Facts

Michiko Gingery, Koichi Mera, and Gaht-Us Corp. sued the City of Glendale in relation to a statue the city erected in Glendale's Central Park.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff alleged that the city installed a 1,100 pound bronze statue of a young girl dressed in Korean garb in the city's Central Park. The accompanying plaque described the human rights violations that occurred against women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Armed Forces of Japan during the wars between 1932 and 1945.

Plaintiffs alleged that the statue interfered with foreign affairs by disrupting foreign policy regarding the resolution of the historical debate concerning "comfort women." Plaintiffs also alleged a second cause of action, alleging that the city failed to comply with Robert's Rules of Order when it approved the statue's placement.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The city filed an anti-SLAPP motion, and a motion to dismiss. The city argued, among others, that plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the lawsuit.

Result

The court agreed to dismiss plaintiffs' first claim for violations of the U.S. Constitution's provisions concerning foreign affairs powers and the Supremacy clause because plaintiffs lacked standing to bring that claim. Alternatively, the court found that plaintiffs' complaint failed to state a claim. As such, it dismissed plaintiffs' first claim. The court then declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiffs' state law claims. As such, it dismissed plaintiffs' second claim without prejudice.