Vagos International Motorcycle Club v. County of Riverside, John Hall, Walter Meyer, Richard Dana
Published: Oct. 22, 2011 | Result Date: Aug. 1, 2011 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: RIC 1104747 Settlement – Equitable Settlement
Court
Riverside Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Joseph A. Yanny
(Yanny & Smith)
Defendant
Arthur K. Cunningham
(Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP)
Facts
Vagos International Motorcycle Club filed a defamation lawsuit against Riverside County, the City of Hemet and several individuals from both organizations that linked the group to attacks against Hemet police officers. The group alleged that statements made by former Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco and other officials described the group as "cockroaches" and "terrorists" who practiced extreme violence. The statements were allegedly made after law enforcement targeted supposed Vagos members during an investigation of attacks on Hemet officers, which included torching Hemet code-enforcement trucks, and setting up a zip-gun booby trap. The Vagos International Motorcycle Club alleged that county sheriff's officers harassed them for months before they were targeted in a sweep.
Damages
Vagos sought punitive damages and compensatory damages for defamation and civil rights violations.
Result
The county and the City of Hemet agreed to settle the matter by admitting that the statements linking the group to the attacks were "unfortunate" and inaccurate. Two Riverside County men were charged in connection with some of the attacks. Neither was affiliated with Vagos.
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