2009

June 26, 2009

Cole County Judge Considers Keeping ALJs in their Jobs

A Cole County judge said he will decide by Tuesday whether to keep three dismissed administrative law judges on the job.

Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration dismissed four administrative law judges earlier this month, while the position of a fifth judge who retired will not be filled. The judges are supposed to leave their posts by June 30 – the end of fiscal year 2009.

Three of the judges – Henry Herschel, Matthew Murphy and John Tackes – sued earlier this week, arguing that state law protects them from being dismissed without a formal process.

June 24, 2009

Lawsuit Against Missouri Governor’s Administration Alleges ALJ Cuts were Illegal

Three dismissed administrative law judges have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Jay Nixon’s administration, arguing that the move was illegal under state statute.

The three former judges – Henry Herschel, Matthew Murphy and John A. Tackes – are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Cole County Circuit Court. The petition alleges that Nixon’s administration and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations unlawfully dismissed the judges.

Missouri Lawyers Media reported last week that the three plaintiffs and a fourth ALJ, June Doughty, would be dismissed effective July 1. In addition, the position of a retiring judge won’t be filled. Neither Doughty nor the retiring judge, Ron Harris, are parties to the lawsuit.

February 5, 2009

Judgment of $23.3 Million with Interest Entered for SP

Federal District Judge Carol E. Jackson signed the order Tuesday for Structural Polymer Group to collect $23,306,462 plus $3,160.74 daily interest since Dec. 7, 2008, after winning a breach of contract verdict against Zoltek.

Structural Polymer was represented through the trial and appeal process by Tom Walsh, Jim Bennett, Ed Dowd and Lou Bonacorsi.