Springfield doctor's $2.4 billion highway lawsuit tossed from federal court

A federal judge tossed a Springfield doctor's $2.4 billion lawsuit out of court, saying Dr. Gil Mobley lacked standing to file the lawsuit in federal court.

Mobley sought actual and punitive damages from 25 defendants named in the lawsuit, including the three Greene County commissioners, several members of the Greene County Highway Department; several employees of Missouri Department of Transportation, a Springfield-Greene County Park Board employee, two members of an engineering company and others who did work or consulted on the highway extension project.

Mobley's lawsuit, filed on Sept. 19, alleged fraud, conspiracy and ecological harm related to the Kansas Expressway extension highway project, which is planned to be built near his neighborhood in southwest Springfield.

Mobley said he was "relieved" that the judge dismissed his lawsuit.

"It took an extremely heavy toll on me," Mobley said on Thursday. "I had to serve several people myself because I couldn't afford an attorney."

Previous coverage:Kansas Expressway extension foe files $2.4 billion lawsuit trying to stop it

Presiding Greene County Commissioner Bob Dixon, who was named in the lawsuit, said he was glad the suit was over.

“We are pleased the judge dismissed the case due to lack of standing," Dixon said Thursday. "Greene County has been diligent in our processes over the last 30 years in the planning and design of the Kansas corridor extension.”

Mobley said a key portion of his lawsuit was based on an hour-long documentary that he and an associate filmed and tried to enter as evidence in the case. The video alleges wrongdoing in the way state and county officials chose the alignment for the Kansas Extension project, and points out geological issues along the corridor's path.

"Ultimately, they said the video was insufficient for the court," Mobley said.

He has no plans to file a new lawsuit and said he hoped the federal lawsuit brought to light irregularities in how the highway project was handled, as well as highlighting geologic collapses and potential damage to caves in the area if the project moved forward.

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Mobley said he hoped Greene County geologist Matt Forir, who was one of the defendants named in Mobley's suit, will use newly purchased "electrical resistivity" equipment to ensure the highway extension's path won't encounter sinkholes, caves, voids or archaeological features.

"I still am concerned about collapses that are occurring in the vicinity of that expressway," Mobley said.

For more than 20 years, Greene County highway planners have noted a need for a new north-south corridor in southwest Springfield to handle traffic growth in that area.

Mobley sought a jury trial and a change of venue. At the time he filed the suit, he asked the court to appoint a lawyer to represent him because "I am without means to employ counsel."