Judge quits defamation lawsuit

From Crains Chicago Business

December 23, 2004

Judge quits defamation lawsuit
(AP) - A judge has recused himself from a $110 million defamation lawsuit, three days after it was filed by a defeated candidate for the Illinois Supreme Court.
Madison County Circuit Court Judge George Moran wrote the order Tuesday, removing himself from Gordon Maag's case. Chief Judge Edward Ferguson said he will assign the lawsuit to a different judge.

"I didn't think it was appropriate for me to handle it," Moran said Wednesday.
The complaint filed Monday states that the defendants published and distributed a campaign flyer that defamed Maag, a Democrat who lives in the Madison County village of Glen Carbon.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity. Also included are the Coalition for Jobs' chairman and treasurer.
In a statement posted on the Chamber of Commerce's Web site, chairman Robert Imler said the group stands by its support of Maag opponent Lloyd Karmeier.
Maag was defeated Nov. 2 by Republican Karmeier in a judicial race that easily shattered state and national records for spending. Maag lost both the state Supreme Court race and the race to retain his seat as a 5th District Appellate Court judge.
The two relatively obscure judges from southern Illinois raised at least $8.5 million and spent more than $7 million. The race drew outcries for reform from political experts and campaign watchdogs.
The lawsuit seeks $10 million in actual damages and $100 million in punitive damages.