The defamation retrial for former Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein ended before it began.

All sides in the case were not forthcoming about the exact circumstances leading to the discontinuation Monday of two lawsuits filed against him.

Eckstein, whose tenure ended last year, was accused of defaming former county Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, county Human Resources Director Lori Altman and her husband, state Trooper Scott Altman

Although the Altmans filed a separate lawsuit against Eckstein, the similar civil complaints were being tried as the same case.

Those cases were deconsolidated before the Altmans discontinued their litigation.

Lori Altman could not be reached for comment. Attorney Al Lindsay, who represented the Altmans, would not comment on the case.

However, Lindsay and Timothy G. Wojton, Eckstein's attorney, issued a joint news release.

According to the release, “This decision represents neither a legal victory nor defeat for the Altmans or Mr. Eckstein. Rather, it is a product of the Altmans' recognition that they and Mr. Eckstein had a full airing of the issues relating to the claims lodged against Mr. Eckstein in the Altmans' civil complaint.”

The release mentioned cost as a factor.

“Mr. and Mrs. Altman and Mr. Eckstein are anxious to move forward immediately to pursue other avenues of interest to them both personally and professionally without the time and expense associated with a retrial before a second jury. The Altmans' decision will allow them to do that.”

Eckstein responded by reading from a prepared statement.

“The press release speaks for itself,” he said.

Later in the morning, Pinkerton took himself out of the fray. He referred all questions to his attorney, Doug Linn.

Linn was unavailable for comment.

Eckstein credited his attorneys for their work, saying Timothy G. Wojton and his son, Timothy Grant Wojton, presented compelling argument during the trial in April, as well as praising attorney Larry Rodgers for his efforts.

Eckstein was accused of spreading a rumor that Pinkerton bestowed Lori Altman an extra 20 percent pay hike in 2011 in exchange for being let off the hook for a drunken driving pullover.

A state attorney general investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing on Pinkerton's part while a state police investigation found no evidence of misconduct by Scott Altman.

In the April trial, the jury announced there was a verdict, which requires at least 10 out 12 jurors be in agreement. However, when polled, the jury voted 7 to 5 in favor of Eckstein.

Presiding Judge Kelley Streib subsequently declared a mistrial.

Debate followed whether there was bias among the jury for Eckstein or confusion from consolidating multiple counts for a verdict into one poll.