LeChien
A personal injury suit filed by attorney Robert Sprague on his own behalf and that of his wife, St. Clair County Auditor Patty Sprague, has a new judge.
Defendant Adriano Silva asked for and was granted a change in judge in the suit Feb. 9.
While St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert LeChien had overseen the case, the suit is now part of St. Clair County Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto's docket.
The Spragues are suing Silva for damages in excess of $50,000 and costs.
The couple claims that Silva ran a stop sign at a Belleville intersection, hit their car and injured them.
Silva acknowledges that his car hit the Spragues' car.
However, the defendant claims that his brakes malfunctioned and caused him to run the stop sign.
The defendant moved for a new judge without specifying the reason.
St. Clair County Chief Judge John Baricevic assigned the case to Cueto the same day as the order granting the change was entered.
The suit is now set for a status conference May 5 at 9 a.m.
Robert Sprague represents himself and his wife.
Martin Clay represents Silva.
The case is St. Clair case number 09-L-561.