DECATUR - The administrators of the health plan for the city of Decatur have filed a defamation lawsuit against Macon County Shared Vision for comments posted on the citizen group's Web site.

Stephen D. Daniels and Macon County Shared Vision are listed as defendants in a lawsuit filed June 4 by Consociate Inc., Danny R. Reynolds, Darren D. Reynolds and Reynolds Development LLC.

Consociate Inc. is the third-party administrator of the city's health care plan. Reynolds Development LLC is constructing a new office building in the 300 block of North Water Street.

The lawsuit alleges that the Web postings include defamatory statements that misrepresent the nature and extent of the city's annual health costs. The statements falsely imply "some form of improper collusion" involving Reynolds Development, Consociate and the city, the lawsuit states.

Daniels said the lawsuit is an attempt to discourage debate, and Shared Vision will continue to discuss the issues.

The lawsuit alleges that the Web postings falsely portray Consociate's past performance and its administration of the city's health plan.

The statements on the Shared Vision Web page "falsely assert that Consociate and the Reynolds have mismanaged the city's health plan by allowing health costs to 'explode' under their watch to a level 'unmatched in any government units in Macon County, the state of Illinois, and in private industry,' " the suit states.

The plaintiffs seek damages exceeding $50,000.

Daniels replied in a statement, "The lawsuit against myself and the members of Macon County Shared Vision is an attempt to suppress public discussion and debate about important issues in our community. It will not work.

"(Macon County Shared Vision) will continue to share information, discuss health care costs and economic development policies in Decatur and Macon County."

Daniels said the health care costs incurred by the city were announced in 2004 by city administrators. Daniels referred to a Sept. 17, 2004, Herald & Review article.

The article cited a study by the city's finance department, which said Decatur pays substantially more on average for city employees' health insurance than Bloomington, Champaign, Danville, Normal, Quincy, Springfield and Urbana.

Darren Reynolds did not return a phone call Wednesday seeking comment.

Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.