Free speech case against housing officials proceeds

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen G. Larson denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss CIR’s claim for injunctive relief against California housing officials who used a lengthy housing discrimination investigation to silence CIR client Julie Waltz in her efforts to protest the placement of former sex offenders in adult living facilities located in residential neighborhoods. The case now proceeds to discovery.

State housing officials decided to make an example of Mrs. Waltz by launching a yearlong investigation of her for state housing discrimination, utilizing the news media to portray her as a law breaker and discriminator. CIR’s suit seeks to enjoin the use of such investigations and to protect Waltz’s exercise of her rights of free speech under the First Amendment.

• Read Judge Larson’s order