Suit Stemming From Primary Race Settled

Councilman Ted R. Moreno and Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce President Mike Metzler have reached an out-of-court settlement of Moreno’s 1995 libel lawsuit, which stemmed from a political contest between the two.

Participants said the lawsuit was settled Saturday, when Moreno accepted a one-page letter of apology from Metzler. No money was involved in the settlement, Metzler said.

In May 1995, Moreno sued Metzler, his opponent in a 1994 Assembly race, alleging that Metzler had distributed campaign literature containing false statements about Moreno. The case was set to go to trial Monday.

Moreno and Metzler squared off in the 1994 Democratic primary for the 69th Assembly District seat. Metzler won the primary but lost the general election to Jim Morrissey (R-Anaheim).

Metzler’s campaign literature alleged that Moreno had illegally spent $1,500 of taxpayer money to purchase exercise equipment for his home and was under investigation by the district attorney “for bribery and illegal fund-raising.”

Moreno denied the charges relating to the exercise equipment and noted that the district attorney’s office eventually dropped its investigation--which actually involved a complaint that Moreno had tried to manipulate a candidate in the Democratic primary.

Metzler’s letter of apology only addresses the exercise equipment, noting that campaign statements regarding an illegal expenditure “were incorrect.”

The Superior Court lawsuit, which sought at least $100,000 in damages, alleged that Moreno’s reputation had suffered, his feelings were hurt and he had lost sleep as a result of the literature.

Metzler said he will not pay Moreno “one penny” as a result of the settlement. Moreno declined to confirm that, saying that the settlement prohibits him from speaking about monetary awards.

Attorneys for Metzler and Moreno did not return phone calls seeking comment.