Berrien County Judge Dennis Wiley has ruled that a civil suit alleging fraud and civil conspiracy against County Commissioner Teri Sue Freehling, her late husband Patrick’s estate and Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin will go to trial. Judge Wiley wrote in his ruling “Plaintiffs allege in their complaint that the Freehlings formulated a plan to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars of Berrien County funds through fraud, for their own personal use.” Wiley ruled that plaintiffs in the case, Hartzler Excavating and Doug Hartzler, have “sufficiently alleged facts that could justify recovery” in the case. Hartzler is suing Quattrin, Freehling, and the estate of Freehling’s late husband, Patrick, for damages alleging fraud and conspiracy. Hartzler founded his company on the advice of Patrick Freehling, with Wiley ruling Commissioner Freehling had a “clear conflict of interest” when she voted on several drain contracts for which Hartzler was renting equipment from her husband.. ...Read Full Story