City

Pleasanton Street Preacher’s Lawsuit Alleges Santa Cruz Violates His Free Speech

A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday seeks to allow a Pleasanton man to resume preaching on a public street after he was ticketed three times for noise complaints and had his amplified speech permit revoked by Santa Cruz police. The lawsuit also seeks to overturn two city laws that allow police to issue a city permit for amplified public speech and allows police to revoke the permits …


Modesto to Pay $850,000 to Settle Police Lawsuit

Modesto has agreed to pay $850,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed against the city that claimed one of its officers used excessive force and was negligent when he shot a distraught, suicidal man armed with a pocketknife in 2010. The shooting left Brian Reed, 46 – a former truck driver and dispatcher – disabled and with cognitive deficits because of the lack of oxygen to his brain after being …


Fired Recycling Plant Contractor Files Federal Lawsuit Against Ann Arbor

The private company that operated Ann Arbor’s recycling plant for the last several years is suing the city. Resource Recovery Systems LLC and FCR LLC, commonly known as ReCommunity, filed a complaint in federal court on Wednesday, July 27, claiming the city wrongfully terminated its contract. The company claims the city breached its contract, broke promises and unjustly enriched …


Charlottesville Man Files Lawsuit Against City Council

A Charlottesville man is filing a federal lawsuit challenging City Council’s rules for speakers at council meetings. Joseph Draego voiced his concerns over the influx of Muslim refugees during a public Charlottesville City Council meeting on July 20. Draego said many Muslims are “real good people,” but later stated, “the Muslims, monstrous maniacs that they are, read their holy book and then …


Huntsville Attorneys to Settle Lawsuit Alleging Officer’s Excessive Force

Huntsville’s city council voted to allow City Attorney Trey Riley to settle a lawsuit alleging that a STAC investigator from Huntsville Police Department hit a detainee. The lawsuit, “Vance Derrick Stone v. City of Huntsville, et al,” alleges officer Anthony McElyea struck Vance Stone while he was waiting to be taken to the hospital post-arrest. It was …


Judge Rejects Camden OT Settlement

Lydia Chapman is the first woman to reach the rank of captain in the Camden Fire Dept. ‘s 147-year history. A federal judge has rejected a proposed settlement of a lawsuit alleging former Camden City police officers were denied overtime pay. …


St. Louis City Settles Municipal Court Fees Suit for $750K

The City of St. Louis must refund $750,400 to the 21,000 people who paid “warrant recall fees” in the past seven years. On July 19, St. Louis Circuit Court Judge David Dowd gave final approval on a class-action lawsuit settlement with the city – which also deemed that St. Louis can never charge these fees again. In St. Louis, if you missed a court date regarding a warrant fee, the court would …


Tensions Boil Over Birmingham Water Works Board Lawsuit

Lawsuit filed against Mayor William Bell and other entities by the Birmingham Water Works Board. The mayor of Birmingham is being sued over a power struggle between city leaders and the Water Works Board. The lawsuit says it was filed on behalf of the Birmingham Water Works Board, but one member asked how that can be when she didn’t even know that the lawsuit existed, much less than it was filed.


Encinitas City Council Settles Housing Lawsuit

The city of Encinitas announced Tuesday that a settlement agreement was reached Monday in a lawsuit brought against the city regarding local housing needs, including the Encinitas Housing Element and residential developments requesting density bonuses. Developer DCM Properties, Inc. filed the lawsuit against the city in January. DCM’s suit challenged the city’s failure to update …


Airbnb Has Sued Its Hometown of San Francisco

Airbnb is taking its hometown to federal court. The company has filed a lawsuit against the city of San Francisco, objecting to short-term rental rule changes approved by its Board of Supervisors. A new ordinance set to take effect in late July would require all Airbnb hosts to register with the city.