Burkart requests time to respond to lawsuit

Hamel attorney Thomas Burkart requested additional time to answer a lawsuit filed against him by former clients, citing "other pressing business."

Burkart was a candidate for Madison County circuit judge in last week's election. He lost the race to Kyle Napp.

"Because of other pressing business, the undersigned counsel will not be able to complete the defendant's response to the first amended complaint by said date," Burkart's Oct. 31 motion states.

In an earlier ruling, associate Judge Clarence Harrison allowed Burkart until Oct. 31 to respond to the suit brought by Robert and Elizabeth Wilson of Missouri.

The Wilsons sued July 26 seeking to recover proceeds from a jury verdict they had won more than a decade ago.

The Wilsons claim Burkart represented them in a case that resulted in a $30,000 jury verdict, and that he held onto and then improperly withdrew part of the proceeds from the Bank of Edwardsville.

Gary Meadows, Burkart’s attorney, filed a motion Sept. 13 for extension of time to respond to the lawsuit. Meadows was retained recently to represent Burkart and has not had sufficient opportunity to prepare a response, the motion states.

Meadows had previously requested an additional 30 days up to and including Oct. 13 to file a responsive pleading.

Madison County Case 12-L-1152