FRESNO – A Coalinga resident and a nonprofit corporation that advocates on behalf of Latinos are challenging the city's ordinance regarding political signs.
June Vera Sanchez and Dolores Huerta Foundation Inc. filed a complaint on June 12 in the Fresno County Superior Court against the city of Coalinga and Does 1-10 seeking injunctive and declaratory relief.
According to the complaint, an ordinance passed by the city of Coalinga regarding temporary signs bans the posting of signs with a political message except for certain limited times of election years. The plaintiffs allege they would like to display political signs longer than this time limit.
The plaintiffs hold the city of Coalinga and Does 1-10 responsible because the defendants allegedly initiated, adopted and maintained a policy and practice denying plaintiffs and others their rights under the First Amendment to exercise their right to engage in political speech.
The plaintiffs seek preliminary and permanent injunction, award of general damages, attorney's fees, costs of suit and for such other further relief the court deems just and proper. They are represented by John S. Sarsfield and Marguerite Melo of Law Offices of Melo and Sarsfield LLP in Visalia.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 18CECG02095