Michelle MacDonald continues to make the same “recklessly false allegations” against Judge David Knutson that previously contributed to MacDonald having her law license suspended earlier this year. MacDonald, who is a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court, recycled the same false statements about Judge Knutson in a recent court filing in her lawsuit filed against Michael Brodkorb and Missing in Minnesota.
In an affidavit from MacDonald filed on October 18, 2018, MacDonald falsely claimed Judge Knuston filed a complaint against her after MacDonald reported Judge Knutson to the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards for what MacDonald claimed were “serious civil rights violations” committed by Judge Knutson against MacDonald and her client, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki.
But in an order from the Minnesota Supreme Court in January, the Court ruled that a referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court found that MacDonald violated the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct by “making recklessly false allegations against [Judge Knutson] that no reasonable attorney would have made based on the evidence available.”
Later in the same order, the Court ruled that MacDonald’s “statements were false, made with reckless disregard for the truth” and violated the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct of licensed attorneys.
MacDonald is currently being investigated by lawyers board
MacDonald is currently being investigated by the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility for alleged violations of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct governing licensed attorneys. The investigation into the alleged violations by MacDonald was opened after Missing in Minnesota filed a formal complaint with the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility in June after MacDonald filed a “frivolous and vexatious” lawsuit against Missing in Minnesota, which appears to be in violation of an Order of the Minnesota Supreme Court which details the conditions by which MacDonald is allowed to practice law.
The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility was notified this week about MacDonald repeating the same allegations against Judge Knutson that were described as “recklessly false” by the Minnesota Supreme Court.
MacDonald’s legal work examined in a new book
MacDonald was labeled in April 2015 as a “person of interest” by the Lakeville Police Department in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. MacDonald refused to cooperate with the Lakeville Police Department’s investigation into her possible involvement in the disappearance of the sisters – even after public statements from her that she would cooperate in the investigation. Her criminal defense attorney, Stephen Grigsby, said in 2015 that he would advise MacDonald to not speak with the Lakeville Police Department.
An examination of MacDonald’s legal work is included in the new book, The Girls Are Gone. The book also includes new information about the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki and the adults who conspired to keep the missing sisters and the truth hidden.
The Girls Are Gone also explores the connection between MacDonald and two people convicted for their roles in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters: Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and Dede Evavold. MacDonald was labeled a “person of interest” by the Lakeville Police Department in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki but did not cooperate in the investigation.
The Girls Are Gone is published by Wise Ink Creative Publishing and was released on Tuesday.
Please follow Missing in Minnesota on Twitter and Facebook for updates on MacDonald’s campaign for the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Allison Mann contributed to this story.
