ST. LOUIS – The city of St. Louis alleges that two assistant attorneys general through the Missouri Attorney General's office cost it more than $1 million in damages.
The city of St. Louis filed a complaint on April 11 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Ryan Bertels and Dana Hibbs alleging professional negligence.
According to the complaint, Michael Banks and Antonia Rush-Banks obtained a default judgment in 2009 against Reginald Williams, who was a former police officer of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. The suit states the defendants represented the board in the matter.
"Defendants were professionally negligent and committed legal malpractice in their representation of the board and all of its employees named in the suit," the complaint states. "As a direct and proximate result of defendants' negligence, plaintiff suffered damages in the amount of $1,717,687.66."
The plaintiff holds Bertels and Hibbs responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to respond or answer the second amended petition against Williams, failed to re-file summary judgment motion on behalf of Williams and negligently allowed a default judgment to be entered against Williams.
The plaintiff seeks judgment in its favor in the amount of $1.7 million, costs pf court, attorney fees and all other just and appropriate relief. It is represented by Julian Bush and Brent J. Dulle of Law Department of the City of St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC00738