VENTURA : Dismissal of Council Critic’s Suit Upheld

The 2nd District Court of Appeal has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a Ventura City Council critic against the city, the city manager and two former council members.

Carroll Dean Williams, who was seeking monetary charges, alleged in a complaint filed in October, 1991, that he suffered emotional distress intentionally inflicted by City Manager John Baker, former Mayor Richard Francis, former City Councilman John McWherter and four police officers. Williams charged that the city officials slandered him, and he accused Baker and the police officers of false arrest.

The case was dismissed by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Barbara Lane. But Williams later filed an appeal, asserting that Lane was prejudiced against him in another case.

“These assertions provide no factual justification for reversal of the judgment,” the appeals court said in its ruling Tuesday.

Ventura officials said Williams has repeatedly filed lawsuits against the city and some of its employees that they view as frivolous. A hearing date has been set for Aug. 24 in which Lane will decide whether to declare Williams a “vexatious litigant,” which would limit his ability to file lawsuits.