The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Local News

May 22, 2008

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> 1:32 p.m. Joplin City Council declines to hire outside investigator

The Joplin City Council will not seek an outside investigation to look into allegations against Jon Tupper.

A motion by council member Bill Scearce to hire an outside investigation rather than proceed with a public hearing in which city employees might be called to testify died Thursday for lack of a second.

The motion included a call to investigate what the council has said is the leak of a confidential report obtained from an outside attorney earlier in the case. The council has shielded that report as attorney-client privilege.

Council members Phil Stinnett and Mike Woolston spoke about affording Tupper an opportunity to confront his accusers.

City Attorney Brian Head said the right to confront accusers is a criminal right and not a due process guarantee in a civil case.

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