Facts

Wo of Ideafarm, a street essayist, posted signs displaying sentences from speeches on a minivan and drove that van throughout the county. After various encounters with law enforcement and after participating in court proceedings related the signs, Ideafarm sued the County of Santa Clara in relation to his constitutional rights.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS: Ideafarm claimed that he was harassed by law enforcement in relation to his signs and alleged that the county provided him with ineffective counsel at court proceedings. Ideafarm ultimately contended that the county conspired with law enforcement and the judicial system to deprive him of his constitutional right to freedom of speech.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS: The county moved to dismiss Ideafarm's claims arguing that his complaint lacked sufficient factual allegations to support his claims.

Result

The court granted the county's motion to dismiss finding that Ideafarm failed to show that the county had a policy, practice, or custom that deprived him of his constitutional rights within the context of a conspiracy.

Other Information

Ideafarm's class-based conspiracy claim under 42 U.S.C. Section 1985(3) was dismissed because Ideafarm failed to show that he was a member of a protected class.