Facts

Michael Hunt sued the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners, and Commission President Barry Sanders, claiming violations of federal and state constitutions.

Plaintiff dismissed the Board and Commission President Sanders, and the case continued against the city only.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Hunt contended that the city's policy for its public meetings selectively censored the speech of certain persons, including Hunt. On Sept. 21, 2011, Hunt, an African-American, attended a public meeting to express his views on an ordinance regarding vending on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Hunt wore a T-shirt bearing a political message and a KKK hood. He claimed he did not act disruptively or interfere with the meeting in any way. Despite this, he was accused of wearing "offensive" clothing and disturbing the meeting, and was expelled from the room and later arrested.

Plaintiff claimed he was wrongfully cited for disturbing a lawful public assembly. Hunt asserted causes of action for violation of the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and related provisions of the California Constitution.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The defense contended that plaintiff was ultimately expelled for disturbing the meeting after refusing to remove his Ku Klux Klan hood and t-shirt that bore the words "[expletive] WHITE [expletive] TOO." Defendant claimed that plaintiff repeatedly asked to be ejected so that he could bring the instant lawsuit.

The city claimed that plaintiff manufactured his purported injury.

Result

The city settled with plaintiff for $215,000.