At the request of the Texas County prosecutor, a federal judge late last week closed additional documents in files in a federal case that was settled in March.
U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr closed public documents and exhibits related to a case filed in 2009 by Monica Daniel Hutchison against Michael Anderson, the county prosecutor, after portions of the records began showing up on the Internet.
“Nothing in this order shall be construed as preventing the documents that have been sealed in this matter to be used in a separate lawsuit filed by Mildred Williams,” wrote Dorr. Williams, an associate circuit court employee, filed a lawsuit in 2009 that alleges malicious prosecution related to Anderson’s lawsuit that alleged Williams and Hutchison were operating a sexual swingers ring, abuse of process and defamation. Williams is represented by Hutchison’s law firm, Steelman and Gaunt, Rolla. The case is to be heard in September on a change on venue to Webster County.
The judge’s order came after excerpts of depositions started appearing on the Internet. Details on the settlement were earlier sealed after an 11th hour negotiation at the federal courthouse in Springfield. Filed by Hutchison, the lawsuit claimed malicious prosecution, abuse of process concerning a subpoena and a civil lawsuit, emotional distress and a hostile work environment. The matters allegedly occurred five years ago. Hutchison was a former office employee in Anderson’s office.
A party to the federal suit before it successfully was excused from it by the judge, Texas County has its own lawsuit under way to recoup $139,960 in legal fees it alleges should have been covered by an insurance company.
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