with a home purchase in one of his developments.

Jones is currently serving time in federal prison after pleading guilty last year to tax evasion charges.

Madison County Associate Judge Thomas Chapman signed the order for damages Thursday after no attorney appeared for defendant Melissa Tucker.

No attorney is listed for Tucker in the case file and she did not appear at the 10:30 a.m. damages hearing.

Jones sued Tucker last year for breach of contract claiming she did not hold up her end of a contract to buy a home as promised.

Jones filed another breach of contract suit last year as well over a land deal that went sour.

That case, against the City of Wood River, remains pending before Madison County Circuit Judge David Hylla.

Madison County Chief Judge Ann Callis awarded Jones a default judgment in the Tucker case earlier this year before assigning the suit to Chapman's watch.

The damages hearing in the case was pushed off several times, the last time due to a service issue.

Chapman entered the $450,000 award noting both that Tucker had been served in the case and that she failed to appear.

Harry Sterling represents Jones in the Tucker case.

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