PHOENIX — Even though Kari Lake filed to default in Stephen Richer's defamation lawsuit against her, the fight isn't over yet.
Lake, currently running for U.S. Senate, lost the Arizona governor’s race to Katie Hobbs in 2022. According to Richer's lawsuit, filed in June 2023, Lake's false statements about his role in the election subjected him to "violent vitriol" and death threats.
Richer is the Maricopa County Recorder and is involved in the elections and voting process.
Last month, after the Arizona Supreme Court rejected Lake's appeal, Lake's attorneys filed to default in the lawsuit, essentially admitting to Richer’s claims of defamation.
Lake's lawyers asked the Maricopa County judge handling the case to proceed to a speedy hearing before a jury on monetary damages for Richer.
Neither Lake nor Richer were in court Wednesday for a status conference but their attorneys told the judge they cannot agree on what to do next.
Richer’s side has claimed damages could be in the millions, which Lake’s team has denied in court filings.
Lake’s attorneys want the case to go to a damages hearing, saying Richer's team needs to outline compensatory damages.
Richer’s attorney, Daniel Maynard, is asking the judge for a discovery phase, so they can, in part, access some of Lake’s electronic records, like emails, to better determine the extent of the damage.
Maynard argues that this is not just about money lost – it’s about reputation.
"What we need discovery on is the reach and impact of these false statements that they have admitted were false," Maynard said. "They knew they were false."
Lake’s attorney, Tim La Sota, said they don't need the discovery phase and that it’s not his burden to prove the extent of Richer’s allegations.
"We’ve admitted the facts and this is just a way to try and continue what we think this case has been about from the start… sideline Ms. Lake from the Senate campaign," La Sota told the court.
He also claimed Richer had been bragging on social media about improved fundraising.
When 12News asked Richer’s attorney about that bragging claim after court, he laughed it off.
The judge said he'll take the matter under advisement and will decide soon on what kind of hearing comes next and when it will be.
Arizona Politics
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