Sheena Greitens seeks more privacy in civil lawsuit
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Former governor and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens and his ex-wife Sheena Greitens did not publicly testify during a hearing Friday in their family court case.
This case is about whether or not to move any further family proceedings to Travis County, Texas, where Sheena Greitens lives and works. Sheena's lawyer Helen Wade said ina previous hearing she wants to move the civil case to Texas for more privacy.
"Lawyers are always looking for a way to use the process to the advantage of their clients," Tackett said. "Whether it's a change of venue a change of judge, a change of even lawyers, right. In this case, one of the parties wants to be in a different state where there's more privacy. It's totally legal, it's a maneuver, they happen everyday."
Former prosecuting attorney Bill Tackett said it's not unusual for lawyers to make moves like this one to work in their client's favor.
The Greitens' case was scheduled for trial Friday at 9 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse. Friday morning in open court, both attorneys requested to skip public testimony from Sheena and Eric and have them testify in a closed deposition next week instead.
Eric Greitens' lawyer Gary Stamper filed a list of possible exhibits this week that could be used in the case. Other exhibits will be submitted directly to the judge to keep them off public records because the case involves sensitive material about the couple's children.
Both parties agreed at a hearing Monday to not attend in person out of concerns for the couple's children and media attention around the case. Sheena was at Friday's hearing in person, Eric attended via Webex.
Instead, both parties are expected to submit their arguments on paper. New affidavits are expected to be uploaded to CaseNet, the state's online court records system, by 5 p.m. Friday.
Sheena has accused Eric of physically abusing her and their children. Her attorney also reported threats were made against Sheena due to a campaign ad Greitens posted last month.
Attorneys for both parties have said their clients want the case resolved as soon as possible.
Eric Greitens was elected in 2016 and resigned in 2018 amid a sexual abuse scandal. He has consistently denied the abuse allegations.
