Judge dismisses Sunnyside critic's civil rights lawsuit

by Ross Courtney
Yakima Herald-Republic
Judge dismisses Sunnyside critic's civil rights lawsuit
ANDY SAWYER/Yakima Herald-Republic
Tom Paul

Links
Email_black_18  E-mail           Print_black_18  Print            Talk_black_18  Comments
Advertisement

More 'Local'

  1. It's a grim time for Granges
  2. 9/4/10 Photojournal
  3. Man accused of hitting boy, girlfriend
  4. County may step up to plate for Bears
  5. Business seminar set for Thursday
  6. Blood donors needed
  7. Family dispute leads to stabbing
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

Top Read

  1. Man accused of hitting boy, girlfriend
  2. It's a grim time for Granges
  3. Robbery conviction upheld despite issue of camera search
  4. Take me out to the ballgame ... in Naches?
  5. Photos: John Mellencamp rocks Yakima County Stadium crowd
  6. 'Achieving the Dream' at YVCC
  7. Family dispute leads to stabbing
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

Emailed

  1. Photos: John Mellencamp rocks Yakima County Stadium crowd
  2. Take me out to the ballgame ... in Naches?
  3. Campfires are OK for Labor Day weekend
  4. Master Gardeners-- September in the garden
  5. It's a grim time for Granges
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week

Commented

  1. 09/03/10 Letters to the Editor
  2. 09/05/10 Letters to the Editor
  3. Murray touts role in fighting gang problems
  4. 'Achieving the Dream' at YVCC
  5. Man accused of hitting boy, girlfriend
  6. Robbery conviction upheld despite issue of camera search
  7. Take me out to the ballgame ... in Naches?
More Stories:   Today's News | This Week


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.



Commentsicon2
Posted by thehellyousay at 10/25/09 05:45AM        Post ID#: #16026

This dude is a freaking crazy as his schizo brother who recently escaped at the fair in spokane.

must run in the family.

hopefully the appeals court will rule the same way.

Report Violation
Log in or Register to leave a comment.

Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g., you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason. Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the "report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.

Registered User?