Sindeelou Thomson said she got tired of her inbox overflowing with unsolicited messages.

“In a month and a half, I’ve archived some 8,000 pieces of spam,” she said.

The unwanted email includes electronic newsletters from her Congressman, John Doolittle. She said she never signed up for them and was not immediately removed from the mailing list when she complained.

In recent months, Thomson has filed five lawsuits in Placer County small claims court under state anti-spam legislation, including a $2,000 claim against Doolittle.

But this week, government attorneys representing members of Congress filed a petition in U.S. District Court in Sacramento seeking to have the case heard in federal court.

Thomson said she was unprepared for the response and is seeking an attorney. She said she did not expect to win in small claims court and was only trying to get Doolittle’s attention.

“I wanted him to apologize for spamming me and tell me who sold him my email address,” she said.