Monday, Jun. 29, 2009

Ministry where Coleman worked wants to respond to suit in secret

Lawyers for Sheri Coleman's family asked the court on Monday to order Joyce Meyer Ministries to produce documents in a wrongful death suit against Christopher Coleman, the televangelist's bodyguard who is accused of the strangling murder his wife and two young sons.

Joyce Meyer Ministries proposed a confidentiality agreement that seals the answers and documents it turns over in a wrongful death suit filed by Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman's family. Belleville attorney Jack Carey and Chicago attorney Enrico Mirabelli, Sheri's cousin, refused and asked Circuit Judge Mike O'Malley to order the ministries to produce the information that was due last week.

"You would think that this is a matter of national security," Carey said.

Materials designated for attorneys' eyes only shall not be disclosed without further order of this court to any other person or entity except counsel for the plaintiff," wrote the ministries' lawyer, Michael J. King, of Tulsa, when he asked for a protective order sealing documents and answers given by ministry.

"We are trying to be as cooperative as we can while still balancing the interests of our client," King said.

Under the ministries proposed agreement, Carey must obtain permission from the ministry before using the documents in memorandums, client communication and press releases because it could cause the ministry "irreparable harm" if made public.

"Ain't gonna happen," Carey wrote in a letter to King, rejecting his proposal.

Carey also stated in the letter to King that another Meyer Ministries lawyer and King's partner, Thomas J. Winters "assured me I would have the full cooperation of your client."

Joyce Meyer Ministries was named as a "respondent in discovery" and asked to answer questions and produce documents related to former security officer Christopher Coleman, who is accused of the May 5 strangulation murders of his wife and young sons.

The lawsuit seeks scheduling, salary, benefits and life insurance information from Joyce Meyer Ministries, where Christopher Coleman worked as a full-time security guard. The suit further seeks airline tickets and schedules on commercial flights and private airplane passenger lists from Joyce Meyer Ministries for travel in connection to Christopher Coleman's former job as a security guard for Meyer's evangelical group.

King declined to discuss his specific objections regarding the public release of information with a reporter.

"I would like to hold off on that until we have an agreement or the judge makes a decision," King said.

Ronald Coleman, Christopher Coleman's father and pastor of Chester-based Grace Church Ministries, also was asked to produce documents related to the suit, but changed lawyers late last week. He also has not produced any documents or answers, Carey said.

Carey set the matter for a hearing on July 6.

The suit also seeks passenger lists and manifests from airline travel for Meyer and Christopher Coleman. Meyer conducted conferences in Tampa, Fla., in November and February. Police interviewed Tara Lintz, of Tampa, Fla., a dogtrack waitress and family friend who was involved in a romantic relationship with Christopher Coleman at the time of the murders.

Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman were found strangled in their beds at their home at 2845 Robert Drive in Columbia after Christopher Coleman called neighbor and Columbia Police Det. Justin Barlow to check on his family about 7 a.m. when Christopher Coleman couldn't reach them by phone. Barlow also was investigating threats the family was receiving since November related to Christopher Coleman's employment with the ministry,

Barlow and Officer Jason Donjon discovered the bodies and threats painted on the walls of the home.

Dr. Michael Baden later stated Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman died between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. -- hours before Christopher Coleman told police that he left for the gym.

Coleman faces three-counts of first-degree murder. He remains in the Monroe County Jail without bond.