Judge: Trump Improperly Added Plaintiffs to Keep Pollster Lawsuit in State Court

A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump improperly added multiple plaintiffs to a lawsuit against a political pollster in what the court described as a strategic move to prevent the incident from being transferred to federal court Judge Trump Improperly Added Plaintiffs to Keep Pollster Lawsuit in State Court The decision issued by U S District Judge Lewis Kaplan focused on a lawsuit Trump filed against Mark Harris a Republican pollster with ties to several political campaigns Trump and his legal gang initially filed the suit in New York state court accusing Harris of defamation and other civil violations related to polling statistics and residents commentary that allegedly harmed Trump s political standing However shortly after Harris attempted to move the situation to federal court a common legal step when out-of-state parties are involved Trump s lawyers amended the complaint to include additional plaintiffs with New York residency This maneuver appeared aimed at preserving jurisdiction in state court where Trump s legal squad likely felt the venue would be more favorable Judge Calls Out Improper Joinder Judge Kaplan called the tactic a clear event of improper joinder ruling that the added plaintiffs had no substantive legal declares in the matter and were included solely to defeat federal jurisdiction As a end Kaplan dismissed the added parties from the lawsuit and allowed the affair to proceed in federal court This is a textbook example of forum manipulation the judge wrote in his opinion The Court will not permit parties to manufacture jurisdictional facts to subvert the law Implications for Trump s Legal Strategy The ruling is another legal setback for Trump who remains entangled in multiple civil and criminal cases as he campaigns for the presidential ballot cycle His attorneys have often sought to leverage procedural maneuvers including venue changes to delay or shift the legal terrain in their favor Legal analysts say this situation underscores the scrutiny courts are now applying to Trump s legal tactics Judges are increasingly less tolerant of gamesmanship especially when it comes to jurisdiction revealed law professor Maya Cohen of Columbia University Broader Political Context While the lawsuit itself involves a political pollster and reputational declares the broader context is steeped in Trump s efforts to reshape narratives ahead of the electoral process Trump has repeatedly challenged polling material and media reports that show him trailing key rivals or facing critical legal exposure The matter will now proceed in federal court where pre-trial motions and discovery are expected to begin in the coming weeks