A trial date has been set in the wrongful-termination and defamation lawsuit filed against the St. Joseph School District by its former CFO Beau Musser.  During a hearing Thursday morning, Buchanan County Circuit Judge Randall Jackson scheduled the trial September 21, 2015, and set a status hearing September 8, 2015.

Musser filed suit in May against the district, Superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka, Human Resources Director Doug Flowers, and School Board Member Dennis Snethen.

Musser claims he was placed on leave for continuing to question the practice of handing out stipends to administrators without the knowledge or approval of the school board.

There are now four law firms representing the defendants. The firm originally hired by the school district’s liability insurance carrier asked to withdraw from the case two weeks ago. The firm Mickes Goldman O’Toole, LLC pulled out of the case, citing a potential conflict of interests.

According to court records and the lawyers, the school district is now represented by Steven J. Book of the Kansas City law firm Guin Mundorf, LLC. Dr. Czerwonka is represented by Sarah Tankard of the firm McGonagle, Spencer & Gahagan, also of Kansas City. Mr Flowers is now represented by Ryan Fry of the Blue Springs, Missouri law firm Oswald Roam Rew & Fry LLC. Mr Snethen is represented by Robb Denney and Travis Wymore of the Kansas City firm Withers, Brant, Igoe & Mullennix, P.C.

In an announcement from the school district, officials offered this:
The St. Joseph School District will be represented by Shellie L. Guin, Guin Mundorf, LLC.
Dr. Fred Czerwonka will be represented by Christopher S. Gahagan, Gahagan & King, LLC.
Doug Flowers will be represented by Ryan T. Fry, Oswald Roam Rew & Fry LLC.
Dennis Snethen will be represented by Travis A. Wymore, Withers, Brant, Igoe & Mullennix, PC.