(Elkhart County, IN) - On Wednesday morning, arguments were made in a courtroom in a lawsuit involving the La Porte County attorney and the La Porte County Auditor. A ruling could come in the next thirty days.

In February, attorney Shaw Friedman sued auditor Tim Stabosz for defamation of character over Stabosz's claims that Friedman runs county government by controlling elected officials. 

This morning's hearing in Elkhart County was scheduled for a judge to hear arguments on a motion by Stabosz to dismiss the case. Stabosz claims comments against public officials like Friedman are fair game and protected under the free speech clause of the constitution. 

Since Friedman works for the County Commissioners, Friedman's attorney claims that Stabosz crossed the legal line in his allegations.

The hearing was in Elkhart County Superior Court 2 before Special Judge Stephen Bowers. The lawsuit was filed in La Porte Circuit Court, but an outside judge was assigned because Friedman and Stabosz were local political figures.

After attorneys for both sides argued their points, Judge Bowers took the motion under advisement.