New Lawsuit Filed to Kick Ashjian Off November Ballot

(NN&V Staff) – Chuck Muth and Dan Burdish of Citizen Outreach, Janine Hansen of the Independent American Party, and Debbie Landis of the Anger is Brewing tea party organization plan to file a lawsuit in Carson City today in an effort to force the Nevada Secretary of State to remove Tea Party of Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Scott Ashjian from November’s ballot for failure to comply with Nevada Revised Statutes.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the suit, scheduled to be filed in Carson City later this afternoon, are Craig Mueller and Chad Dennie of Mueller, Hinds & Associates. Plaintiffs are petitioning the District Court to:

1. To strike Ashjian’s name from the general election ballot for the 2010 Nevada U.S. Senate race;

2. To require Ashjian to comply with NRS 293.1715 and 293.1725;

3. For damages in excess of $10,000.00;

4. For special damages according to proof;

5. For attorney’s fees and costs;

6. For such other and further relief as the court may find just and proper under the circumstances.

Here’s the Associated Press account of the lawsuit:

CARSON CITY, Nev. — A lawsuit is challenging the U.S. Senate bid of a Tea Party of Nevada candidate.

The suit filed Tuesday in Carson City argues Scott Ashjian was required to submit signatures totaling 1 percent of votes cast in Nevada’s last U.S. House elections to qualify for the November ballot.

Ashjian collected names of 250 registered voters under another provision in the law, but the suit claims he was still obligated to comply with the larger signature requirement.

The suit was filed by members of Citizen Outreach, a group headed by conservative activist Chuck Muth. Other plaintiffs are Independent American Party director Janine Hansen and Debbie Landis, head of a tea party group.

Another suit seeking to boot Ashjian from the ballot was rejected by a judge in April.