We have decided to proceed with collection against Misti and Misti’s Mission. I am simply posting this here as a warning that your donations may end up going to pay off her judgment, not to people in need. Without this step, we do not believe that Misti will turn over a new leaf. As such, we are going to move forward with it.
Final Words
Thanks to Lisa Olliges for covering this story. There are three edits of her exposé that showed slightly different things at 6, 9, and 10, last night. You can find them all on the KOAM TV home page along with a written article with more context.
Misti has once again taken to social media to try this case in the court of public opinion. However, she has already lost the long court battle, her 501(c)(3) charity status, and hopefully, the public trust.
It is worth noting one final time that this case was not about how much Misti did to fix up the property in question. She collected 10 months’ rent from two different tenants (that are known about) at $500/month. That was the original claim of the lawsuit: $10,000 plus attorney fees. The judge ruled that since the verbal agreement was only for $400/month, she only owed $8,000 plus attorney fees. Any “proof” she has that repairs reached what she collected in rent is laughable because …
- She was not able to provide that proof to Lisa Olliges for the TV story over the past two weeks.
- She failed to provide such documents to the court between 2015 and 2017.
- She made no attempt to provide such documents to the owner while she was renting it to people without the owner’s consent between 2012 and 2014.
To see through this pathetic excuse, all one need to know is the following:
- When would Misti have told the owner about renting the place to others?
- At what point would the rent money have covered the repairs so that Misti would have started sending money?
- At what point would Misti have signed any shred of documentation in writing for any of this? (The owner tried repeatedly to establish a formal agreement.)
This is likely the final post to this web page because we feel we have made our point. Please link to this page anywhere you see Misti posting or asking for donations to “help victims” of whatever the latest tragedy is. No one should be wasting their hard earned money on donations to such a person.
Your Own Actions
For the past several years, we have concentrated on our own actions against Misti in court. Recently, we have been made aware of other complaints, and we would like to assist you with this call to action.
First and foremost, there has been no formal investigation of the 501(c)(3) status of Misti’s Mission. Despite endless rumors of “self-dealing” and other practices that run afoul of this status, nothing has been proven which will end the status of “charitable organization” for them. This kind of investigation can only be undertaken at a federal level, and apparently, requires a great volume of complaints to be undertaken at all. It is worth noting that Misti did not comply with any requests for “discovery” during our lawsuit, and therefore, no evidence of her book-keeping (for good or ill) was entered into the court record. The IRS will insist on seeing such records. To file a complaint, please fill out this form and mail (or email) to the IRS address at the bottom of the page.
Tax-Exempt Organization Complaint (Referral)
Update: Misti’s Mission had their 501(c)(3) status revoked in November of 2016. This was not formally posted by the IRS until March of 2017, and therefore, I did not know that when I made this request. Your complaints may go into preventing her from getting it, again, but your time is likely better spent, elsewhere.
Second, the Missouri State Attorney General’s office also has the power to investigate scammers and fraudsters. While they do not have the power to end her soliciting donations under the tax code, they can impose penalties for instances of fraud which can be proven. Although her behavior has certainly been unethical, it may not rise to the level of criminality. However, without a formal investigation, it is impossible to know for certain. You can alert the Missouri Attorney General’s office at the link below.
Finally, feel free to link back to this page on blogs, news sites, or Twitter. If it can rise in the ranks of Google and other search engines, it might prevent people from casually donating without knowing our story. This will not be an active blog site. In fact, it is unlikely to contain more than 3-4 posts ever. It exists at our expense, and it exists only to tell our story. To the extent that purpose can be increased, we appreciated the help with tweets, posts, and links. Thank you.
Judgment After Long Battle
Once upon a time in Missouri, there was a tornado. If you are reading this, your life was likely impacted by this event
Many people and groups came to help. A few people used it as an opportunity to enrich themselves by preying on such good graces. On March 9th, 2017, a Missouri judge ruled on case 15NW-CV01371 that Misti Lindquist was one such person.
Misti has immediately taken to social media to “defend herself” and smear our character with lies that were not admissible in court. Her claim that the court system is “unfair” conveniently does not include the fact that this case was originally filed in August of 2015. She had ample opportunity in the past five years to make this right. During this time, the plaintiffs did not receive a single penny from Misti. She refused to sign any documentation whatsoever always claiming she did not receive it. She never sent so much as a receipt for “charitable donation” in this matter.
Let it be known that we did not do this for money. We could have asked for considerably more but did not request large punitive damages. We did this to prove that Misti is a liar and a cheat: Nothing more, nothing less.
You should not donate anything to her.
- 2012: Misti offers disaster relief grant money to Owner to purchase the property. Owner is relieved for such an offer due to recently moving out of state and needing to sell the property. Owner is paying approximately $400/ month for the mortgage and cannot really afford the extra bill. It is agreed that the property is in need of repair. Agreement was for $400/month from Misti, but credit could be given for repairing the furnace if Owner was sent the receipts. Especially under the belief that people who lost their home in Joplin would be housed by Misti’s Mission which is a “charitable organization.”
- Misti finds “Renter A.” Misti charges “Renter A” $500/month for rent and pays nothing to Owner. Misti does not admit to having a renter. During this time, Misti tells Owner that her lawyer is working on the papers for the grant money and she is still interested in buying the property.
- 2013: “Renter A” leaves due to disrepair – no heat in the winter and no air in the summer. Complaints to Misti are unanswered. “Renter B” moves in.
- Owner continues going underwater paying the mortgage without a penny from Misti. Misti strings owner along by suggesting that the grant is still in progress and that her lawyers are working on the paperwork. Misti refuses to sign any agreements in writing despite multiple mailings.
- 2014: Contract delivered to Misti via Docusign on-line. Docusign shows that Misti opens the email on 02/22. She claims never to have gotten it. It is sent multiple times. During much of this time, Misti is unreachable for a variety of reasons. On 03/25, she opens the document again. Misti claims never to have received it.
- Owner decides Misti will never be able to purchase the property. She never offers receipts or claims repairs to have been made. Owner makes plans to fix, list, and sell the property on her own. Owner enlists a friend to check on the property only to find the property is occupied: The lawn is mowed; there are cars in the driveway.
- Owner visits the property, meets “Renter B.” Occupants tell of continuous mistreatment by Misti in the name of Owner. They love the property but despise the fake landlord, Misti Lindquist. Owner confronts Misti about the situation; Misti refuses to answer further correspondence. Owner and “Renter B” enter into their own agreement.
- A month later, Misti still attempts to collect rent from “Renter B” and makes additional threats.
- 2015: In August, after repeated attempts to reconcile the situation, a lawsuit is filed against Misti Lindquist and Misti’s Mission. Evidence for the suit was gathered over a period of months from “Renter A” and “Renter B” and other sources. Misti refuses to cooperate with any discovery after the suit is filed.
- 2016: In April, Misti’s lawyer files a “Motion to Withdraw” with the court citing non-payment and uncooperative behavior by Misti as the reason. Multiple extensions are granted to Misti to find another lawyer and/or because she is representing herself.
- 2017: In March, a judge decides against Misti despite all delays. The originally scheduled day of the trial, Misti “calls in sick” as admitted to the hospital. The judge orders for the hearing to take place on the following day when he makes his decision.
If you think this sounds like the kind of person who you would like to donate to, then feel free. If it gives you pause, then you are not alone.
This process has taken years. Do not fall for her lies or pleas for sympathy. She had every opportunity in the world to do the right thing. We only took her to court after it was clear she was incapable of it.