Desk Report:
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The Unfolding Legal Drama
In the world of legal turmoil, the ongoing feud between conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell and election technology giants Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic has taken a surprising turn. Attorneys from the well-established Minnesota-based law firm, Parker Daniels Kibort, who were representing Lindell and his company MyPillow in defamation lawsuits, have filed requests to withdraw from both cases. The catalyst for this decision? Lindell’s alleged failure to settle millions of dollars in unpaid legal fees.
The Outstanding Debt
Parker Daniels Kibort has made it abundantly clear in their official court filings that neither Lindell nor MyPillow has met their financial obligations towards the firm. Additionally, they have voiced doubts about their clients’ ability to cover future financial commitments associated with the lawsuits. The filing, dated October 2, 2023, states, “[the law firm] was informed by Defendants that they are not able to get caught up with or make any payment on the large amount they owe in arrears nor pay for anywhere near the estimated expense of continuing to defend against the lawsuits going forward, including either the legal fees or litigation costs.”
Lindell’s Position
In a recent interview with CNN, Lindell openly admitted that he had not settled his attorneys’ bills for the past two to three months. He also acknowledged his uncertainty about who would represent him in the case moving forward. Nevertheless, Lindell stood firm in his refusal to reach a settlement with Dominion or Smartmatic, both of whom had sued him for defamation.
When asked if he would entertain the idea of a settlement, Lindell’s response was crystal clear: “Not in a million years.”
The Legal Battle’s Background
Dominion, the election technology company central to debunked right-wing conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election, initiated a $1.3 billion lawsuit against MyPillow and Lindell in 2021. This lawsuit stemmed from Lindell’s repeated assertions that Dominion manipulated its machines to secure Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump.
Similarly, Smartmatic filed a defamation suit against Lindell, accusing him of disseminating false information about the company’s role in the 2020 election for personal gain.
The Financial Toll on MyPillow
MyPillow, a prominent advertiser on the right-wing cable channel Fox News, found itself in dire financial straits following Dominion’s lawsuit. The legal battle and its associated costs had severely impacted the company’s financial stability, rendering it unable to meet its legal obligations, as Lindell disclosed to CNN.
Both Lindell and MyPillow have been informed of their attorneys’ intention to withdraw, and they have expressed their understanding of the situation, citing a lack of funds.
The Next Steps
Before officially parting ways with Lindell and MyPillow as clients, the court must grant the attorneys’ withdrawal request. It’s worth noting that attorneys representing Dominion have not taken a stance on the withdrawal motion at this juncture.
As of the time of this writing, Dominion and Smartmatic have not issued an official response to CNN’s request for comment on the matter.
During an appearance on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” program, Lindell attributed his financial predicament to what he referred to as “attacks on MyPillow” that had proven “devastating” to the company’s credit. In his own words, “I can’t pay the lawyers. We can’t pay. There’s no money left to pay them. I don’t know where that leaves us.”
In the ever-evolving legal saga involving Mike Lindell, Dominion, and Smartmatic, it remains to be seen how these recent developments will impact the trajectory of the cases and the future of MyPillow’s legal battles.
