Gleeson expects to decide soon on $10.5 million lawsuit

St. Clair County Judge Andrew Gleeson said he expects to make a decision within two weeks regarding a $10.5 million dispute between former Belleville law partners Michael Constance and Edward Brennan.

Gleeson presided over a heated bench trial involving the dispute. It lasted six weeks, having concluded Oct. 13.

Constance sued Brennan in April 2010 on claims that Constance did not receive a fair share of a settlement reached with former tennis star Jimmy Connors in November 2009. Their former firm Brennan, Cates & Constance of Belleville began representing Connors in 1991 on various matters including Connors' relationship with the proposed Alton Belle Casino.

Bruce Cook of Belleville represents Constance; Jeffrey Muskopf of St. Louis represents Brennan.

Cook and Muskopf submitted proposed orders on Oct. 25.

Gleeson told a reporter on Nov. 23 that he has been working on other cases.

According to Constance's complaint, Brennan, Cates & Constance, which dissolved in 1998, reached an agreement with Connors in 1992 in which Connors agreed to pay the partners 20 percent of the money he received in the Alton Belle and Argosy venture.

Among other things, Constance wants the court to assign a constructive trust to the settlement reached with Connors and that the court requires Brennan to render an accounting and pay Constance's fair share of the settlement. Constance also seeks fees, costs and punitive damages.

Brennan denied the claims and has filed counter claims against Constance.

St. Clair County Case Number 10-L-213.