Ex-Fire Chief of Hermosa Beach Drops Lawsuit
Former Hermosa Beach Fire Chief Ronald Simmons has dropped a $2-million lawsuit against City Councilman Roger Creighton, according to attorneys.
Simmons filed a $6.2-million lawsuit in June against Creighton, the city and former City Manager Gregory T. Meyer, claiming that Meyer was responsible for him being unduly charged with insurance fraud and theft in October, 1986.
The suit claimed that Creighton--who filed a complaint that initiated the district attorney’s investigation of Simmons--defamed and slandered him by making public statements regarding the case that he knew were false. At the time, Creighton had not been elected and was a civic activist.
The charges against Simmons were later dropped. The district attorney’s office concluded that Simmons had improperly enrolled a dependent on the city’s insurance policy on Meyer’s advice. Meyer has repeatedly denied advising Simmons.
Four months ago, Simmons dropped the portion of the lawsuit against the city and Meyer for what his attorney, Stephen M. Garcia, described as technical reasons. Garcia said he is trying to get permission from the courts to reinstate it.
This month, Simmons dropped the lawsuit against Creighton “with prejudice”--meaning he cannot refile it.
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