Beauty Pageant Protesters Settle Suit Against City

A settlement was reached Thursday in a lawsuit against the city and police by three women protesters arrested in 1986 while demonstrating against the Miss California pageant.

The women sued the city, the Police Department and Police Chief Bill Kolender in June, alleging that their constitutional rights were violated when police arrested them for dropping a rose, a cigarette and cornflakes.

Police arrested Ann Simonton, Dee Heckman and Diane Germain while they were protesting outside the beauty pageant with other Myth California counter-pageant protesters. Charges were never filed against the three, and they sued, charging that the police and city violated their First Amendment rights.

Myth California protesters demonstrated again this year, but there were no arrests or incidents reported by police.

Judith DiGennaro, attorney for the women, filed the suit in U.S. District Court in San Diego and announced the settlement, which was reached with the San Diego city attorney’s office. Both sides were ordered to keep the terms of the settlement confidential.

The lawsuit sought $300,000 in damages, but a source familiar with the case said the suit was settled for an amount between $5,000 and $20,000.

Deputy City Atty. Nina Deane confirmed the settlement but declined to comment further. Cristie McGuire, the deputy city attorney who represented the city and police, was unavailable for comment.

Simonton said that money from the settlement will be used to finance next year’s protest. The proceeds will also be used to “further women’s freedom of speech and women’s right to speak out on this issue,” Simonton said.