Blunt lawyers seek to substitute Nixon in lawsuit
By
KSPR News
Story Created:
May 13, 2009 at 2:52 PM CST
Story Updated:
May 13, 2009 at 2:52 PM CST
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is seeking to pass the defense of a defamation and wrongful termination lawsuit to his political rival and successor, Gov. Jay Nixon.
Blunt is being sued by former staffer Scott Eckersley, who claims he was wrongly fired in September 2007 after raising concerns that Blunt's office was not following the Sunshine Law in its e-mail practices. Eckersley also claims he was defamed by Blunt and his former colleagues.
Because Blunt is sued in his official capacity, Blunt's attorneys say Nixon now should be substituted as the defendant.
Eckersley's attorneys say that would be both legally wrong and ironic, since Blunt's staff was accused of trying to keep secret e-mails discussing Nixon, who was attorney general at the time.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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