BELLEVILLE - Circuit Judge Patrick Foley continued a hearing in a defamation suit on a motion of defendant Brad Van Hoose of Belleville who stated he had called plaintiff Gerard Scott Jr. as a witness, and Scott didn’t appear.
Scott is a St. Clair County board member.
Foley offered a hearing date in 30 days and Van Hoose asked for 60.
He said the longer the case goes on the more he finds out.
Scott filed the suit in 2023, claiming Van Hoose falsely accused him of charging Caseyville, where his father G.W. Scott Sr. serves as mayor, for a truck transmission.
Village attorney Doug Stewart represented Scott in his private capacity.
He claimed Van Hoose knew or should have known the statements were false and misleading.
He claimed Van Hoose intended to cast Scott in low moral character.
Van Hoose moved without counsel to dismiss the complaint under the Citizen Participation Act which prohibits lawsuits that deter free speech.
Stewart withdrew and medical malpractice lawyer Tom Keefe of Swansea substituted.
At a hearing in November, Van Hoose appeared and Keefe did not.
Van Hoose filed a counter petition against Scott in December alleging defamation, intentional infliction of distress and fraud.
He claimed Scott sued to stop him from filing to see documents and to malign opponents.
He claimed public funds were used to research and file the lawsuit.
At a hearing in January, Keefe didn’t show up but sent Clayton Spoeneman, husband of his daughter Kelli, to represent Scott.
Foley set Feb. 14 for argument on motions starting with Van Hoose’s motion to dismiss.
Keefe didn’t show up on that date and Spoeneman did.
When proceedings began without Scott in the room, Van Hoose moved to continue.
He said he needed the testimony to understand exhibits Stewart filed with the complaint.
Foley granted it and set a hearing April 25.