The Texas County Commission is asking a judge to issue a gag order again a man who is suing it, according to a new filing in Texas County Circuit Court.
In a motion filed Thursday, commissioners say George Sholtz of Plato “has been broadcasting slanderous, false and harassing statements” against the commission. Commissioners said the comments have been on the airwaves of a Houston radio station where Sholtz is the owner and manager.
Sholtz sued the commission in November 2017 for damages related to the loss of farm equipment after a July 2017 accident killed his son-in-law, Justin Dixon, in Cass Township. Sholtz is asking $25,000 for the loss of the machinery and the loss of profit.
A wrongful death lawsuit was also filed against Cass Township and Texas County by Dixon’s widow, Tessa. The commission’s lawyer, Patricia Keck of Springfield, alleges she also has been targeted by Sholtz, according to the filing.
The commission has taken aim at Sholtz in its column to constituents in local newspapers.
The motion asks a judge to warn the plaintiff not to continue comments that might taint a jury and asks that court costs related to its action be assessed to him.