A court hearing on alleged election law violations by Albert Lea businessman Mal Prinzing and Di Ma Corporation is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 6. The court battle will focus on the constitutional rights of free speech and fair campaign practice.

The charges involve signs placed by Prinzing before the last general election, which accused Republican state senate candidate Grace Schwab of stealing. State law requires a disclaimer for campaign materials distributed within 14 days before the election, prohibits false information and bars a corporation from being involved in a campaign.

Prinzing has sued Schwab for damaging the letters on a signboard in November 2001, The sign had words attacking the school referendum. Schwab allegedly took the letters from the sign, which was placed on property without the consent of owner. No criminal charges were brought against Schwab for the action. Prinzing claims $1,720 in damages in the litigation, and began placing new signs calling Schwab a thief last October.

Schwab filed a counter claim demanding Prinzing to pay over $10,000 for defamation and libel, as well as a motion asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop Prinzing from exhibiting the signs.

Steele County District Court judge Joe Bueltel refused to order the retrieval of signs based on Prinzing’s First Amendment rights of free speech.

In the criminal charges against Prinzing, the similar argument will be tried in the court as to the scope of the First Amendment rights and the definition of false information.

Prinzing declined to comment.