Chris Miller files lawsuit; city and Hartley are among those named [UPDATED]
Hermosans celebrate the defeat of Measure O at the Standing Room on election night in March. Photo . Anti-oil activist Chris Miller has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city of Hermosa Beach, seeking compensation for damages suffered in connection with the city’s response to an election-night gathering last March. According to an e-mail from Miller’s attorney Morgan Ricketts, the suit was filed Tuesday afternoon. The complaint names as defendants City Manager Tom Bakaly, Police Chief Sharon Papa, Officer George Brunn, the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau, and Ken Hartley. Hartley was the head of the chamber at the time of last March’s election, but left several months ago and is now running for City Council. The complaint alleges seven different causes of action, including violation of civil rights. In addition to compensation for legal costs and damages suffered, Miller is seeking at least $475,000 in punitive damages. The claims stem from the evening of March 3, when Miller and others were celebrating the defeat of Measure O at the Standing Room on Hermosa Avenue. Measure O would have allowed drilling for oil in Hermosa’s tidelands. A Hermosa Beach police…
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