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Attorney: Few witnesses support defamation claims

An attorney for former Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein gave the closing argument this morning on behalf of his client, who is being sued for defamation.

Timothy Wojton told the jury in county court that the plaintiffs could produce only three people for live testimony alleging Eckstein claimed former county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton of corruption.

Eckstein is accused of spreading a rumor that Pinkerton gave county human resources director Lori Altman an extra 20 percent pay hike in exchange for a drunken drive pullover going away. Altman's husband is state police Trooper Scott Altman.

Wojton stressed other witnesses testified they heard the rumor from people other than Eckstein, and that he never stated the rumor as fact when they did discuss the topic with him.

Pinkerton and the Altmans are suing Eckstein in separate civil complaints that are being tried in court simultaneously.

Attorneys Al Lindsay, who represents the Altmans, and Doug Linn, who represents Pinkerton, are expected to give their closing arguments this afternoon.

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