Calif. to Sue Diebold Over False Claims
Tue Sep 7, 2004 06:59 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said on Tuesday he would sue electronic voting machine maker Diebold Inc. (DBD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on charges it defrauded the state with false claims about its products.

Secretary of State Kevin Shelley has said Diebold deceived California with aggressive marketing that led to the installation of touch-screen voting systems that were not tested or approved nationally or in California.

Lockyer's office issued a statement noting he has authority to intervene in and take over false claims cases involving vendors to state.

"Lockyer determined sufficient evidence existed to go forward with a false claims lawsuit against Diebold," the statement said. The state's top lawyer earlier had ped a criminal investigation of Diebold.

Diebold Vice President Thomas Swidarski said in a statement that the company was pleased Lockyer ped the probe. Despite Lockyer's decision to sue, the company is "confident that the state's decision to intervene will aid in a fair and dispassionate examination of the issues raised in the case," Swidarski said.

California in April set tough new standards for electronic voting by ordering new security measures for e-voting machines, and California's Secretary of State called for a criminal probe into Diebold, the state's largest e-voting machine supplier.