Melina Abdullah, Dahlia Ferlito and Justin Marks brought the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging civil rights violations, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Attorney Jeffrey Zinder issued a statement on behalf of the Laceys.
“This lawsuit was filed two weeks before an election and not at any time in the last seven months because it is being put forward for transparently political purposes,” the statement read. “If there was merit in this lawsuit or if it was being offered sincerely, it would have been filed at some point prior to today.”
Abdullah is chairwoman of the Department of Pan-African Studies at Cal State Los Angeles and a co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter. She and other BLM demonstrators went to the home where Lacey and her husband, David, live on March 2, seeking to find out why Lacey had allegedly not agreed as promised to meet with them to discuss issues of community concern.
David Lacey opened the door after the plaintiffs rang the bell and video images show him pointing a gun and saying he would shoot if the visitors did not get off his porch.
“The plaintiffs … believe that Jackie Lacey aided and abetted (David) Lacey’s decision to cock, load and then point the handgun directly at Dr. Abdullah’s chest and at Ms. Ferlito’s and Mr. Marks’ bodies,” the suit states. “The plaintiffs were unarmed and had done nothing to justify this use of deadly force against them.”
The incident occurred a day before the California primary election, which resulted in the 63-year-old Lacey being forced into a runoff with former San Francisco County District Attorney George Gascon as she seeks re-election to the office she has held since December 2012.
Previous related stories:
D.A.’s husband pleads not guilty in misdemeanor case
Judge denies defense motion in misdemeanor case against D.A.’s husband
D.A.’s husband charged with misdemeanor assault involving protesters
California Attorney General’s Office investigating L.A. County D.A.’s husband
Protesters gather outside D.A. Jackie Lacey’s house; husband points gun
#BREAKING This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house. @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/wnCFMMvaWV
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) March 2, 2020
John Evans says
Well Los Angeles, all BLM leaders are avoid Marxists. They want you compliant or dead. Period.
Magnetlady says
These BLM members came to the Lacey’s home at 5:00 A.M. or thereabouts.. WHO in their right mind would harass anyone at that time of the early morning? The BLM movement is losing it’s message with their ”harassment” of people while dining, early protests on the property of citizens, making citizens raise their Fist in support, even kneeling down to them!! It’s one thing to Protest, but do it at reasonable times & don’t THREATEN to cause destruction or harm… If someone came to my door at that time, I’d be very suspicious of their intentions. The BLM should lose their case…
surfside 6 says
This gentleman broke no law. He was at home not bothering anybody and suddenly the local race riot makes a house call. Loud, rude and extremely vulgar these people didn’t swarm his house to “ask” his wife anything. They went there with a full head of steam to viciously CONFRONT her. And if she couldn’t meet their angry demands what do you think would have happened then??? And exchange of Valentines???
Mark R. says
Nobody has the right to harass people outside their homes. They should be shot.
Mark R. says
I would shot first ask questions later. He shouldnt be charged with anything. He should sue BLM.
Alby says
“Intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence?” Sounds like the very nature of BLM.
AV says
How can you sue someone for being outside of your home talking vulgar and acting in a threatful manner.