'Escort services' mix-up settled out of court/MO

[PeteSC]

Wednesday, November 2, 2005  
 'Escort services' mix-up settled out of court

Matt Wagner
News-Leader

An Ozarks man who provides motorcycle escorts for funeral processions has settled a lawsuit with a phone book company that published his business number under the heading "escort services."
Larry Perkins, 57, started Ozark Motorcycle Escort about 2 1/2 years ago, basing the business out of his Highlandville home.

   
But in the current Names and Numbers directories for Springfield and Branson — published in December 2004 — Perkins' business is misidentified as "Ozark Escort" and grouped with companion-for-hire services often considered fronts for illegal prostitution.

Most of the people who have called Perkins' number since then were, in fact, seeking companions of the carnal sort.

Perkins' Springfield attorney, Joseph Wantuck, sent a letter to Kansas-based K.W. Brock Directories Inc. — the parent company of Names and Numbers — in May lamenting his client's misfortune and offering to settle the matter for $150,000.

"Mr. Perkins has received a large volume of calls requesting prostitutes," Wantuck wrote. "Not only does this constitute interference with Mr. Perkins' business, but also defamation of his business and personal character."

Prior to the confidential settlement reached last month, Perkins spoke briefly with the News-Leader about the misery of being mistaken for an escort service.

Out-of-town callers traveling to Springfield routinely called Perkins to place orders for sexual services. Perkins quickly adopted the practice of unplugging his phone at 10 each night, but that didn't deter callers from leaving raunchy or bizarre messages.

He conceded the mix-up was mildly amusing at first, but after several months his patience waned.

Perkins' lawsuit was moved to U.S. District Court in early September.

According to the petition, Perkins endured embarrassment and humiliation, economic damages and a loss of reputation.

That same month, an attorney for K.W. Brock Directories formally denied any wrongdoing and demanded a jury trial.

Instead, the court assigned a Springfield attorney to mediate the legal dispute. The parties reached a settlement a short time later, but the terms are confidential, Wantuck said.

Randy Scheer, a Springfield attorney representing K.W. Brock Directories, also declined to discuss the settlement. Scheer wouldn't say whether his client was at fault for the phone book flub: "We're sorry for the misunderstanding, but the matter was settled amicably," he said.

Greene County Sheriff Jack Merritt, who is acquainted with Perkins, said the fiasco illustrates how many people are turning to escort services for prostitutes.

"With what Larry's been through, it's obvious there's a tremendous demand for that service," Merritt said.