Elliott J. Schuchardt

Elliott J. Schuchardt (born September 26, 1966) is an American civil liberties activist.

Schuchardt is known for filing a lawsuit against the federal government, which contended that the United States was unlawfully collecting and searching the national e-mail database.[1] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2020 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit for failure to "rebut the government’s evidence that his claims were untrue".[2]

In 2015, Schuchardt filed and argued the case that obtained the injunction that prevented Sweet Briar College, located in Amherst, Virginia, from closing its doors after more than a century.[3]

Government surveillance litigation

In 2014, Schuchardt filed suit against President Barack Obama and several senior government officials contending that the federal government was improperly collecting and "data-mining" the national e-mail database.[4] The lawsuit was initially dismissed by the District Court on the ground that Schuchardt did not have standing to pursue the case. In 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed, sending the case back for reconsideration.[2] In 2019, the case was dismissed again for failure to "rebut the government’s evidence that his claims were untrue, that decision was reaffirmed in 2020 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.[2]

Sweet Briar College litigation

In 2015, Sweet Briar College in Amherst, Virginia, announced they would be closing after more than a century due to declining enrollment and an insufficient endowment.[5] In March 2015, Schuchardt filed a lawsuit against the college on behalf of an alumna of the college. The lawsuit alleged that the college's decision to close had damaged the value of the alumna's university degree. Schuchardt subsequently filed an amended complaint on behalf of a number of current and former students of the college.[6]

In April 2015, Schuchardt obtained an injunction on behalf of the student / alumnae group, which prevented the college board from taking any further action to close the school.[7] In June 2015, the Virginia Attorney General's office announced a mediated agreement to keep Sweet Briar College open for the 2015–16 academic year. The agreement called for Sweet Briar College president James Jones to resign.[8]

National Rifle Association litigation

Schuchardt represented millionaire activist, David Dell'Aquila, in a class action lawsuit filed against the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and its President, Wayne LaPierre.[9] The complaint in the case contended that the National Rifle Association and LaPierre, fraudulently solicited donations from donors during the period from 2016 through 2019, because the NRA knew that the donations would not be used for the purposes solicited.[10][11] Due to Schuchardt's suspension from practicing law, he was ultimately forced to withdraw from the case.[12]

Personal life

Schuchardt has retired from the practice of law.

References
  1. Farivar, Cyrus (2014-10-23). "Lone lawyer sues Obama, alleging illegality of surveillance programs". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  2. Miller, Matt (3 March 2020). "The feds are illegally intercepting everybody's emails, lawyer claims. U.S. court says he didn't prove it". The Patriot-News.
  3. Pounds, Jessie (2015-04-29). "Judge orders six-month injunction stopping Sweet Briar College from disposing of assets". NewsAdvance.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-07-14.(subscription required)
  4. Farivar, Cyrus (2014-10-23). "Lone lawyer sues Obama, alleging illegality of surveillance programs". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2014-10-23. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. Kapsidelis, Karin. "Sweet Briar College to close". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. "Stop efforts to close Sweet Briar, lawsuits by county attorney and alumna urge Virginia court". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. Pounds, Jessie (2015-04-29). "Judge orders six-month injunction stopping Sweet Briar College from disposing of assets". NewsAdvance.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  8. Susan Svrluga (June 22, 2015). "Sweet Briar survives: Judge approves settlement deal to keep the college open". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  9. Hakim, Danny (July 2, 2019) N.R.A. Donor Directs a Revolt Against a ‘Radioactive’ Leader The New York Times
  10. Stockler, Asher (August 8, 2019) NRA Donor Files Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit, Accuses Gun Rights Group of Fraud and Financial Waste Newsweek
  11. Maremount, Mark (August 7, 2019) NRA Donor Files Suit Over CEO’s Expenses The Wall Street Journal
  12. Roy Strom (10 August 2022). "How Suspended Lawyer Derailed NRA Donors' $1 Billion Claim". Bloomberg Law. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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