LA County settles Democratic convention lawsuit over cyclists' arrests

LOS ANGELES (AP) County supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to pay $2.7 million to settle a lawsuit by bicyclists whose civil rights allegedly were violated when they were arrested at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

The vote follows a 4-1 decision last month to set aside the money to settle the suit filed because women cyclists were subjected to strip and body cavity searches in plain view along women's jail corridors, and men were denied telephone calls and access to medication.

The men were not strip searched, and the bicyclists were never charged.

Supervisor Gloria Molina, who was the lone dissenter in setting aside the money, was absent for Tuesday's vote.

California law states that no one arrested on a misdemeanor charge may be strip searched before arraignment unless the charge involves weapons, drugs or violent crime, or if there is a reasonable suspicion that the person is concealing a weapon or contraband substance.

Jail deputies changed procedures in 2001 to conform with state law.

The lawsuit was filed in Superior Court Nov. 9, 2001, and initially covered 57 bicyclists. On March 25, the cyclists' attorney Timothy J. Midgley, said the settlement would compensate 71 clients, 23 of them women.

The suit sought unspecified damages and a penalty of $25,000 per cyclist.

The women plaintiffs will receive $70,000 each and the men $5,000 each.

The bicyclists staged a ride through downtown on the second day of the Democratic National Convention as part of an effort to create a more bike-friendly environment.

Police said the cyclists were arrested after they ignored traffic laws, showed a disregard for safety, frightened pedestrians and nearly caused accidents. Cyclists said police blocked intersections for them and allowed the ride to proceed in an orderly fashion until suddenly changing tactics and arresting them.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)