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Kenneth Queen of Marlette already has been charged with two felonies in connection with the June 24, 2007 crash that injured David and Carole Stieler of Marlette.

Queen is scheduled for a plea hearing May 28 in Lapeer County Circuit Court on charges of failing to stop at the scene of a serious personal injury accident, and failing to report an accident.

The Sanilac County case was moved to Lapeer after the judge of Sanilac Circuit Court, Donald Teeple, disqualified himself because Carole Stieler is an employee of his court.

For the same reason, Teeple has now disqualified himself from the civil case, which the Stielers filed against Queen on May 8. Carole Stieler is an assignment clerk and court administrator in the Sanilac court.

The lawsuit, which seeks an unspecified amount of monetary damages against Queen and the owner of the car he was allegedly driving, will be assigned to a judge of another court.

According to the lawsuit, the Stielers were northbound on Van Dyke Road (M-53) on a 1990 Harley Davison motorcycle at around 1:55 p.m., when a northbound 1996 Chevrolet Corsica driven by Queen "struck Plaintiffs' motorcycle causing plaintiffs to fall from the motorcycle and slide into the intersection of Van Dyke Road and French Line Road" in Marlette Township.

The complaint alleges Queen "was guilty of careless, negligent and or reckless acts of and or omissions in the operation of his vehicle, contrary to the rules... of law and statutes of Michigan."

Marlette businessman David Stieler, driver of the motorcycle, and his wife sustained multiple injuries that required numerous surgeries and caused severe pain and suffering, excess wage loss and loss of job opportunities and future wages, according to the lawsuit. The injuries included fractured ribs, collapsed lung, nerve damage and traumatic brain injury for both victims.

The second defendant named the complaint is the alleged owner of the Corsica, Darci Lynn Eagle of Marlette. Neither defendant could be reached for comment.

In the criminal case, authorities say Queen told sheriff's deputies he was stopped on Van Dyke to make a left turn onto French Line, when he saw the motorcycle coming from behind, go out of control and strike his car. He allegedly told deputies he stopped the car, but then left the scene after observing another motorist stop to help. The motorist, an off-duty fireman from Caro, saw the motorcycle slide down the road, called 911 and rendered aid to the victims.

A citizens' tip led police to Queen and the car.