St. Clair County Circuit Judge Andrew Gleeson ruled that a 22-year-old student’s lawsuit demanding costs of attending college from her father is a non-jury case.
In his June 30 order, Gleeson transferred the case to Circuit Judge Robert LeChien’s non-jury docket.
Brenda Wilson filed her lawsuit in February, claiming her father Michael Wilson, who divorced her mother when she was three years old, “unambiguously stated he would provide plaintiff will all necessary costs and expenses for her to attend college.”
Her total costs, including tuition, fees, room and board, costs of health insurance and medical costs, exceed $75,000, the suit states.
The plaintiff claims her father has made limited financial contributions towards those costs amounting to $4,000, “more or less.”
Brenda Wilson attended Southwestern Illinois College from August 2010 until December 2012 when she allegedly graduated. She then attended Goldfarb School of Nursing from May 2013 until at least the time of the suit’s filing.
The plaintiff claims her father’s promise came during a phone conversation in April 2010, at a time when she was living in Kankakee.
She claims he offered to pay for college if she moved to and attended college in the St. Clair County area.
“In the absence of the promises defendant made to pay the necessary costs and expenses for her to attend college in the St. Clair County area, plaintiff would not have incurred the time, cost and effort to relocate to St. Clair County and to attend college in the area,” the suit states.
The defendant denies the allegations.
Brenda Wilson is represented by Brian McCarthy of Bellville.
Michael Wilson is represented by Eric M. Rhein of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-62