Local talk-radio fixture Frank O. Pinion talked too much, lawyers for one of his former staffers contend.

In a lawsuit filed Oct. 6 in St. Louis Circuit Court, a man who worked 19 years for Pinion (whose real name is John Craddock) alleges that Craddock broadcast live on KTRS-AM 550 the fact that the man had entered a substance abuse rehab facility.

The suit, which asks for "in excess of" $50,000, says Craddock talked about the subject at least six times in the two weeks the man was in a rehab facility in late August. The lawsuit does not name the plaintiff.

Craddock could not be reached for comment.

On Aug. 21, Craddock told listeners that the man "had to go get help" to "deal with substances," the suit alleges.

The suit also states that on Aug. 23, Craddock said the man "has gone away to get straightened out" and then went on to say:

"People who have a substance abuse problem — you're never going to help them kick it by molly-coddling them, helping them keep it hush-hush. You have to put the hammer down."