Judge Dismisses Dymally Lawsuit Against Governor
A $4-million libel and invasion-of-privacy suit filed by former Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally against Gov. George Deukmejian and eight state Justice Department officials was dismissed Friday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Norman L. Dowds.
Dowds said the one-year statute of limitations for such civil suits had long passed by the time Dymally sued Deukmejian, then attorney general, and the other officials Sept. 13, 1983.
Dymally accused them of leaking rumors that prompted news media reports before the November, 1978, election saying he and his finance chief, Hugh Pike, were about to be indicted by the FBI. To cover up the release, the suit alleged, the officials then made false charges against Dymally to a grand jury about his business dealings.
Dymally claimed the actions cost him the 1978 election for lieutenant governor.
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