Businessmen, newspaper seek to dismiss libel suit

A libel suit that an alleged “tax expert” filed against two men and the Springfield Business Journal have no merit, according to the defendants.

Martin R. Dingman and Shane O. Grady, along with the Journal, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit  Thursday in federal court .

The lawsuit stems from a story the Journal wrote about the men after they had taken Lindsey K. Springer’s advice not pay their taxes and ended up pleading guilty to tax evasion and sentenced to three years probation.

Springer, who says taxation is un-Christian and illegal, advised the men not to pay their taxes. After heeding that advice from 1996 to 2001, the men eventually repaid their debts and have since gone on a speaking tour discouraging others from getting involved in illegal tax protests.

A story the Journal wrote during this tour prompted Springer to sue, claiming defamation.