Animal Rights Group Files Free-Speech Claim

The Animal Defense League-Los Angeles has filed a $3-million claim against the city of Los Angeles, alleging that City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo denied them their right to free speech.

If the city denies the claim, the attorney for the group said, he will file a lawsuit.

The league has held boisterous protests near the homes of city employees the last few years as part of a campaign to stop the Department of Animal Services from killing animals at city shelters.

In the last year, the group’s main objective was getting city Animal Services General Manager Guerdon H. Stuckey ousted. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa fired him last week.

On the heels of that action, Delgadillo announced the filing of misdemeanor conspiracy charges against the group for allegedly threatening or trying to threaten public employees.

If Delgadillo succeeds -- and city officials acknowledge that it is a difficult case -- his office will try to impose probation on league members to stop their protests.

John J. Uribe, the attorney for the group, suggested that the charges were political cover to make it appear that Villaraigosa wasn’t swayed by the league in his decision to fire Stuckey.

The lawyer also said that the league had not engaged in illegal tactics and that Delgadillo was probably confusing it with another group, the Animal Liberation Front, which has taken credit for vandalizing property belonging to city employees.

“It’s all innuendo,” Uribe said.

The attorney also said the Animal Defense League is only two people -- Pamelyn Ferdin and Jerry Vlasak, who are married. Neither has done anything illegal, he said.

“There are a lot of supporters who show up at demonstrations, and I don’t know of any demonstration that doesn’t result in some sort of situation where someone is very upset or there might be property damage,” Uribe said.

Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for Delgadillo, said the city attorney had not seen or reviewed the claim that was filed Wednesday.

Vlasak has provided the media with news releases from the Animal Liberation Front but has said he is not a member.