Culver City, California — 2018

A Saga of Door-to-Door Political Free Speech

How a small group of senior citizens exercised their constitutional rights, prevailed at the ballot box, and won in court.

The Story

This is the true story of a few energetic, anonymous senior citizens in Culver City, California, who had the audacity to buck Chamber-of-Commerce-sponsored candidates seeking election to the City Council. They called themselves the Ad Hoc Committee for Culver City Residents First.

In a short time and at minimal cost, they drafted, copied, and distributed a political flyer to almost every doorstep and numerous automobile windshields in a city of approximately 40,000 residents. Though some will deny it, they drove voter turnout to record levels.

The Culver City Observer wrongfully described their acts as illegal and encouraged vigilantes to hunt them down. The Fair Political Practices Commission ultimately determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish that a violation occurred. Old-guard politicians besmirched the Committee and warned of negative consequences if they continued. One resident publicly described them as “cowardly communist[s] on my doorstep” and requested the Observer “identify and expose these disgusting people.”

The Chamber-of-Commerce-sponsored candidates were soundly defeated.

That is part of the story. The Committee’s attorney sought governmental protection for Committee members and was, in effect, told to take a hike. The Observer then went after the Committee’s attorney with allegations of unethical and/or illegal conduct. The attorney sued the newspaper and its publisher based on allegations of defamation. One day before the scheduled trial, the Observer’s publisher personally petitioned for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. After a scathing commentary against the Observer and its publisher, the Trial Court rendered judgment — awarding both compensatory and punitive damages against the Observer.

 

Summary

After taking a victory lap, “the Committee encourage[d] all residents to invoke their Constitutional right of free speech during the next and all future City-Council elections. Furthermore, the Committee encourage[d] new faces — who believe residents come first — to throw their hats into the ring.”

190221_CCN_Judgment_Against_Observer.pdf

The Publications

Unlike most disputes, this one is fully documented. The record below traces the sequence of events from the initial flyer through the court’s final judgment.

Lawsuit Details

The legal proceedings that followed are fully documented. The record below spans from the initial retraction request through the final judgment.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this website is provided solely for general interest and educational purposes. It is not intended to be, nor should it be interpreted as, the rendering of legal or other professional advice. The views expressed herewith are not necessarily politically correct and are subject to change without notice.