Politics | Minnesota Court Clears Way for GOP Lawsuit in Minn. Recount Al Franken's request to block Coleman case rejected By Rob Quinn Posted Jan 23, 2009 2:14 AM CST Copied Republican Norm Coleman, along with his wife, Laurie, greets supporters after announcing he is suing to challenge the results of the Senate recount during a press conference early this month. (AP Photo/Dawn Villella) A panel of Minnesota judges has rejected Al Franken's request to dismiss Norm Coleman's lawsuit challenging the recount in the state's Senate race, reports the Minneapolis Star Tribune. A trial that may last for weeks is set to start Monday to weigh Coleman's claims of widespread irregularities in the recount that gave his opponent a squeaker-thin 225-vote lead. The judges also rejected Franken's request to limit the trial's scope to recount technicalities. Coleman's lawyer called the decision "a stinging defeat for Al Franken." Franken's lawyers said they were looking forward to a swift trial so that "Minnesotans can have two senators representing them as quickly as possible." Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Report an error