Status conference reset in St. Clair County legal malpractice lawsuit

St. Clair County Circuit Judge Vincent Lopinot has reset a March 18 status conference to July 29 in a legal malpractice lawsuit.

Stacey Taylor filed a lawsuit Oct. 12, 2012 against Stephen Koenig, William Green, Eric Abramson and the Green Law Firm of St. Louis in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Abramson denied allegations contained in the suit in his answer filed Feb. 25.

According to the complaint, Taylor hired attorneys from the Green Law Firm to represent her in a personal injury claim against JC Penney Corp. Taylor says a mandatory arbitration hearing in the lawsuit had been scheduled, however, the attorneys allegedly failed to show up and advised Taylor to not appear either.

Taylor claims her attorneys filed a motion to dismiss or transfer the hearing on the afternoon it was scheduled. Because of the alleged failure to appear, Taylor claims, a judgment was entered in favor of JC Penney. She also contends the attorneys did not file a rejection of the judgment and then allegedly failed to appear at a hearing to enter the arbitration award.

Taylor is asking for more than $200,000 in damages and court costs.

Taylor is represented by attorney Jarrod P. Beasley of Belleville.

Mark Bauman of Hinshaw & Culbertson in Belleville represents the defense.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-546