Inglewood Hires Ventura Law Firm for Appeal
A Ventura legal firm specializing in appellate cases will represent the City of Inglewood in its appeal of the annulment of last year’s election of Councilman Ervin (Tony) Thomas.
Inglewood City Council members voted 3-0 last week to hire Lascher & Lascher to represent the city and City Clerk Hermanita Harris at the recommendation of City Atty. Howard Rosten, who handled the defense during the Superior Court trial in September. Thomas remains on the council pending appeal. He abstained from voting.
Thomas and the city have appealed Superior Court Judge Leon Savitch’s decision that threw out 31 votes for Thomas and annulled Thomas’ June election victory over challenger Garland Hardeman. The judge ordered a new election.
Hardeman also appealed part of the decision, saying state law required Savitch to declare Hardeman the winner because the verdict left Hardeman with more votes. Hardeman and his attorneys urged council members Tuesday to drop the appeal because the city was not implicated in wrongdoing and should not be aiding Thomas’ defense.
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