City Officials Seek Suit’s Dismissal
Lawndale city officials have asked a federal judge to dismiss a $12-million federal racketeering and conspiracy lawsuit filed against them by a local developer.
In a lawsuit filed in September, developer Jonathan Stein alleged that several top city officials--including Mayor Harold E. Hofmann, Councilman Larry Rudolph and Planning Commissioner Bruce McKee--extorted protection money from builders to pave the way for city approval of their projects. Stein’s lawsuit asks for $2 million in damages and up to $10 million in punitive damages.
In their response filed Oct. 31, city officials said Stein’s allegations stem from his dissatisfaction with the progress of one of his condominium projects. The charges are “nothing more than a politically motivated attempt by a desperate, chronically litigious developer to intimidate public officials in the performance of their duties,” the city officials said in their court papers.
A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
