Two Wright City aldermen have been added to a lawsuit initially filed nearly two years ago by former Mayor Roy White claiming that he was falsely accused of driving drunk. The amended petition, filed …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Two Wright City aldermen have been added to a lawsuit initially filed nearly two years ago by former Mayor Roy White claiming that he was falsely accused of driving drunk.
The amended petition, filed in Warren County Circuit Court Aug. 5, names Aldermen Jim Schuchmann and Angie Reynolds as defendants in addition to former Alderman David Walter and his wife Theresa who were named in the original petition.
The suit alleges one count of defamation and one count of civil conspiracy. It contends the group conspired in accusing White of being intoxicated during a board of aldermen meeting and then informing the Wright City Police Department that White was drinking at Ruiz Castillo Restaurant and would be driving.
Both Schuchmann and Reynolds, who both won re-election bids in April, previously declined to comment on the suit.
White lost his re-election bid in a three-way race won by David Heiliger. White’s only term as mayor, from 2008 to 2010, was marred with criticism and a strenuous relationship with the board of aldermen and city employees, such as filing the initial lawsuit against Walter and accusing employees of receiving extra vacation and overtime pay.
Walter served as a Ward 1 alderman from 2007-2009.
The suit alleges that at the conclusion of the Aug. 14 board of aldermen meeting, Schuchmann told Walter to “keep his eye on the mayor.” According to the petition, after following White to the restaurant, David Walter spoke with Schuchmann by phone advising him that White was parked there. Schuchmann then instructed Walter to return to city hall and notify police that White was intoxicated, was drinking at a bar and would be driving drunk and that the police should do their jobs, the petition states.
The suit also alleges that David Walter, Schuchmann and Reynolds made statements to a Wright City police officer accusing White of being intoxicated on Aug. 14.
White initially filed a lawsuit dated Nov. 17, 2008, against the Walters alleging one count of defamation and one count of tortious intrusion upon seclusion where he alleged that the couple followed him home from the restaurant and onto his property.
Presiding Judge Keith Sutherland dismissed the tortious intrusion count on March 19, 2009.
The amended petition seeks damages in excess of $25,000.
