Former Bensenville mayor hopeful cleared in libel suit

On the eve of the April 2005 election, Bensenville Village President John Geils sued his opponent over a negative campaign flier.

Geils won the election but lost the court battle.

A DuPage County judge ruled this week insufficient evidence exists to link John Wassinger to the literature. Both Wassinger and his political committee were dismissed from the libel suit.

"I had nothing to do with it, and that's what I said from the beginning," said Wassinger, a local activist. "It's just not my style.

"The reason this happened was to punish me and send a message to anyone else who has the audacity to run for election without being endorsed."

Circuit Judge Stephen Culliton allowed the libel suit to proceed against the sole defendant, Richard Pope, who served as Wassinger's campaign manager. The case is in court again Nov. 15.

Geils sued Wassinger over a headline in a campaign flier proclaiming the longtime village president "pilfered" firefighter pension funds. This summer, a court settlement found Geils and other village officials had done nothing improper in their handling of the pension funds.

Geils won re-election to his sixth term in 2005 by fewer than 200 votes. He argued the flier hurt his reputation as a local businessman and the reputation of his family-owned funeral home.

Attorney Patrick Bond, who represents Wassinger, said they are considering a counter-suit to recoup legal fees and other alleged damages.

"We're certainly exploring that possibility," Bond said. "We don't believe there was ever any basis for this lawsuit. It was not well-founded in fact."

Attorneys for Geils did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday.