Animal Activist sues City of Los Angeles for assault, battery, false imprisonment

Laurel Kinder vs City of Los Angeles, Tori Strawn kennel manager and John Does

BC388228

Complaint for damages

1. Assault;
2. Battery;
3. Unlawful imprisonment

6. Plaintiff has been a well known animal rescuer and animal rights advocate for over 12 years, and is the Director of Kinder4Rescue, an animal rescue organiation. She has worked as a Partner with New Hope for Animals (hereinafter referred to as "New Hope"), since 2004. As a member and partner of New Hope, Plaintiff assists in placing in permanent homes dogs and cats left in shelters run by the Los Angeles Animal Services (hereinafter referred to as "LAAS"). According to New Hope's policies and procedures, it'sPartners have more access to LAAS shelters than members of the general public,to wit: (a) Partners are permitted entry into a shelter twenty-four horus a day, seven days a week, even on days when the shelters are closed; (b) Partners are allowed to view all animals, including those about to be euthanized, with the exception of animals in quarantine or isolation.

7. On or about May 21, 2007, Plaintiff was on the premises of the East Valley Animal Center filming and taking photographs of available dogs, as the staff was preparing them to be moved to a new location. Plaintiff became concerned that some of the dogs, who appeeraed to be ill, were being left behind. She asked Defendant Strawn what was going to happen to them. Strawn immediately became hostile and was joined by approximately 15 employees who surrounded Plaintiff in a threatening manner.Strawn then demanded that Plaintiff stop filming. As a New Hope Partner Plaintiff felt that she had a right to be on the premises and to film the animals. Initially, Plaintiff did not stop filming when ordered to by Strawn. As the group surrounding her began to taunt her and accuse her of trespassing, Plaintiff, fearing for her safety, fled to her car and tried to exit the parking lot.

8. As she approached the exit in her car, Plaintiff noticed that a guard had just closed the gate and chained it, preventing her from leaving. While Plaintiff tried to film the guard blocking the exit, Strawn forcefully grabbed the camera out of her hand and removed the chip before returning the camera to Plaintiff.

9. Plaintiff was held in the parking lot against her will for over 45 minutes. Strawn told Plaintiff that she could not leave because she had trespassed and the police had been called. While trapped in her car, Plaintiff attempted to call 911 but could not get an answer.

10. Finally, Strawn ordered the guard to open the gate and Plaintiff was permitted to leave. She immediately called Kathleen Riordan, Los Angeles Animal Services Commissioner, and requested that she contact the North Hollywood watch commander to instruct the officers called to the East Valley shelter to return the camera chip to Plaintiff. Plaintiff then filed charges of assault, battery, and unlawful imprisonment at the North Hollywood police station.

(The chip was returned to her. Photos, videos verify her statements. She spoke to other people on the phone who overheard what was happening. The animals Kinder was photographing were euthanized.)