Judge Dismisses Defamation Suits Against Missouri Senators Over False Shooting Claims

A federal judge ruled that lawsuits against three Missouri lawmakers for social media posts falsely identifying a man as a shooter lacked jurisdiction.

• Lawsuits were filed by Denton Loudermill against Missouri state senators Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins, and Nick Schroer for sharing posts falsely accusing him of being a shooter at a Kansas City Chiefs rally.
• The judge dismissed the cases due to lack of jurisdiction, as the lawsuits were filed in Kansas while the defendants were from Missouri.
• Attorney Arthur Benson plans to refile the lawsuits in Missouri, arguing that the social media posts caused significant personal harm to Loudermill.
• The Missouri Attorney General's office defended the senators, emphasizing that matters of Missouri law should be addressed in Missouri courts.
• Despite the dismissal, the incident has sparked controversy and political debate over the responsibilities of lawmakers in their use of social media.

3 Articles

Associated Press Raw Story The Kansas City Star