Lawyas sanctioned in Colorado. Sanctions under Rule 11, inherent authority and 18 usc 1927
While Plaintiffs’ counsel insist that the lawsuit was not intended to challenge the
election or reverse the results, the effect of the allegations and relief sought would be to
sow doubt over the legitimacy of the Biden presidency and the mechanisms of
American democracy (the actual systems of voting) in numerous states.
In short, this was no slip-and-fall at the local grocery store. Albeit disorganized
and fantastical, the Complaint’s allegations are extraordinarily serious and, if accepted
as true by large numbers of people, are the stuff of which violent insurrections are
made.
The Complaint did seek, among other things, an injunction barring “any further
unconstitutional behavior,” id. at 81, and “permanent injunctive relief to remedy the
ongoing effects of Defendants’ unconstitutional conduct.” Id. at 83. But the requested
injunctions aside, the main focus of the suit, at least as emphasized by Plaintiffs’
counsel in argument, was a demand for a massive amount of money, likely greater than
any money damage award in American history. Seeking a “nominal amount of $1,000
per registered voter,” Plaintiffs asked for a total $160 billion for the putative 160-millionperson
Plaintiff class. Dkt. #1 at 82. This figure is greater than the annual GDP of
Hungary (lulz)
The personal affidavits Plaintiffs attached to the original Complaint recount the
generalized fear and suspicion that the “system” is rigged, and a sense that American
democracy no longer works. The affidavits are notable only in demonstrating no
firsthand knowledge by any Plaintiff of any election fraud, misconduct, or malfeasance.
Instead, Plaintiffs’ affidavits are replete with conclusory statements about what must
have happened during the election and Plaintiffs’ “beliefs” that the election was
corrupted, presumably based on rumors, innuendo, and unverified and questionable
media reports.
For example, the affidavit of Amie Trapp, a resident of Alabama, recites,
It is obvious our federal election has been tampered with and compromised
by Dominion Voting Systems Inc, along with the founder of Facebook, Mark
Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and many others acting as
governors/secretaries of state across the country. Every day, we, as a
country, find out more information about this corrupt system, Dominion, and
the government officials who allow it.
Dkt. #1-9 at 3, ¶¶ 7–8. Not stated is any nonconclusory basis for Ms. Trapp to believe
this.
The affidavit of Plaintiff Larry D. Cook of California presents similarly
unconvincing allegations of election fraud, based solely on his belief (although Mr. Cook
seems more distressed about mandatory vaccinations and the removal by Facebook of
his posts related to vaccines and QAnon):
I believe that there was widespread vote fraud and manipulation during the
2020 Presidential Election and as such, this topic, along with the vaccination
topic, along with the Qanon topic, as well as other ‘controversial topics,’
should not be censored, ‘fact checked,’ deleted and/or result in a ban or
permanent account deletion just because the topic at hand challenges the
official narrative as presented in mainstream media, the Democrat Party,
the liability-free vaccine industry and other domestic and foreign controlling
interests.
Dkt. #1-6 at 7, ¶ 29. Mr. Cook provides no personal knowledge about any election fraud
or impropriety.
Trump's own inanities weigh in favor of sanctions. Pretty excoriating of the BS world we live in.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/colorado-sanctions-trump-lawsuit/2021/08/04/704dec92-f53a-11eb-a49b-d96f2dac0942_story.html
Magistrate judge tho.