Stebic lawyer gets court date in legal fee dispute
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com January 25, 2012 2:54PM
Lisa Stebic of Plainfield
Article Extras
Updated: February 27, 2012 9:51AM
JOLIET — Craig Stebic’s divorce lawyer appeared in court Wednesday to further a lawsuit seeking thousands of dollars in unpaid fees from his client.
Wheaton attorney Dion Davi says Stebic owes more than $10,000, and will argue his motion Feb. 29 in Will County Circuit Court.
Stebic hired Davi and filed for divorce from Lisa Stebic in January 2007, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple sought joint custody of their children, with Lisa being the custodial parent.
Lisa disappeared in April 2007, and Stebic dropped the divorce case.
But Davi continued to represent him, even after Stebic retained Joliet attorney George Lenard. Stebic has referred reporters to Lenard as his primary spokesman since early 2008.
Davi most recently represented Stebic in a case brought by Lisa’s relatives seeking visitation rights to the couple’s two children.
The visitation case was resolved in 2008 with a compromise between Craig and Lisa Stebic’s parents and grandparents that was kept private from public court documents.
Davi filed a petition Dec. 22 seeking payment of $10,371 in fees for services rendered Stebic since Jan. 2, 2007. He also filed a motion to withdraw as Stebic’s attorney.
Davi declined to comment on the petition Wednesday, saying he is still Stebic’s attorney. He said he has not had any recent contact with Stebic.
No one answered the door Wednesday afternoon at Stebic’s house on Red Star Drive in Plainfield.
April 30 will mark five years since Lisa Stebic disappeared.
Craig Stebic, who has been named a “person of interest” by Plainfield police in his wife’s disappearance, has denied any wrongdoing.
He has not been charged in connection with the case.
Davi and his Wheaton law firm have used 9,685 hours of work representing Stebic, according to an affidavit Davi filed.
In total, Stebic racked up $23,374 in fees, but he has already paid a $2,500 retainer and $10,503 in fees, according to the affidavit.
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