LOS ANGELES (CN) — A Los Angeles Count Superior Court Judge agreed Wednesday to remove the city of Los Angeles as defendant in a lawsuit by a left-wing activist against City Councilman Kevin de Leon over a physical altercation in 2022.
Judge Lynne Hobbs ruled that the activist, Jason Reedy, had missed his six-month window to file his civil suit against the city. Hobbs said Reedy can amend the complaint, perhaps buttressed by further research, although Reedy's lawyer sounded unsure he would be able to dig up anything to keep the city as a defendant.
The case remains active, with Kevin de Leon the sole defendant. Neither the councilman nor his lawyer made an appearance at Wednesday's hearing.
The suit stems from an incident on Dec. 9, 2022, at a Christmas tree lighting and toy giveaway in Lincoln Park, a neighborhood on the east side of LA. The event occurred just two months after an audio recording of a conversation between de Leon, then-City Council president Nury Martinez, then-City Councilman Gil Cedillo and a powerful labor leader that featured racist and homophobic remarks was made public.
Protesters had hounded the three lawmakers, demanding their resignation. Martinez did resign, but de Leon and Cedillo held firm. Since Cedillo had already lost reelection and was set to leave office, much of the ire was directed at de Leon.
A handful of activists accosted de Leon at the event, during which he wore a Santa Claus hat and handed out gifts to children. Video of the event, posted to the social media site X, shows Reedy and other activists following a smiling de Leon, still wearing the floppy red hat, as he tries to exit the auditorium. As they make to a set of metal double doors, the activists, de Leon, and his staff converge into a sort of scrum, with the protesters and the staffers shoving each other. Eventually, de Leon — still smiling, still wearing the Santa hat — puts his hands on Reedy, who shouts, "What are you doing? Get your fucking hands off me! Don't fucking touch me Kevin!" De Leon pushes Reedy against a table and the Santa hat falls to the floor.
According to the Los Angeles Times, which called the fight "a new civic low," Reedy responded by punching the councilman at least once. Both de Leon and Reedy filed police reports claiming they had been attacked by the other. No one was charged.
Reedy sued both the city and de Leon in November 2023, claiming negligence and battery, respectively. In his three-page complaint, Reedy said the city "had a duty to provide security at the event that would protect the public from DeLeon’s violent bad behavior" and "did not provide security at the event to prevent DeLeon from lashing out and attacking the invited guest."
The Times, in a story about the lawsuit, noted the irony of Reedy, who has called for abolition of the police, saying more LAPD officers should have been present at the toy giveaway.
“This just shows the hypocrisy of these so-called activists that are seeking a quick dollar at the expense of taxpayers,” De León told the Times. Givens told the Times, in response: "While they’re there, [Reedy] wants them to do their damn job.”
De Leon is currently in a tough reelection battle, facing a bevy of challengers, including two state Assembly members. The primary for that election is Tuesday.
Follow @hillelaron
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
