Ex-candidate wins by default in libel lawsuit
CARSON CITY -- Former Republican secretary of state candidate Rob Lauer has won a default judgment against Jennifer Von Tobel over comments she made about him in his 2010 campaign, according to Clark County court records.
Von Tobel did not respond to Lauer's lawsuit that she had libeled and defamed him by claiming to the media he had assaulted her during a campaign party in a Las Vegas restaurant on June 4, 2010. Von Tobel had been one of his supporters. Lauer said that he had been showing self-defense moves to Von Tobel.
She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
By her inaction, Von Tobel defaulted in the lawsuit as of Tuesday, according to court records.
Lauer said that he had been seeking $50,000 from Von Tobel and that her default means he has won the money. But no court judgment as yet has been filed in the case. Last November, misdemeanor battery charges against Lauer were dropped by a justice of the peace.
"Although I won by default after giving her more than 50 days to respond when I was only required to give 20 days, I was very much looking forward to taking her deposition and cross-examining her," Lauer said Wednesday. "A win is a win."
The adverse publicity generated by the incidents contributed to his defeat in the election by Secretary of State Ross Miller, Lauer said. He lost to Miller by 16 percentage points.
"I have not made up my mind about whether I plan to run in 2014. I believe I was defined before I could define myself in the election," he said.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.
