Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Pickets Again Protest Ritter Ranch Suit Against Council

For the second time in as many weeks, dozens of people picketed outside the offices of Ritter Ranch on Tuesday to protest the development company’s filing of a lawsuit against its most steadfast opponents, the Leona Valley Town Council.

Ritter Park Associates, the developer of the 7,200-home master-planned project in west Palmdale, filed suit earlier this month against the Town Council and five current and former members, accusing them of waging a “campaign of fraud, deceit, harassment and intimidation designed to stop development of the Ritter Ranch project.”

Chanting “Shame on Ritter,” wearing shirts that read, “I (heart) Leona Valley . . . So Sue Me!” and carrying signs that read “What About Freedom of Speech?” and “Ritter Ranch Can’t Quiet Leona Valley,” protesters said they believe the lawsuit is intended to silence Ritter Ranch critics.

“We’re picketing for free speech,” said Charlene Moore, a Palmdale resident who grew up in Leona Valley. “We feel Ritter is trying to impinge on people’s freedom of speech.”

Ritter Ranch General Manager Peter Wenner said of the pickets: “We support their First Amendment rights and their rights to go out and picket. Our lawsuit is not about the First Amendment. I’m glad they’re exercising their rights.”

A flyer handed out by the protesters Tuesday read, “This demonstration is not about the pros and cons of the Ritter Ranch Project. It is about standing up for our constitutional right to participate freely and without fear in our communities. . . . “

Town Council members also believe the suit’s intent is to stifle critics, saying it is a SLAPP suit, for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.

Chase Mellen, an attorney representing the council, said he will file a motion to have the suit deemed a SLAPP suit. If the judge agrees with the council’s petition, Ritter Ranch will have to show there is a probability it will prevail in court, or the case will be dismissed.

Protesters may become a regular sight for Wenner and others at the Ritter Ranch business office.

“Everyone has said they want to keep doing it,” Moore said. “I think if we do another one we might aim for a Saturday.”

Besides the symbolic support from the protesters, the Town Council also is receiving financial support, members said. More than $4,000 has been donated to help cover the attorney fees to fight the suit.

The suit seeks more than $3 million in damages that Ritter Ranch said it has suffered as a result of the Town Council’s actions.