Visiting judge to preside in Eckstein case
A visiting judge will hear former Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein's lawsuit against the county to recoup legal expenses from a defamation case.
Judge John Reed, a retired Mercer County judge, was assigned to preside over the case.
All six Butler County judges recused themselves from hearing the case.
Eckstein said he was relieved a senior judge will be presiding.
“I'm happy to get an out-of-county judge,” he said.
Eckstein said the defamation case leading to this lawsuit should have been heard by an outside judge as well.
“There was a conflict of interest,” he said.
County solicitor Mike English declined to answer questions or comment about Eckstein's lawsuit and Reed being assigned.
Tom Holman, deputy court administrator, said Reed would proceed after reviewing the case.
Eckstein is suing the county to be reimbursed for $144,788 he incurred defending himself against two defamation lawsuits field in 2012.
The three current commissioners — Leslie Osche, Kim Geyer and Kevin Boozel — also are named as defendants.
Former county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton filed one civil complaint against Eckstein in 2012 while county human resources director Lori Altman and her husband, state Trooper Scott Altman, filed the other shortly afterward.
They alleged Eckstein spread a rumor accusing them of corruption.
According to the lawsuits, Eckstein claimed Altman received an extra 20 percent pay hike in 2011 in exchange for Pinkerton being let off the hook for a drunken driving pullover.
