TL/DR –
Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer’s lawyers are seeking sanctions against former gubernatorial and current U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake in a defamation case, claiming her attorneys are stalling. The motion for sanctions follows the Arizona Supreme Court lifting a temporary stay in the lawsuit and rejecting Lake’s appeal. The initial lawsuit, filed by Richer, accuses Lake of spreading false information about him after the November 2022 election.
Maricopa County Recorder Requests Sanctions in Defamation Case
Stephen Richer, Maricopa County Recorder, is seeking sanctions in an ongoing defamation case against U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake. He alleges her attorneys are stalling the legal process. Richer’s motion demands monetary sanctions and a scheduling conference to expedite the case.
However, Lake’s attorney, Timothy La Sota, refutes these claims, arguing the motion has no merit. He stressed that they’ve acted in good faith throughout the process and won’t be rushed into compromising their defense.
Richer’s filing follows an application for default against Lake and her attorneys, alleging their reluctance to advance the case. This request comes after the Arizona Supreme Court lifted a temporary stay in the defamation lawsuit and denied Lake’s appeal.
The initial lawsuit, filed in June, accuses Lake of spreading false information about Richer post the November 2022 election. Lake counters that Richer is attempting to silence her and other election integrity critics.
Next Steps in the Defamation Case
The lawsuit is set to proceed to discovery where attorneys exchange information regarding witnesses and evidence. This could potentially be a lengthy process spanning several months. The case may go to trial during a critical election year where both parties are running for office, or just after in 2025.
If Lake’s attorneys fail to respond to Richer’s default by March 25, Richer could win a default judgement, forfeiting Lake’s right to defend herself.
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