Mo. judge dismisses e-mail lawsuit against Blunt

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A state trial judge dismisses a lawsuit filed against Gov. Matt Blunt over access to backup e-mail records.

But Friday's ruling tossing out the case was delayed for 10 days to give the special investigators seeking access to e-mails from the governor's office an opportunity to amend their lawsuit.

The suit was filed in the Capitol's home of Cole County by Mel Fisher, one of three investigators selected by Attorney General Jay Nixon to look into allegations that Blunt's office violated the Sunshine Law by deleting e-mails. The investigation team seeks access to copies of backup e-mail records retained from the governor's office.

Cole County Judge Richard Callahan ruled Friday that Fisher cannot sue on behalf of the attorney general and that Fisher did not prove that he personally has been harmed.