Manchester to Hire Attorney For Class Action Lawsuit

The City of Manchester is named in the lawsuit involving 233 cities, but the city will not likely incur the costs of the attorney fees even though it will hire representation for the litigation.

Manchester Aldermen unanimously passed a resolution to retain counsel in regard to a class action lawsuit against the city of Manchester.  (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Mayor David Willson explained that Manchester is one of 233 cities involved in this lawsuit.  The City of Town and Country is also named in the lawsuit. Alderman Paul Hamill stated the litigation stems from a class action settlement with AT&T. "Several years ago AT&T agreed to settle a claim related to its failure to pay gross receipts taxes to municipalities for its phone services. Since that settlement, the plaintiff claims that  AT&T has included the cost of data services in calculating the taxes and has passed those taxes onto …

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Stephanie R.

12:36 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013

Geez, who cares if the city hires a special attorney? Especially if it's not going to be an account payable budget item? The story is the lawsuit. Telling us an attorney is being hired at no cost to the budget is like reporting a house fire with no one inside and no one injured.   more ›

Gunter Pleads Not Guilty in Murder Case; Had $213K Civil Judgment Against Him

Thursday, W. Lynn Gunter pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in the death of his wife in their Town and Country home. Meanwhile, Patch found his former employer sued him for breach of a contract and was awarded a settlement in February.

W. Lynn Gunter pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge in St. Louis County Circuit Court Thursday morning. As previously reported by Patch, Gunter is accused of murdering his wife Monday at their Town and Country home. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Gunter’s attorney, N. Scott Rosenblum, declined to talk about specifics of the case. "I will say generally it’s not a wise proposition for anybody to jump to conclusions in any case," Rosenblum said. (Read Previous Story: Authorities Say Town and Country Man Killed Wife With 'Instrument') On Wednesday, Lt. Tom Larkin of St. Louis County Police said he could not say whether Gunter had any financial problems. Gunter, a vice president for AHM Financial …

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Lawsuit, New Police Equipment And Stormwater Top Manchester Aldermen Meeting

The Manchester Board of Aldermen meets Monday night and is set to discuss hiring an attorney to defend the city, moving forward with the Channel B Stormwater Project and purchasing new police investigative equipment. View the full agenda here.

The Manchester Board of Aldermen is set to meet Monday night.  (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.)  Among items on the agenda, aldermen are set to discuss retaining an attorney to defend the city in regard to litigation filed against the city, moving forward with the Channel B Stormwater Project and purchasing new police investigative equipment with the city's asset forfeiture funds. Alderman Paul Hamill explained the litigation to Patch in the following statement" "...aldermen are set to discuss allowing the St. Louis County Municipal League to hire counsel to defend it in a class action lawsuit filed against numerous cities throughout Missouri. The St. Louis County Municipal League will use money…

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NEWS NEARBY: Retired Logan College President Files Suit Against Board of Trustees

George Goodman, who retired this year, filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that the institution's board of trustees is not following an agreement outlining his retirement benefits and pay for 2012.

The former president of Chesterfield-based Logan College of Chiropractic, George Goodman, has filed a lawsuit against an institution that he lead for nearly 20 years before retiring this year. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) According to a statement from Goodman's lawyer David Cosgrove, the legal action was taken today against several members of the institution's board of trustees for their failure to comply with a previous agreement outlining compensation for Goodman's retirement as well as his performance in 2012.  The suit also states that the justification for negating what it said was a "long-standing" agreement centered around Goodman's download of emails and information, including work and personal …

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Manchester Vicious Dog Lawsuit Dismissed

A lawsuit filed against the City of Manchester regarding the city's vicious dog ordinance has been dismissed after "pitbull" was removed from the ordinance.

The lawsuit filed on June 22 by Manchester resident Sheron McRoberts claimed the city's vicious dog ordinance was unfair because it deemed certain breeds, including pitbulls, as "vicious" dogs. At the time the suit was filed, the City of Manchester’s dog ordinance required breeds considered "vicious" to always be on a lead and it forbid them from running at large and unleashed, even in their own backyard. (Read Previous Article: Manchester Sued Over Dog Ordinance) After the suit was filed, Manchester, like many other surrounding St. Louis cites, updated its vicious animal ordinance to remove any breed specific qualifications. In October, Manchester Aldermen voted unanimously to remove the word "pitbull" from the city's animal control …

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Court's Ruling Could Impact Town and Country Solar Panel Ordinance

Town and Country is waiting on a Clarkson Valley solar panel lawsuit ruling before putting a city ordinance in place. The ruling could impact how cities regulate solar energy.

The proposal for a city solar panel ordinance was continued indefinitely at Monday night's Town and Country Board of Aldermen meeting. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) The proposal has been continued since early October. Mayor Jon Dalton said Monday the reason for the delay is because there is a lawsuit still pending in a Clarkson Valley case that involves a city solar panel ordinance. As previously reported by Patch, the City of Town and Country is considering an ordinance that would put guidelines in place for residents who want to install solar energy systems.  The proposed plan would allow resident's to install two types of solar panels, roof mounted and ground. The city prefers the roof mounted. It …

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Westboro Baptist Church Protests Court's Manchester Funeral Protest Ruling

A few Westboro Baptist Church members, known for their anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers, protested an appeals court ruling in Manchester Saturday. Police and local residents were also on hand.

Saturday, a handful of Wesboro Baptist Church members protested an appeals court ruling that was handed down Tuesday. As previously reported by Patch, an appeals court ruled this week in favor of the City of Manchester in regard to a lawsuit filed by Wesboro Baptist Church members challenging Manchester's funeral protest ordinance. The ordinance prohibits protests within 300 feet of a funeral one hour before and one hour after services. (Read Previous Story: Appeals Court Rules Manchester Can Restrict Funeral Protests) Westboro church members are known for their anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers, claiming the soldiers' deaths are a result of America's tolerance for homosexuality.  Along with the handful of church members …

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Westboro Baptist Church Plans Manchester Protest Saturday

Members of the Wesboro Baptist Church plan to protest in "Manchester Park" Saturday afternoon.

The protest follows an appeals court ruling this week in favor of the City of Manchester in regard to a lawsuit filed by Wesboro Baptist Church members challenging Manchester's funeral protest ordinance. The ordinance prohibits protests within 300 feet of a funeral one hour before and one hour after services. Westboro church members are known for their anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers, claiming the soldiers' deaths are a result of America's tolerance for homosexuality. They regularly picket military funerals with signs such as "thank God for dead soldiers."  According to Westboro's website, church members plan to protest from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Saturday at Manchester Park. It's unclear what Westboro is calling "…

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Appeals Court Rules Manchester Can Restrict Funeral Protests

A federal appeals court ruled Manchester can restrict funeral protests in regard to a Westboro Baptist Church lawsuit challenging the city's ordinance. Church members are known for their anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers.