Logansport municipal corporation dismissed from mesothelioma suit; board approves legal invoices

The Logansport Municipal Building Corporation (LMBC) reported that it was dismissed as a defendant from an amended mesothelioma lawsuit filed in Madison County, Illinois, and the LMBC board approved payment of legal invoices tied to the case.

Mark, attorney for the Logansport Municipal Building Corporation, told the LMBC board that the corporation had been named in an amended complaint connected to a plaintiff who died of mesothelioma. Counsel said the firm engaged Thompson Coburn LLP to file a motion to dismiss under applicable Indiana and Illinois law and to take depositions. After an extensive deposition of a co‑worker of the deceased plaintiff, counsel said the witness “could not establish a link” between the corporation and the cause of the plaintiff’s disease, and the plaintiffs agreed to dismiss the LMBC as of April 22.

Mark said the dismissal was entered without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs retain the right to refile if they discover new facts, but he told board members that, given the statute of limitations timeline, refiling was unlikely. He confirmed the LMBC received a final invoice in May and that there are no outstanding invoices to Thompson Coburn related to the matter.

During the meeting, Treasurer Dave Morris summarized recent account activity, noting payments to Thompson Coburn totaling $9,555.10, annual tax preparation by Zaner for $255, and a business entity report fee of $95. Morris also reported payments to H & H Landscaping for mowing and said the account balance is $39,225.98.

Board members discussed the cost of outside counsel. Mark said Thompson Coburn “did take direction very well. They followed our direction, moved really quickly, although it was expensive,” and explained the LMBC had consulted other firms but chose Thompson Coburn partly because that firm was already representing other defendants in the same litigation and could prorate invoices among defendants.

The board made and seconded a motion to approve payment of the invoices related to the lawsuit. The recorded vote in the meeting transcript showed Jacob Palmiselli and Dave Morris voting “yes.” The motion carried, with leaders noting the board had given earlier verbal approval between meetings to proceed because of filing deadlines.

Board members also briefly noted other items: an ongoing discussion with Rex at Logansport Savings about the property at 610 West Miami and progress on a request for proposals, but no formal actions were taken on those topics at this meeting.

The LMBC meeting was called to order at 10:33 a.m. and adjourned at 10:43 a.m. (meeting date not specified in the transcript).