US District Judge Jeffrey Bryan Issues Order in Smartmatic v Lindell Lawsuit

A federal court order in Smartmatic v. Lindell (D. Minn. Case No. 22-CV-00098) addresses dueling motions for summary judgment between Venezuelan-based electronic voting system manufacturer Smartmatic and defendants Michael Lindell and MyPillow, Inc. The court granted Smartmatic’s motion for partial summary judgment on key elements of its defamation and Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act (MDTPA) claims. This judgment asserts that Lindell’s statements alleging Smartmatic rigged the 2020 election were actionable falsehoods and defamation per se. It denied defendants’ request for summary judgment and excluded expert testimony offered by the defense as insufficiently reliable or timely. The court also ruled MyPillow is vicariously liable for Lindell’s tortious conduct. Issues of actual malice, damages, and certain expert opinions remain for trial. The order concludes Smartmatic is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the falsity and harm elements of its claims, leaving only the questions of malice and damages unresolved.