The defamation case against former Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein heads to trial Wednesday.

Eckstein is being sued by former county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton in one lawsuit and two other plaintiffs — county human resources director Lori Altman and her husband, state Trooper Scott Altman — in a second lawsuit being tried simultaneously.

The plaintiffs accuse Eckstein of spreading a rumor that Lori Altman received a 20 percent pay hike in 2011 in exchange for Pinkerton being let off the hook for a drunken driving pullover that never occurred.

Pinkerton denies there was a DUI stop or a cover-up.

The state attorney general’s office and state police found no evidence of any wrongdoing in separate investigations.

The jury trial is the culmination of a four-year process started in April 2012 when Pinkerton filed his lawsuit after he was re-elected and Eckstein first took office that year.

Along with defamation, Eckstein is accused of intentional infliction of emotional distress and being placed in a false light.

The Altmans subsequently filed a second lawsuit with the same three counts. Both lawsuits were later consolidated into one case.

Eckstein, 59, of Butler Township maintains he is innocent.

“They disparaged my name,” he said.

Pinkerton declined to comment. His attorney, Doug Linn, said Eckstein was out to get Pinkerton.

“We’re going to show ... he took office with an agenda,” Linn said about Eckstein.

He said Eckstein’s behavior is the issue.

“You can say an awful lot about Jim Eckstein, much of which aren’t very nice and that’s what we intend to show during the trial.”

Lori Altman declined to comment. Her attorney, Al Lindsay, agreed Eckstein’s actions impacted the plaintiffs.

“The issue is what Eckstein did,” Lindsay said.

Both lawsuits are seeking an unspecified monetary amount in excess of $35,000, which is the threshold to avoid arbitration.

Eckstein said he refused two settlement offers — one as recent as two months ago — from Pinkerton since the first lawsuit was filed.

“Dale wanted to settle and I didn’t,” Eckstein said.

According to Eckstein, Pinkerton only sought an apology in exchange for dropping the lawsuit and seeking monetary damages.

Eckstein said the offer would have been good if he was guilty.

“It was gracious if you did it,” he said.

Eckstein said he would not settle out of principle.

Linn would not confirm whether Eckstein was offered a settlement.

“I have no comment on that,” Linn said.

Eckstein pointed out accepting that settlement offer would not have ended the second lawsuit.

He alleged the Altmans wanted a financial settlement.

“She (Altman) wanted $50,000 and I didn’t do a damn thing,” Eckstein said.

Lindsay would not address Eckstein’s claim, citing the inappropriateness of doing so.

“Settlement negotiations are confidential for a lot of reasons,” Lindsay said.