A legal storm is brewing as a presidential candidate has taken to the courts, alleging serious accusations against multiple defendants, including a law firm and county courts. Ronald Satish Emrit filed a complaint on April 7, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against Cobb Gonzalez Law Firm of Jacksonville, Florida, and several other defendants. The case revolves around claims of tortious interference with business relations and contracts, with Emrit seeking substantial damages.
The complaint outlines a complex web of allegations involving tortious interference with both contracts and business relationships. Emrit accuses the defendants, which include the Cobb Gonzalez Law Firm, two county courts in Florida, Eric Goldfine Trust, Eric Goldfine himself, Pamela Chapman (a notary public), and Christopher Gedney from Osceola County. The plaintiff alleges that these parties have engaged in actions leading to the foreclosure attempts on properties owned by his friend James Lambert in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. According to Emrit's filing, these foreclosures are being pursued despite Lambert's traumatic brain injury and his intention to house Emrit as a tenant in one of the properties.
Emrit's lawsuit is not just about financial compensation; it also seeks significant judicial interventions. He requests punitive damages amounting to $500 billion for intentional infliction of emotional distress and trespass to chattels. Additionally, he demands an injunction to halt foreclosure proceedings on Lambert’s properties and seeks declaratory relief under various constitutional provisions such as the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Furthermore, Emrit implores Chief Judge Shelly Dick to transfer parts of this case to local Florida courts or alternatively issue preliminary injunctions or declaratory judgments if transfers are denied.
In an unusual twist, Emrit also requests that his friend James Lambert be added as a co-plaintiff in this case under Rule 19 of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). He argues for pro bono legal assistance from law students at institutions like Tulane University or Louisiana State University due to their indigent status. This plea extends beyond typical legal aid requests by invoking broader interpretations of landmark cases like Gideon v. Wainwright for property law contexts.
Representing himself pro se, Ronald Satish Emrit brings this intricate case forward without formal legal representation. The case is presided over by Chief Judge Shelly Dick under Case ID 3:25-cv-00298-SDD-EWD.