McMartin Claims Denied

Three former defendants in the McMartin Preschool molestation case cannot press their claims of false imprisonment and false arrest against Los Angeles County and the city of Manhattan Beach, Superior Court Judge Warren Deering ruled this morning.

Lawyers for Virginia McMartin, Peggy Ann Buckey and Babette Spitler should have filed their claims within 100 days of their arrests in March, 1984, or sought an exemption to the limit within a year, Deering said. However, the judge said the women can sue the county and city for alleged civil rights violations, malicious prosecution and conspiracy.