Gadfly Who Sued Burbank Schools Gets $20,000

One of Burbank’s most vocal critics, who sued the city’s Board of Education after he was arrested for displaying a sign at a school board meeting, has been awarded $20,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Melvin Perlitsh, 62, who lives in Woodland Hills but frequents Burbank civic meetings, will be paid by the Insurance Co. of Ireland, which insured the district at the time of his arrest more than four years ago, said Perlitsh’s attorney, John A. Howard. Taxpayers’ money will not be used, Howard said.

Perlitsh had accused the district and then-board president Audrey Hanson of emotional distress and wrongful arrest, Howard said.

Perlitsh and another prominent critic of Burbank, Jules Kimmett, displayed signs when they attended the Nov. 13, 1983, school board meeting. Hanson had said at the time that the two were violating a rule prohibiting signs bigger than an armband or a lapel button at board meetings, Howard said.

After Kimmett refused to remove the signs, Hanson summoned police and placed the two under citizen’s arrest, Howard said.

Perlitsh and Kimmett were jailed from 7 to 11 p.m., Howard said.

Howard said Perlitsh’s sign was a small “Stop” sign, which protested a move by former City Manager Andrew Lazzeretto to eliminate crossing guards at elementary schools. He said Kimmett, who did not file suit, was carrying larger signs.