Weikert recuses himself from court case

Judge William Weikert has recused himself from the case between the City of Jasper and Healthy Dubois County due to the political nature of the lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed by Steve Ripstra for Healthy Dubois County Inc. has stated the City violated Indiana Open Door laws regarding certain meetings that were held during the process of leasing the Jasper Power Plant to Twisted Oak.

What this means is that the lawsuit will have to be decided by a judge from outside of Dubois County.

Attorneys on both sides were told by Weikert on Monday that they will have seven days to settle on another judge to preside over the case. If the two sides can’t agree, he’ll choose three judges and each side will have the opportunity to excuse one of them.

The court is scheduled to hear a motion next Thursday at 1:30 pm, filed by Healthy Dubois County in which the court is asked to prevent the city from executing a final draft of the lease of the Jasper Power Plant plan and from beginning to carry out the lease contract. The judge chosen to replace Weikert on the case could reschedule that hearing.

Bingham McHale Attorney Bill Kaiser concerning Judge Weikert’s decision

Kaiser, who is representing the City in the case, stated that the City maintains the position the lawsuit is frivolous, but in the meantime it has slowed the signing of the lease between the City and Jasper Clean Energy.

“Attention has been diverted from signing the lease [by the city and Jasper Clean Energy],” Kaiser stated. “But is not stopping it.”