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A federal court of appeal presented a victory to the founder of Mypillow Mike Lindell On Wednesday, judging that he does not have to pay a price of $ 5 million to a software engineer who challenged Lindell’s statements that China interfered in the 2020 American presidential election.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals revealed that an arbitration committee had exceeded its authority in granting money to Robert Zeidman, an engineer based in Las Vegas who participated in Lindell 2021 “Prove Mike bad challenge”.
Why it matters
Lindell, a fervent supporter of President Donald Trump, was a leading voice in promoting the claims that the 2020 elections were faked, despite more than 50 trial challenges of Trump allies and clear statements by Trump’s own ministry of justice rejecting general fraud.
Associated Press
What to know
As part of a “cyber symposium” that Lindell organized in Sioux Falls, in southern Dakota, he promised $ 5 million to anyone who could prove that the packet capture data he published were not 2020 elections. Zeidman submitted a 15 -page report demystifying the data and, after the competition officials refused to declare him filed a request for arbitration. A panel of three arbitrators – including one chosen by Lindell – has deposited in favor of Zeidman and awarded the $ 5 million. US District Judge John Tunheim then confirmed the decision, despite calling the rules of the competition a “badly written contract”.
However, the court of appeal did not agree. In its decision, the 8th circuit said that the arbitrators go out beyond the clear conditions of the contract.
“Whatever one can think of the logic of the reasoning of the panel, it is contrary to the law of Minnesota. … Just or not, the conditions of contract agreed cannot be modified by the panel or by this court,” wrote the court. The case was referred to the lower court with instructions to leave the sentence.
“It’s a great day for our country,” said Lindell in an interview following the decision. “This is a big victory. It opens the door to get rid of these electronic voting machines and to obtain paper ballots, counted by hand.”
Zeidman’s lawyer Brian Glasser criticized the decision and encouraged the public to assess the initial arbitration decision for themselves.
The decision comes in the middle of a series of legal battles for Lindell. Last month, a Colorado jury found him responsible for the defamation of a former employee of the voting machine company by accusing him of treason, granting $ 2.3 million in damages.
What people say
Glass said: “Judge for yourself if the decision of the eighth circuit today is more convincing, or sounds stronger, than the unanimous contrary decision of three arbitrators who have heard all the evidence, one named by Mr. Lindell,” he said.
What happens next
Lindell also calls on the verdict in which the Colorado jury found him responsible, saying that it was a personal loss and not for Mypillow, which was not held responsible.
This article includes the reports of the Associated Press.
