Lawsuit Over Cancelled Conservative Think Tank Event Dismissed

The Center of the American Experiment sued Rochester (Minn.) Country Club in March when a ticketed event called “Crime Crisis: Rochester” was canceled by the club “because it generated controversy among Club members,” according to a club statement. The case was dismissed with prejudice, but “without cost disbursements or attorneys fees paid any party.”

A recently filed judgment of dismissal indicates the Center of the American Experiment and the Rochester (Minn.) Country Club have agreed to dismiss the think tank’s claims against the club in connection with the cancellation of a presentation and panel discussion concerning crime that had been scheduled to take place in March, KROC reported.

The case was dismissed with prejudice, but “without cost disbursements or attorneys fees paid any party,” KROC reported. The court filing also states the dismissal “is intended to have no effect whatsoever” on the Center of the American Experiment’s claims.

The original lawsuit accused the Rochester Country Club of breach of contract over the cancellation of the event, KROC reported.

C+RB reported on case in March when a ticketed event called “Crime Crisis: Rochester” was canceled by the club “because it generated controversy among Club members,” according to a club statement. News reports said club members had organized and circulated petitions denouncing the Center, which tried unsuccessfully to get a temporary restraining order against the club’s decision, saying it would “suffer irreparable and severe damage” to its reputation and “incalculable future loss of fundraising opportunities” if the event was not held.

The Center of the American Experiment alleged the cancellation was due to a “twisted and falsehood-laden Change.org petition spearheaded by Defendant Erin Nystrom and signed by a few politically active club members,” KROC reported. The ongoing lawsuit against Nystrom contends she acted with “malicious intent” based on her social media posts concerning the think tank.

The organization later rescheduled the forum, which included the participation of Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin and Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, KROC reported. The delayed event attracted a considerably larger audience than was expected for the original forum at the club.