Federal Judge Throws Out Kilpatrick Suit Over Released Text Messages

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Another legal setback for Detroit's former mayor and his lawsuit against Skytel.

A federal judge in Mississippi tossed out the case of Detroit's former mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, against Skytel, the city's former communications provider, for releasing the text messages that brought about his downfall.

U.S. District Judge William Barbour Jr. said Kilpatrick filed an amended lawsuit there in March 2010 without first getting court approval to do so.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Jan. 30 in federal court.

Kilpatrick sued Skytel for invasion of privacy and violation of the federal Stored Communications Act for releasing text messages to Royal Oak attorney Michael Stefani in response to a subpoena in a police whistleblower lawsuit.

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