Legal action against Joseph Turner, director of SOS, is there a case?

by Peoples law collective Sunday, Jun. 26, 2005 at 6:09 AM

Legal action against Joseph Turner, director of SOS, is there a case?

Joseph Turner, executive director of Save Our State has made statements to the press which could be actionable.

Here is an excerpt:

The last rally cost the city nearly $100,000, Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano said. Turner said he hopes to cost Baldwin Park as much money as possible to pressure the city to change the monument. "If we come back 10 times,' he said, "it'll cost them a million dollars.”

Source:

http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12220~2934402,00.html

The City of Baldwin Park could have a civil case against Turner if they can show he did with malice and forethought deliberately conspire to cause financial damage to the city. That he conspired with others and organized events for the purpose of inflicting harm to the City of Baldwin Park.

To do this is not free speech, it a violation of civic code. To conspire to cause economic damage to a public body or private incorporation is considered unfair business practice. And there are laws to guard against this. If Turner has crossed that line, then he has exposed himself and every member of his organization to possible legal action by the City of Baldwin Park.