Federal judge slams door on Lindstedt lawsuit

Martin Lindstedt will not be allowed to continue his lawsuit against Missouri Governor Matt Blunt at the taxpayers' expense.
Federal Judge Richard E. Dorr today rejected Lindstedt's motion to file an appeal, describing the accused child molester of filing an appeal that is "frivolous, and therefore cannot be taken in good faith."
Lindstedt, a perennial political candidate, is in the Newton County Jail awaiting trial on felony statutory sodomy charges. He also is facing 660 days of jail time for contempt in court.
Lindstedt said he did not have the money to file an appeal because Newton County officials were not allowing him access to his money. In his ruling, Judge Dorr said, "The Court has reviewed the financial affidavit supplied by the plaintiff. Plaintiff advises the Court not of his lack of funds, but of his current incarceration which makes access to these funds difficult.
"Additionally, the Court has reviewed the facts of this case, including the order dismissing the complaint. It is clear from the record that Plaintiff initiated this case with the purpose of harassment. It is equally clear that the appeal in this case is taken for the same purpose. Therefore, the Court concludes the Plaintiff's appeal is not taken in 'good faith' and that the application for IFP (pauper) status should be denied."
Lindstedt filed the lawsuit in 2004 claiming that then Secretary of State Matt Blunt had illegally kept him from using his nickname "Mad Dog' on the ballot. He also claimed that Blunt had discriminated against him by not putting a link to Lindstedt's website on the secretary of state's website as Blunt had done for other candidates. Blunt had refused to do so, noting the hate-filled and racist content of Lindstedt's site.