Hearing in Lakin civil lawsuit reset to Aug. 29

St. Clair County Associate Judge Heinz Rudolf on June 26 continued a motion hearing in a civil lawsuit against former Madison County attorney Lowell Thomas Lakin to Aug. 29.

The lawsuit accuses Lakin of child sexual abuse. The accusations in the civil suit – originally filed in Madison County – launched a federal investigation, which resulted in Lakin’s conviction in 2008, on drug charges. He is scheduled for release from Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution in Texas on Nov. 30.

Plaintiff’s attorney Ed Unsell of East Alton, who was allowed to proceed with the civil suit after the state finished its case against Lakin in October 2011, filed a motion for summary judgment Feb. 27.

Rudolph wrote in his June 26 order that the parties shall advise the court on the status of the pending declaratory judgment action or argue the motions on Aug. 29.

The summary judgment motion is based on facts Lakin submitted in the state case in which he admitted he committed sexual abuse on a 15-year-old boy.

According to the first amended complaint, Lakin, now 72, was an adult friend of the families of the minors he is accused of abusing.

Plaintiff Mary Doe, mother of John and Joseph Doe, was employed by Lakin and the former Lakin Law Firm, the suit claims.

The lawsuit accuses Lakin, then 64 or 65 years old, of sexually abusing Mary Doe’s sons and harassing her daughter. He also is accused of filing harassing lawsuits against Mary Doe.

Mary Doe seeks more than $75,000 in damages.

Samantha Unsell of Keefe & Keefe also represents the plaintiff.

Lakin is represented by Clyde Kuehn of Belleville.

The Aug. 29 hearing is set at 2 p.m.

St. Clair County case number 06-L-363