Waechter lawsuit ends in dismissal

The United States District Court of Florida, Tampa division, granted Robert Waechter’s motion to dismiss the allegations against him made by Lourdes Ramirez.

In 2012, Waechter made donations with a pre-paid debit card under Ramirez’s name to negatively affect her campaign as a Republican candidate for the Sarasota County Commission District 4 seat, according to prosecutors. Ramirez lost to Alan Maio in the primary in August.

Waechter accepted a plea deal in December 2013, but Ramirez filed her civil suit against Waechter a year later, December 2014, for appropriation, misrepresentation, libel, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. She said she believed other people were involved in the case.

Waetcher is still serving probation for the identity theft. In December 2013, Judge Donna Berlin sentenced Waechter to two years of probation, a $5,000 fine and three months of house arrest for making donations

The court order released Wednesday, Feb. 4, stated that Ramirez’s complaint failed to demonstrate two or more of Waetcher's acts that constituted continued racketeering activity – criminal activity performed to benefit an organization.

Five of the counts against Waechter were dismissed "without prejudice," and can be taken to state court.

Ramirez was represented by Merritt & Sanderson of Osprey.

"I'm meeting with my attorney tomorrow to see what our options are," Ramirez said, adding she's going to keep pursuing the case.

"I'm not letting the matter drop," she said. 

Waechter was represented by Morgan Bentley of Bentley & Bruning.

"We're happy the court ruled this way," said Bentley. "We'll wait to see how the case goes forward."