Mayor, Council Member Dismissed From Bias Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed the Beverly Hills mayor and a City Council member from a civil rights lawsuit that accuses police of targeting African Americans in traffic stops.

U.S. District Judge William Keller ruled late Tuesday that there is no basis for the claims that Mayor Allan Alexander and Councilwoman Vicki Reynolds showed “deliberate indifference” by ignoring complaints brought to their attention, said Skip Miller, the city’s private attorney in the matter.

Miller had argued that Alexander and Reynolds properly reported complaints to the city manager, as required by the city’s Municipal Code.

“I’m relieved the judge agreed we had met our responsibility under the law and Municipal Code,” Reynolds said. Alexander was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Keller decided not to dismiss Police Chief Marvin Iannone and Capt. Robert Curtis from the lawsuit, saying in his oral ruling that some issues regarding investigations should be heard by a jury.

The lawsuit was filed last November by eight plaintiffs seeking unspecified damages. Former Beverly Hills Mayor Robert K. Tanenbaum, an attorney, is representing them.