Kent Hovind Sues U.S. Government for $500 Million — Case Dismissed as Frivolous (2020)

The Lawsuit

Following his release from federal prison, Kent Hovind filed a lawsuit seeking $500 million in damages from the United States government. The suit named the IRS, the Department of Justice, and multiple individual government employees as defendants.

Hovind alleged that his prosecution and conviction were unjust, that his property was illegally seized, and that his civil rights were violated throughout the process. The claims echoed the same arguments that had been rejected at trial, on appeal, and in numerous post-conviction motions.

Dismissal

The court dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous, finding that Hovind’s claims lacked any legal basis. The dismissal was consistent with the pattern of courts uniformly rejecting Hovind’s legal theories about tax obligations, property rights, and religious exemptions from federal law.

Context

This lawsuit was one of numerous post-conviction legal filings by Hovind attempting to relitigate his tax fraud case. Federal courts had already rejected his arguments multiple times:

• His original trial arguments were rejected by the jury (2006)
• His appeal was denied by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2008)
• Multiple post-conviction motions were denied
• His fraudulent lien filings resulted in additional criminal charges (2014)

The $500 million figure — exceeding any plausible damages claim — underscored the frivolous nature of the filing. The case was dismissed without any recovery, adding another entry to Hovind’s long record of failed legal challenges against the government.