Poplar Bluff vs. semo.net trial scheduled for April

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A jury trial is scheduled to begin April 4 in Butler County Circuit Court for the counterclaim filed by the city of Poplar Bluff against semo.net for failure to pay its bills.

Carter County Judge Michael J. Ligons set the trial date after he sustained a motion by city attorney Wally Duncan that semo.net owner Brian Becker's defenses are legally insufficient.

Duncan filed the counterclaim against Becker on May 31. The city is seeking $175,826 in unpaid bills from Sept. 15, 2010, to May 9, 2011, when the Poplar Bluff City Council terminated its open access policy for Internet service providers. The city also seeks $25,452 in penalties.

The litigation between Becker and the city began March 18 when Becker filed a lawsuit for $1 million alleging the city council's decision to terminate its open access policy was "wrongful and resulted in damages to his business."

On Nov. 25, Ligons granted the city's motion for a summary judgment against Becker's lawsuit but denied the city's motion for a summary judgment on its counterclaim.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.