Posts tagged Michelle MacDonald

Supreme Court hearing today on MacDonald’s law license

The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today at 9:00 A.M. regarding the Petition for Disciplinary Action against Michelle MacDonald, who is appealing a recommendation from a Minnesota Supreme Court referee that her law license be suspended.

A judicial referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court recommended earlier this year that MacDonald’s law license be suspended for a minimum of 60 days, followed by two years of probation, which would include a mental health evaluation.

MacDonald’s behavior during a family court hearing for Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was described as “the ultimate dereliction of an attorney’s duty and is unquestionably serious misconduct warranting suspension” in a brief filed by the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board involving the attorney complaint against MacDonald.

A judicial referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court recommended in January that MacDonald’s law license be suspended for a minimum of 60 days, followed by two years of probation, which would include a mental health evaluation.

The recommendation by Judge Heather Sweetland comes after a two-day hearing was held last November about an attorney complaint filed against MacDonald, who was a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2014 and 2016.
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Federal civil rights lawsuit filed by MacDonald dismissed

A federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Michelle MacDonald in March 2015 against Dakota County stemming from her arrest while representing Sandra Grazzini-Rucki in a family court hearing has been dismissed.

It was during the custody hearing involving Grazzini-Rucki and her ex-husband, David Rucki, on September 12, 2013, that MacDonald took pictures in the courtroom which led to her being arrested.

MacDonald spent a portion of the trial representing Grazzini-Rucki while confined to a wheelchair after her own refusal to walk back into the courtroom. MacDonald also refused to put on her shoes and glasses, or provide her legal name and address to law enforcement.

The Memorandum Opinion and Order Granting Defendants’ Summary Judgement, written by John R. Turnheim, Chief Judge of United State District Court of Minnesota, dismisses all of MacDonald’s claims. Because the court has ruled that no grounds exist for the lawsuit, attorneys representing Dakota County have requested that the court order MacDonald to pay costs incurred by Dakota County due to the lawsuit.

In March of 2016, the court dismissed many of MacDonald’s claims including, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and retaliatory prosecution leaving only a few claims left to argue.

At that time, the court also found no grounds for claims of excessive force and state assault and battery “which related to her removal from the courtroom, removal of her personal effects, and placement in a wheelchair.”

Also dismissed were claims of equal protection, federal conspiracy, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and finally a claim by Thomas Shimota, MacDonald’s husband, for loss of consortium. Continue reading

Court affirms ruling that Michelle MacDonald ‘knowingly violated’ campaign law

The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling from the Office of Administrative Hearings that Michelle MacDonald, who was a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2016, “knowingly violated” campaign law when she falsely claimed she was endorsed by a non-existent Republican organization.

Last December, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) ruled against MacDonald and also imposed a $500 civil penalty for violating the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act. The initial complaint against MacDonald was filed by Barbara Linert of Eagan and Steve Timmer of Edina.

The ruling from the Minnesota Court of Appeals highlighted that “the falsity of [MacDonald’s] statement” is what triggered the violation of the law:


In an interview about today’s ruling Linert said “Michelle MacDonald asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals to find the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act unconstitutional and a violation of her First Amendment rights.”

Linert continued, “if they had found in her favor, any candidate in any election could lie about their endorsement without penalty of law. The court saw the importance of protecting voters from that chaos and ruled against her.”

“Hopefully this will be the final nail in the coffin of Michelle MacDonald’s judicial aspirations,” added Linert.

Timmer called the ruling  “an important, win for protecting voters from deception.”

Timmer added, “MacDonald’s position was that she could say anything, truthful or not, and be protected by the First Amendment. Our counsel, Karl Procaccini from Greene Espel, framed the issue perfectly in his opening remarks to the Court of Appeals: Does ‘Michelle MacDonald have a constitutional right to lie about an endorsement she doesn’t have?'” Continue reading

Dede Evavold facing additional jail time

Dede Evavold is facing more jail time after a judge in Dakota County accepted the recommendations of Dakota County Community Corrections who want Evavold back in jail for repeatedly violating the terms of her probation.

Evavold has been summoned to appear in Dakota County District Court for a Probation Violation Hearing on September 28, 2017.

According to a written recommendation submitted by Dakota County Community Corrections, Evavold violated the terms of probation when she “[f]ailed to comply with order to, not reference any of the Grazzini-Rucki family on any social media.”

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013 during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. Continue reading

Probation requests court issue warrant for Evavold

Dakota County Community Corrections has requested the issuance of a summons/warrant for Dede Evavold based on a Probation Violation Report filed with Dakota County District Court earlier today.

The details of the report are not available to the public at this time but as reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the terms of her probation by mentioning the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold has also violated a recently granted Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) which specifically restricted her from harassing and threatening the Rucki family by mentioning them in her use of social media.

A court hearing will be scheduled about the Probation Violated Report when the court signs the request for a summon/warrant for Evavold.

Evavold was sentenced on November 10, 2016 after being found guilty of six felony charges related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who were abducted by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 19, 2013. Continue reading

Evavold defends Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacist gathering in Charolettesville

Dede Evavold, who was convicted of six felonies related to her involvement in the disappearance of two sisters, has published numerous posts defending the Neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, and white supremacist gathering Charolettesville, Virginia which led to the death of three people.

Evavold’s defense of the Unite the Right rally held last week comes at a time when she is violating both a recently granted restraining order and the terms of her probation by harassing and threatening David Rucki and his family from Lakeville, Minnesota.

Missing in Minnesota is not linking to the posts published by Evavold because of the incendiary tone of material and also due to her perpetual harassment of the Rucki family.

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Convicted felon Evavold continues to harass Rucki family

Dede Evavold, who completed her jail sentence in January after being convicted of six felonies for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, continues to harass and target the Rucki family in her use of social media.

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Evavold has repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters, who were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Last week, Evavold’s blog published a post which not only mentions multiple members of the Rucki family, including Samantha Rucki, but the post also contained a picture surreptitiously taken of the Rucki family talking with their attorney before they entered a courtroom for a hearing.

After Evavold posted a picture of the Rucki home in Lakeville on social media, a representative of the Rucki family told Missing in Minnesota that Evavold’s behavior shows she does not comprehend the severity of her crimes, and that Evavold still poses a direct threat to the Rucki family and the general public.

On September 29, 2016, Evavold was found guilty on six felony counts for her role in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters. At that time, Judge Karen Asphaug made the decision to keep Evavold in custody rather than permitting her to return home until the time of her sentencing hearing on November 10, 2016.

In reference to her decision to remand Evavold to custody, Judge Karen Asphaug said, “…I do not have faith that she will appear for sentencing, nor do I have faith that she will obey the no-contact orders that have been issued in this case.” Continue reading

Lawyers Board: Michelle MacDonald’s ‘serious misconduct’ warrants suspension of her law license

Michelle MacDonald’s behavior during a family court hearing for Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was described as “the ultimate dereliction of an attorney’s duty, and is unquestionably serious misconduct warranting suspension” in a brief filed by the Minnesota Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board involving the attorney complaint against MacDonald.

A judicial referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court recommended in January that MacDonald’s law license be suspended for a minimum of 60 days, followed by two years of probation, which would include a mental health evaluation.

The recommendation by Judge Heather Sweetland comes after a two-day hearing was held last November about an attorney complaint filed against MacDonald, who was a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2014 and 2016.

MacDonald is appealing the recommendation that her law license be suspended and the brief filed by Susan M. Humiston, Director of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. Continue reading

Fake news used by Grazzini-Rucki and her allies to distort the truth

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and her allies continue to use fake news and propaganda to distort the truth involving her criminal conviction. The latest example comes from Michael Volpe, who writes for Communities Digital News, and who also co-authored a book with Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney Michelle MacDonald about this case.

In a post published last Friday, Mr. Volpe repeated a false statement that David Rucki was present in the room with Samantha Rucki while she testified during her mother’s criminal trial last July.

The inaccurate claim that David Rucki and his sister, Dr. Tammy Love were in the room with Samantha when she testified has been continually used as a talking-point by supporters of Grazzini-Rucki since she was convicted for her role in the disappearance of her children.

Mr. Volpe is based in Chicago, Illinois and he disseminates Grazzini-Rucki’s propaganda masqueraded as news. He has never attended any of the court proceedings involving Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and the other adults charged and convicted for their role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. Mr. Volpe is frequently interviewed with Grazzini-Rucki on podcasts about her criminal case and family court drama.

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Short-changed: Dede Evavold has paid only $375 of $12K owed for restitution, fines, & fees

Dede Evavold has only paid $375 of the $12,317 in restitution, fines, and fees assessed by Dakota County after she was convicted last year for her role in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls. Evavold is appealing her conviction.  Continue reading

Dede Evavold posts picture of Rucki home on social media

Dede Evavold, who was released from jail in January after being found guilty for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, posted a picture of the Rucki’s home on social media earlier today – a violation of the conditions of her probation.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters, who were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls.

A representative of the Rucki family said today Evavold’s behavior shows she does not comprehend the severity of her crimes, and that Evavold still poses a direct threat to the Rucki family and the general public.

The picture of the Rucki home posted by Evavold appears above, but I have digitally altered the picture to ensure privacy and safety for the Rucki family.

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Dede Evavold continues to flout conditions of her probation

Dede Evavold, who was released from jail in January after being found guilty for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, continues to reference the Rucki family on social media – a likely violation of her probation.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters, who were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls. Continue reading

ABC’s ’20/20′ episode: One year later

On April 8, 2016, ABC’s “20/20” first broadcast “Footprints in the Snow”, which focused on the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Last Saturday, ABC’s “20/20” rebroadcast the episode with updated information.

Since the episode first aired last April, there have been multiple developments involving many of the people interviewed. Continue reading

Tonight: ABC’s ’20/20′ encore presentation of episode about Grazzini-Rucki

Tonight at 9PM, ABC’s “20/20” is rebroadcasting their episode which focused on the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Grazzini-Rucki has tried to stop the rebroadcast of the episode of ABC’s “20/20” which found no documentation to verify Grazzini-Rucki’s claim that she was abused by David Rucki. Grazzini-Rucki has taken to Facebook, calling the show “rank propaganda” and encouraging people to register complaints. Continue reading

On This Date: Michelle MacDonald makes her first appearance in court for Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Michelle MacDonald made her first appearance in family court on behalf of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki on February 26, 2013. MacDonald’s work on behalf of Grazzini-Rucki created controversy and turmoil in court, and MacDonald’s law license may be suspended for her conduct while serving as Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney.

Minutes into the court hearing, the judge said “this is not the way that I expected to start off this hearing.”

According to court documents from February 23, 2013, MacDonald requested the court take a roll call to determine the names of everyone in the courtroom, including members of the public. The court documents also show that MacDonald repeatedly interrupted the court proceedings, with MacDonald later apologizing for comments she made during the court hearing. Continue reading