July hearing set on move to take St. Stanislaus suit against Greensfelder law firm to Missouri

A hearing is set on a move that, if granted, would send a legal malpractice suit filed by a break-away Roman Catholic Church against its former lawyers to Missouri.

The hearing in the suit filed by Polish-Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Corporation is set for July 19 at 9 a.m., according to a June 16 notice of hearing.

The hearing marks the first action beyond status conferences in the case this year.

St. Stanislaus is suing Greensfelder, Hemker, and Gale P.C. in connection with an on-going
dispute with the St. Louis Archdiocese in Missouri.

St. Stanislaus broke away from the archdiocese after a series of battles for control of the church and its property with then-St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke.

The archdiocese is currently attempting to regain control of the church.

The matter is remains pending in a Missouri court.

St. Stanislaus contends in the 2010 St. Clair County lawsuit that its former attorney with the Greensfelder firm used information he gained from his experience representing the church against his former clients on behalf of the archdiocese.

The defendants moved to take the case to Missouri last year, filing a motion to transfer based on forum non conviens.

The defendants point to the fact that no action related to the dispute took place in St. Clair County and that the only connection the plaintiffs can claim is that Greensfelder has a satellite office in the county.

Thomas Keefe Jr. represents the plaintiffs.

Michael Nester represents the law firm.

The case is St. Clair case number 10-L-545.