Judge dismisses Sunnyside critic's civil rights lawsuit
Yakima Herald-Republic
More 'Local'
- Yakima County formally appoints court cost-study panelists
- Doc Hastings defends earmark near his Pasco property
- Yakima City Council votes not to impose own car-tab fee
- Man who bludgeoned Yakima Arcade clerk gets 34 years
- Slice of Yakima: New wheels for YH-R news carrier
- More sweeping changes coming for outdoor recreationists?
- State rules Yakima-Ellensburg bus service is legal
Top Read
- Jailed father of Josh Powell a person of interest in Susan Powell’s disappearance
- Closure of longtime Yakima firm leaves electrical jobs undone
- Drugs, guns and tactical gear seized in Yakima
- Tim Tebow's mother to speak at Yakima benefit
- More sweeping changes coming for outdoor recreationists?
- Eisenhower welding students craft roses to sell for Valentine's
- Sunnyside city manager's resignation surprises
Emailed
- Closure of longtime Yakima firm leaves electrical jobs undone
- Eisenhower welding students craft roses to sell for Valentine's
- More sweeping changes coming for outdoor recreationists?
- Wapato event to benefit homeless shelter
- Bills would retool teacher evaluations in state
- State rules Yakima-Ellensburg bus service is legal
- Yakima County formally appoints court cost-study panelists
YAKIMA, Wash. -- A federal judge has dismissed a $25 million civil rights lawsuit against the city of Sunnyside by City Hall critic Tom Paul.
U.S. District Court Judge Lonny R. Suko last week dismissed the suit, which alleged the city denied Paul free speech and due process and impeded his construction business.
Interim City Manager Jim Bridges said in a news release Thursday that the city wants to put the long-running dispute behind it and “focus on matters that are of greater importance” to residents.
Paul, 55, called the ruling surprising and unfair.
“If you’re looking for justice don’t go to the legal system,” he said.
He and his attorney, Mike Gillett of Seattle, plan to appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In the lawsuit, Paul claims the city violated his civil rights beginning in 2004 during a feud about signs posted on his South First Street property criticizing city officials. One of them called then-City Manager Bob Stockwell a dictator.
The city charged him with a sign ordinance misdemeanor, saying he had too many signs and that they were wrongly placed. But in a settlement, the charge was dismissed after he painted over the critical slogans, he said.
Paul also contended in the suit that the city hampered his construction business by imposing different engineering requirements on his proposed homes than other builders.
Paul’s beef with the city started with a surveying dispute over land he owns along South First Street, a main entrance to the city from Interstate 82. He and the city settled that in 2007.
Besides the city, the lawsuit named Stockwell, Mayor Pablo Garcia, Councilwoman Theresa Hancock; former Mayor Ed Prilucik; Councilman Jim Restucci, city attorney and former City Attorney Mark Kunkler and city building official Mike Storms.
The lawsuit asked for about $2.5 million in actual damages and more than $22 million in punitive damages, Gillett said, for a total of nearly $25 million.
• Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.
Comments
The Yakima Herald-Republic is rolling out Facebook Comments to allow users to discuss YH-R articles with other users. For more information about YH-R policies, please refer to the following:

RSS
E-mail
Print