Litigation Targets Slap Back at SLAPP Suits

Your editorial hit home with me, as I am being sued in federal court with a SLAPP suit by developers and the quasi-governmental agency (the Transportation Corridor Agency).

Being a concerned citizen and affected by the TCA’s proposed construction of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor through Laguna Canyon, I acted to save this beautiful area of natural wilderness following our environmental protection laws, and now the TCA has SLAPPed me in retaliation. I have to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Sept. 8.

I have been involved in challenging the environmental impact report for the corridor (a toll road) and am currently in the Court of Appeals.

Flat out, the TCA is suing me because I am effective. I am the only individual that is being slapped with this SLAPP suit, and actually, I do feel privileged. The TCA is endeavoring to keep me from challenging the federal environmental impact statement (EIS) for the corridor.

I am ready to take the TCA and the developers on, and I want to settle this thing once and for all. For the past 20 years, I have been actively involved in protecting Laguna Canyon from development. It has worked, and it is still there. The public doesn’t want a road that it doesn’t need, that will cost a toll to drive and bring in an additional 200,000 housing units to the area.

I need public outcry and support to stop this intimidation by the TCA and these wealthy developers. At stake is not only the precious natural environment of Laguna Canyon but also the preservation of our environmental protection process.

ELIZABETH LEEDS, Laguna Beach