Protester Who Was Hit by Pickup Files Lawsuit : Courts: An Agoura man is accused of assault and negligence stemming from an anti-war demonstration in Ventura County.
An anti-war demonstrator filed suit Thursday against an Agoura college student who was convicted of reckless driving after he drove into a protest against Operation Desert Storm and struck her with his pickup truck.
Ali Seane Dempsey, 25, of Thousand Oaks filed suit against Glenn Gazdik, 22, in Ventura County Superior Court, charging him with assault and battery and negligence.
Gazdik, a Moorpark College student, could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Witnesses said Gazdik drove onto the sidewalk at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Moorpark Road on Jan. 15 after arguing heatedly with protesters.
The suit alleges that Gazdik drove onto the sidewalk with his truck, which hit Dempsey as she tried to get out of the way. The impact threw Dempsey to the sidewalk, and Gazdik fled, the suit alleges.
Dempsey’s suit asks for unspecified damages, medical expenses, attorney fees and loss of earnings. She suffered bruises, back pain and an injured knee, she testified at Gazdik’s trial.
Gazdik was sentenced to 30 days in Ventura County Jail in March after a Ventura County Municipal Court jury convicted him of misdemeanor reckless driving.
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