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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Gleeson denies fee waiver in $20 million defamation suit regarding circumstances of home explosion

Lawsuits
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St. Clair County Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson denied a man’s request to waive fees after he failed to appear at the hearing in a suit alleging he made false statements regarding the circumstances of a home explosion.

Defendant Christopher Arnold, who is representing himself pro se, sought a fee waiver on March 11. After Gleeson ordered him to provide more information stating why he needed the fee waiver, Arnold argued on March 18 that the information he provided is “all that has ever been required.”

However, Gleeson denied his request on March 29 after Arnold failed to appear at the motion hearing.

Plaintiffs Lee and Cheryl Irwin filed their original complaint in Madison County against AmeriGas Propane Inc. and property owner Doris King in February 2015 following an explosion that was allegedly caused by leaking gas (15-L-183). The suit was filed through attorney Ronald S. Motil, who withdrew his appearance on Oct. 25, 2017. Keefe took over as plaintiff attorney in the injury suit.

The Irwins and Motil of Glen Carbon filed their three-count defamation complaint against Arnold on Jan. 18, 2018.

The Irwins allege Arnold falsely said they lied about the circumstances of the explosion, have perjured themselves, abused controlled substances, traded in illicit controlled substances, and that the alleged use of the controlled substances caused the explosion.

Motil alleges Arnold falsely stated that he instructed the defendant to tamper with and destroy evidence.

Cheryl Irwin individually alleges Arnold stated that she swore falsely and perjured herself in an unrelated protective order proceeding.

The plaintiffs claim Arnold published the alleged statements on June 27, 2017, in a telephone call to a “1-800” phone number, by an unprivileged conversation with Motil, and at other times to be identified in discovery.

The plaintiffs allege Arnold’s statements have substantially damaged and will continue to damage them.

They seek more than $20 million, plus costs.

Arnold, who is representing himself pro se, filed a motion for dismissal with prejudice on Aug. 20, arguing that the case has been brought against him wrongfully and without any merit.

In the Irwins’ original 2015 complaint against AmeriGas and King, the Irwins allege they entered into a lease agreement with King to rent a property located at 805 Troy Street in Collinsville on Sept. 22, 2014. Prior to moving in, the Irwins allegedly entered into an agreement with AmeriGas to provide propane gas and related services to the property through a propane tank located in the rear of the residence and gas service lines located throughout the residence.

The propane tank provided propane to various gas appliances within the home, including the water heater located in the basement.

At approximately 2 p.m. on Sept. 22, 2014, an AmeriGas employee partially filled the propane tank with 100 gallons of liquid propane. The employee was unable to light the water heater but allegedly informed the Irwins that he would allow propane to enter the home so the gas stove could be used. He then left the property around 3 p.m.

The suit states that when Lee Irwin returned home from work at 6 p.m., he and Cheryl Irwin went into the basement and attempted to light the water heater. However, his attempts to light the appliance caused an explosion due to leaking gas.

State Farm also filed a lawsuit involving the explosion on behalf of King and against AmeriGas.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-35

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