St. Clair County Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn rescheduled a status conference in a suit alleging former East St. Louis Democratic Party chairman Charlie Powell demolished buildings for scrap.
McGlynn scheduled the status conference for May 13 at 9 a.m.
Mark Gates filed the complaint on Nov. 17 against Powell, doing business as Powell’s Demolition, and Robert Betts.
Gates alleges Powell caused a fire to start at an adjoining building in November 2014. He then allegedly falsely obtained a demolition permit issued by Betts and tore the structures down to take bricks and steel beams for resale.
Gates alleges the defendants demolished his building without his permission, depriving him of the value of his building.
Powell filed a two-count counter complaint against Gates, arguing that he “did not identify himself as the owner of the building, but instead was contacted by the City in order to perform an emergency demolition of the said building at the request of the City.”
Powell argues that Gates wrongfully accused him of theft and fraud.
He also argues that Gates “either directly or indirectly caused the Belleville News Democrat to publish an article entitled ‘Ex-political boss denies suit’s claim that he’s an arsonist.’”
“Further, these statements were willfully and maliciously made with the intent to defame Charles Powell, including accusing him of committing the felony of arson, or at least participating in such arson.
“That as a direct and proximate result of the foregoing defamatory statements the defendant/counter-plaintiff Charles Powell has been caused to suffer serious injury to his reputation, has been cased great mental and physical anguish all to his damage in a sum in excess of $50,000,” the counter complaint states.
Powell’s counter complaint states that “publishing a false article or statement claiming that a person is guilty of a felony is libel, per se, under the laws of the State of Illinois.”
Powell also alleges that Gates’ actions “are so egregious” that he should be awarded punitive damages “in order to punish the plaintiff/counter-defendant and to deter him and others from committing like offenses.”
Both parties have denied the allegations against them.
Gates is representing himself pro se.
Powell is represented by Leah Captain of Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin & Cook LLP in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-615