Mark Driscoll racketeering lawsuit dismissed

U.S. District Judge James L. Robart dismissed the civil racketeering lawsuit against pastor Mark Driscoll and former executive elder Sutton Turner because the plaintiffs did not serve them with the suit.

Driscoll and Turner were accused in February of soliciting donations and using the money for other purposes. They motioned for the dismissal of the case in June when the complainants failed to serve them within 90 days.

The plaintiffs, Brian Jacobsen, Connie Jacobsen, Ryan Kildea and Arica Kildea, admitted that they did not have the money to continue with the case.

"I am grateful to God for the dismissal of these false and malicious allegations," Driscoll told The Christian Post. "I remain steadfast and committed to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am forever humbled and thankful for the prayers and tremendous support of family, friends, and fellow pastors," he added.

However, the case may still be refiled and brought back to court because it was dismissed without prejudice by Robart. 

"The plaintiffs will be considering our options for moving forward with this lawsuit," Brian said in an email to Religion News Service. "We are ready to refile, if someone stepped up and offered to fund it. We will also be considering class action and contingent fee possibilities," Brian continued. 

The plaintiffs tried to raise $70,000 through a crowdfunding campaign but the donations only amounted to $34,660 as of writing time.

Robart did not grant the defendants' requests for sanctions and attorney's fees of $4,240. The plaintiffs had not "acted in bad faith, recklessly, or with an improper purpose," the judge declared in his decision.

Driscoll resigned as a pastor of Mars Hill in October 2014. The church's 15 campuses closed down after two months. He is now a senior pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Turner blogged that he is committed to seek reconciliation and added that he will not file a counter-suit against the plaintiffs.