By Derek Spellman
Globe Staff Writer
NEOSHO, Mo. —
Bench trials will now decide both a set of civil suits and a set of federal criminal charges against the former operators of an Anderson group home for the mentally disabled where nearly a dozen people perished in a fire.
A bench trial today was set for Jan. 13, 2011, in five lawsuits brought against Robert and Laverne DuPont and the now-defunct Joplin River of Life Ministries. Waiving a jury trial is part of an agreement with the plaintiffs that also calls for the defendants to pay $6.4 million in damages if the court finds the DuPonts and River of Life liable, according to Shelly Dreyer, who is representing the five plaintiffs.
Both the DuPonts and River of Life were connected to the Anderson Guest House, where a November 2006 fire ultimately claimed 11 lives and later triggered civil litigation and legislative reforms.
The DuPonts’ alleged connection to the Anderson Guest House is itself the crux of a series of separate federal charges the couple now face. The DuPonts last week also agreed to waive jury trials in the federal case.
That case is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 20.
An indictment filed in April 2008 leveled 18 charges against Robert DuPont, including multiple counts of health care fraud and money laundering. His alleged connection with the Anderson Guest House triggered the allegations.
Laverne DuPont is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of health care fraud.
Federal prosecutors have previously indicated they could seek new or additional charges against Robert DuPont, although they have not yet filed any new charges. Don Ledford, a spokesman for the U.S attorney for the Western District of Missouri, has said it is U.S. Justice Department policy not to comment on pending investigations or charges.
“It’s not something I can really comment about,” Ledford said today when asked if federal prosecutors would still seek additional charges.
