D.C. Circuit Rejects Ralph Nader's Conspiracy Suit

Political activist Ralph Nader’s suit alleging a conspiracy among Democratic party leaders to thwart his 2004 presidential bid was filed outside the statute of limitations and was rightly dismissed, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled unanimously today.

The suit, lodged in 2007 against the Democratic National Committee, the Kerry-Edwards campaign and the law firm Reed Smith, among other defendants, alleged malicious prosecution and abuse of process. Nader claimed party leaders orchestrated a conspiracy to force him to drain resources to defend ballot challenges around the country.

“There has to be some judicial standard to protect our First Amendment right to petition to run for office that prevents a more affluent and powerful opponent from destroying a campaign,” Nader told reporters in March, when the case was argued in the D.C. Circuit.

Last year, Judge Ricardo Urbina of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia tossed Nader’s suit, finding that the DNC had a First Amendment right to challenge Nader’s effort to get his name on state ballots.
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